The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-10
STORIES OF JACOB S. ROGERS.
SUPPOSED TO HAVE LEFT A DAUGH-
TER IN FRANCE.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
Paterson. N. j., July IA great deal of
speculation is being INDUCED in by the
people of this city about an alleged IL
legitimate child of Jacob s. Rogers and
its probable standing now in the contest
over the will of the dead locomotive
builder. Mr.. Pennington, Mr. Rogers
lawyer, and one of the executors, says
that he knows nothing of the matter, but
there are number of persons in this city
who say that they know that Mr.. Rogers
fell III love in France. Charles A. Shri-
ner. the editor of the Chronicle a Sum
day paper here. says that during the panic
of 1878 and for about ten years thereafter
Mr.. Rogers spent his time in a charming
villa in Southern France. He did not
occupy the house by himself but few
knew who his partner was. Perhaps no
one knows in this country.
1t is known that a girl was born, a
child to whom all of Mr.. Rogers heart
went out. He became estranged from
the mother after some years. He then at
tempted 10 get control of the child, and
he spent large sums of money with that
end in view. He fought the case through
several courts and until there was no
longer any hope for him. His lawyers
argued that the child would be better
situated with her father, who would
bring her up in luxury and make her
heir to all his possessions. but all these
arguments failed to overcome the French
law, which, it is said, gives an illegiu-
mate child to the mother, without adj
hitting any claim on the part of the ia
Their. Convinced that the aim of his life
could not be attained, Mr.. Rogers return
ed to New York, and his friends never
heard what became of the child or its
mother. The proba bilities are that Mr..
Rogers himself never heard from them.
1t would seem that the child in France
can have no claim whatever on the for
tune of the locomotive builder nor any
standing in court TO break the will. BY
the law of New Jersey an illegitimate
child has no father as recognized by the
law. The very fact that the case was
ltigated in the courts of France would
establish the illegitimacy of the child
and prevent ii from now coming forward
and offering proof that her mother was
married to Mr.. Rogers. which is the only
ground on which 1t could break the will.
Mr.. Rogers had as much love for ami
mails as he was generally supposed to
have dislike for his fellow men. He was
particularly fond of collies and Jersey cat-
tie. On general principles. he believed in
the utmost freedom for all things in ma
ture. He would not put collar on dog
or halter on a COW unless compelled to
do so by necessity. He was a firm ad
vooiate of proper laws for the prevention
of the determination Of American wild
| animals. When the Passaic County Fish
and Game Protective Association was
started good many years ago in Patere-
son the first contribution came from Mr..
,.~t.k If,asa No..
| When J. l. Tooker, Jr., a few years ago,
| while a game warden, killed a man at
Haledon, Mr.. Rogers sent him a 800
| check, stating that the man was in trou-
| BILE after having done a great deal of
| good. He also subscribed literally but
secretly to the Society for the Prevention
! of Cruelty to Animals.
Despite his general reputation for par
| simony. those who knew Mr.. Rogers
| best say that he was really very gener-
Gus. and that beneath his brusk exterior
/ he had a kind and sympathetic heart.
| That Mr.. Rogers contributed considera-
BILE funds to charity annually was known
| TO all his friends. and they also knew
! that these gifts were made with the I'M
| Outstanding that the public should not
| know who was the donor He liked to
| give in his own way. and he would brook
no interference or suggestions from 9TH
ers. At one time he had been sending
| 500 a month to the st. Josephs Hospital
| In Paterson. Some person connected with
the institution who did not understand
| the kind OF man that Mr.. Rogers was.
wrote to him that II was shame that
a man OF his wealth should contribute
| only 500 TO so noble a charity. He sug-
| gested that MIR. Rogers ought TO send
monthly the price of one of his engines.
After that the hospital never got cent
| from him.