The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-20
Miss Roosevelt, a Relative Of
President, Is Soon TO Wed.
TRUST FUND IS TRANSFERRED
The Granddaughter Of William AstoT So.
cures q Large Fortune Through Her
Mother, Who Is Dead.

New York, Oct. 2o.-Miss Helen Roose-
welt Roosevelt. whose engagement TO Theo-
dore Roosevelt Douglas Robinson was re-
Gently announced. has just come into
possession OF property in this city esti-
mated to be worth more than sl.oO0.O0J
Transfers of eight separate parcels OF real
estate by James II. Roosevelt, her father.
and. another, as trustees. to Mss Roose-
welt we're recorded on Friday.
Miss Roosevelt has just attained her
majority. She inherited the property from
her mother. who was Miss Helen Astor
a daughter OF William Astor.
Miss Roosevelt's inheritance. just prior
to her marriage Is the result OF a trust
fund which William Astor created for
his daughter on the eve of her wedding
to James Roosevelt Roosevelt. who was
then attached to the embassy at Lon
don.
William Astor on Nov. 4. 1878. executed
a deed OF trust. transferring securities
wor,I si00. 600 10 the United States Trust
company TO be used for his daughter
Helen Astor. The deed gave to her the
power TO transfer the property to any
children she might have. or TO her sister
Miss Charlotte Augustus Astor, VINO
latter became Mrs. Coleman Drayton, ana
is now Mrs. ogllvie Haig or to Caroline
Schermerhorn Astor, who became Mrs
Wilson, or to her brother, John Jacob AS
tor.
william Astor Increased the trust fund
by $4,000 on March 8. 1883. The income
was paid TO Mrs. Roosevelt up to the time
OF her death, on Nov. u. 1899 at Heatn-
field, Ascot, England. BY her will Mrs.
Roosevelt gave the trust fund TO Samuel
s.. Howland and George l.. Rivis, as trus-
tees for her two children James II
Roosevelt, Jr.. and Helen Roosevelt
Roosevelt.
No portion Of II was left TO Mrs. Cole
man Drayton, Mrs Wilson or John Jacob
Astor and the Will directed that the an
come OF half the fund be paid to her
daughter for life and that her son receive
his share OF the principal upon reaching
his 2lst birthday.
The trustees were uncertain as 10 the
way in which the fund should be oIs-
tributed. and the court was asked for IN
structions. In 1894 Judge O'Br.en confirm
ed the findings OF a referee that Mrs.
Roosevelt had the power TO exclude ner
sisters and brothers. but that the gift at
tempted by will TO trustees during the
minority OF the son and the life OF ;he
daughter WAS invalid. The court directed
that the fund be divided equally between
the two children and be paid TO them
upon their reaching their majority.
As the result of this decision, Miss
Helen Roosevelt instead of an income OF
about $4,000. which she has been receiv-
ing, gets possession OF the property, which
Is greatly enhanced In value
The transfers include one Fifth avenue
plot at the northwest corner Of Thirty
fifth street. 37xl25 feet. one-half part. The
other parcels are situated principally on
the lower west and east sides The con-
sideration for each transfer was 81.
James r. Roosevelt, Jr., attained his
majority and received his half OF the
trust estate on Oct, %, 1901. He was mar
ried to Sadie Messenger. an actress, June
3. 1900 Both Miss Helen Roosevelt anu
her flancee. who is n son OF Douglas Rob
inson. are relatives Of President Roose-
welt.