The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-20
Vain SEARCH
FOR HIS WILL
Forced Safe TO Find Last Tes-
lament Of Charles [. Fair.
SISTER WEPT OVER LETTER
Many Securities and Private Cocumeuls
discovered, but Even ths Attorney is
inclined 10 Be RstIcslt
SISTER WEPT OVER LETTER

| meath the unfinished granite walls OF the
new Stock Exchange building. on Broad
street, woman dressed In deep mourning
and her face hidden by heavy black
| veil made her way yesterday afternoon.
accompanied by two men. The party con-
sisted Of Mrs. Hermann Oelrichs, sister
| OF the late Charles L. Fair, who, with
his wife. was Instantly killed I'm France
on Thursday last as the result OF an au-
tomob.le accident, Charles Oelrichs her
brother-in-law, and Col. William Jay, her
counsel.
The mission OF Mrs. Oelrichs was TO
search her brothers strong-box In hope
| or nnding his last will and testament.
Probably not since news OF the tragedy
near Trouyille was received has her
brothers death been felt more keeniy by
Mrs. Oelriohs than when. yesterday, she
took from the strong a letter which
he had left last spring on the eve OF his
| departure abroad. She gave way 10 her
| grief as she perused st.
The search yesterday is believed TO In
| dicate that the Oelrichs family win vigor-
| ously oppose the turning over OF the Fair
millions to the relatives Of Mrs. Fair
| Mrs. Hannah Nelson, mother of Mrs.
| Charles Fair. and her son. Abraham Mel
son. have started from Newmarket, N. j..
| for San Francisco TO look out for their
interests In the division of the estate.
RETICENT AS TO WILL.
At the conclusion Of yesterdays search
Col Jay was asked II the will OF Mr.. Fair
had been found.
You mast excuse us, bat we cannot dis
cuss that matter" he replied.
Mrs Oelrtchs came from Newport yes
terday morning and had conssdtation
with her lawyers. Jay Gambler. " No.
As Wall street.
II was decided that application be made
TO the Surrogate for permission to open
Mr. Fairs safe deposit box In the vaults
Of the New York Stock Exchange Safe
ty Deposit company.
An affidavit was made and sworn to by
Mrs. Oelrfchs In which she stated that
her brother. Charles l. Fair was at the
time OF his death a resident of California,
and that he left no personal property In
New York state. She also swore that her
brother left no widow surviving him."
and that she and her sister. Virginia
Vanderbilt. the wife Of William X. Van
derbit. Jr., arc his only next OF kin
Mrs. Oelrichs also stated that II ner
brother left will she believed Il would
probably be found In a private box In ,ne
vaults. for which reason she asked per-
mission to examine the contents.
PRESUMED HUSBAND DIED LAST.
asked as TO the significance Of the state
ment left no widow surviving him." he
said that under the laws OF California
the presumption IL In the case OF an ac-
cident Of the character In which Mr. and
Mrs. Fair were killed. the woman, being
Of the weaker sex. died FIRST. and that.
therefore. Mr.. Fair left no widow.
The party went TO the surrogate's Of
fee. where they learned that Surrogate
Fitzgerald and Surrogate Thomas were
out Of town. Col. Jay then presented the
affidavit to Justice Giegrich. Of the Su-
preme court. Justice Giegerich issued
the order.
II did not however, grant Mrs Oei-
richs the right to examine any papers In
the box other than those necessary to as
certain II will was there. Armed with
this order the party went to No 10 Broad
street. where Mrs Ooelriohs was received
by Charles II. Wright superintendent OF
the vaults, who conducted the party
through the recesses OF the building to
the safe In which she had high hopes of
finding her brothers wifi.
DID NOT KNOW COMBINATION.
The first obstacle was met when Mr..
Wright asked for the combination Of the
safe. Mrs. Oelrichs said she did not
know 1t. She and Col. Jay, however,
suggested one or two combinations Of
their own. and Mr.. Wright tried them
while the party waited anxio,sly. The
lock did not respond, and IL was decided
to telephone to frm Of manufacturers
for the assistance Of expert safe openers
Mr. Oelrichs remarked that he could
not await their arrival and suggested to
Mrs oeirichs that she accompany him
to his office.
No, I'll stay right here until the thing
Is settled one way OF the other" Mrs
oelrichs said. with show Of spirit.
TO. a
o'clock. Mrs. Oelrichs watched them In
tentiy. They attacked the combination
lock with n big wrench and tore II OF
Then with fine drills they began perfor-
ating all around the lock and through the
steel plates. II was tedious work. bat
Mrs. oelrichs made no sign OF fatigue
Fifty one minutes from the time the
safe breakers began work the door swung
open. revealing a large tin box such as
is used by lawyers In Ming valuable
papers. Mrs. Oelrichs stepped quickly
forward and took from the top OF the box
a letter.
soBBED AS SHE READ 1T
She opened IL. and as she read she |
sobbed With trembling hands she re-
turned the letter 90 It's envelope and al |
lowed the veil to fall over her face. |
With an effort she controlled her grief. |
and the lid Of the box was unoiasped
Inside we're found big bundles Of Sc |
curities, private papers and other docp |
ments. One OF the nrst things to be |
drawn forth was handsome silver whis- |
key flask Then came big bundle Of |
green bonds and coupons. and finally a
lot Of papers evidently Of personal ma
ture. Mrs. Oelrichs and Col Jay pored |
closely over these
Twenty minutes were spent scrutiniz- |
ing the contents OF the box Then the |
papers. which were returned. we're placed
In a new box and turned over 10 the Gus
tody OF Mr.. Wright.
Mrs. oclrfchs hurried out Of the build
ing by an exit little used and boarded a
broadway car going uptown. She went
directly 10 the waldorf Astoria. There
she declined TO be interviewed.
Under Justice Giegerieh's order. II n
will has been found II must be imme-