Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-09-29


After the funeral of his beloved
friend and client, Mr. Adler returned
to his Office, and looking through a
bundle of large official envelopes Sc
lected one upon which was written:
Frank NJ Adler,
To be opened after the death of
Roy Fetherngill.
Adler opened the envelope and read
as follows:
Frank M. Adler, Attorney: Sir-Not
later than week after my death, in
the presence of my wife and those of
my children who at the time of my
death may be living, yourself, two
competent stenographers and four such
reputable citizens as you may select
for witnesses, place the casket left
with you on December l, 189-in a
vertical position and remove the lid
by unfastening the screws, then follow
the directions that you will find in the
casket. Roy Fetherngill.
Upon the following afternoon Mr..
Adler's Office was the scene of a most
unparalleled experience.
Seated about the room were Mrs.
Fetherngill and her daughters, dressed
in the mourners' garb, and in accord
ance with the deceased husbands re-
quest, four gentlemen, mutual friends
of both Adler and the late Mr. Feth-
erngill, together with two stenograph-
ers completed the assembly.
The gentlemen gently removed the
casket from the vault, and as directed,
placed it in an upright position before
the awe-stricken assembly.
The lid of the casket was slowly re-
moved and there confronted them Mr..
Fetherngill in all the likeness of his
former self, perfect, natural, though
motionless. In his hand was an en-
velope addressed to tie attorney. The
lawyer opened it and read
adler: Under my left arm you will
find a string. Pull it and carefully
watch and closely observe the result.
"R. F."
Though dumbfounded with such an
unparalleled experience, Adler know
ing these to be the requests of his
late friend, obeyed.
A deathly silence fell upon the au-
dience, broken only by the rumbling
OF miniature machinery in operation,
issuing from the casket.
Every eye was intently riveted upon
the strange likeness of the man recent
ly departed. AS they gazed upon the
figure its eyes seemed to gain express
sion and its features assumed the ami
nation of the living; it's arms slowly
raised and extended. The figure took
clear voice, Enthusiastically that of the
deceased husband and father of the
moprners in whose presence it stood,
spoke to the silent, expectant and
srief-stricken audience.
Hear YET" the image said. "1n the
presence of God as my witness, l, Roy
Fctherngill of rational mind, do
make the following disposition of my
property, to be in effect Immediately
after my death:
ITO my wife | do bequeath all of my
real property in this, the city of San
Francisco, together with all improve
ments thereon, and all furniture there
in, except the furniture and fixtures in
my laboratory.
"All moneys which | may have on
deposit in the First National Bank at
the time of my death and upon this
declaration are made payable to the
order of my wife, and she shall issue
checks Immediately upon this hearing
to the following persons and in the
following amounts:
"To each of my children living at
the time of this declaration, $4,000.
ITO each stenographer and witness
to this declaration 1000.
ITO my attorney and friend, Frank
M. Adler, $2500.
'"To each and every servant in the
family employ $100.
ITO my friend, Ambrose Harris, l
do bequeath all stock and shares held
by me in the development syndicate.
"All other property, both real and
personal, which l have not heretofore
made disposition of, shall be sold and
the proceeds be devoted to the erec-
tion and maintenance of school of
art and science, and 1 request that
Peter Vandenbroek be appointed to the
chair of sculpture at a salary of $12,-
900 year.
And | earnestly charge all present,
as sponsors, that they will harmonious
ly work to the fulfillment of these my
last requests.
This in the city of San Francisco,
State of California, on the thirteenth
day of November, 1S9-."
AT the conclusion of the Grafton an
explosion occurred within the casket,
converting what was most beautiful
piece of sculptor's art to shapeless
mass of debris.
In removing what almost seemed the
mortal remains of his client, Mr.. Adler
discovered a phonograph, but an ex-
animation of the cylinder showed that
the chemist had arranged knife
which followed the diamond point of
tha Instrument and had Dermanently