The sun., 1903-05-24
FIGHT FOR TODDS $4,000.
The Wiser Who BeQuelthed = Fortune to
the Woman lie Robbed.

SYRACUSE. May 23.-The strange will Of
George Washington Todd. who left his
entire fortune Of more than $4,000 to Mrs.
Peter Jordan. whose purse he stole fifteen
years ago. is in keeping with his eccentric
character. Twice year he visited this
city and every time he m,de his appearance
on the street he was followed by a crowd
who wondered what Rip Van Wrinkle had
suddenly com, to life.
Todd was in Syracuse last in the first
part Of April. Then, for the first time
in his life, he took a railroad train for Hamil-
ton. Ont, near which place he had a sort
Of home He evidently felt that his end
was near, for before he left Hamilton he
drew up the will which has already been
published.
More than thirty years ago Todd made
He was tall and ungainly and unwashed.
His hair looked as 1t had never been cut
and his clothes as if they were ready to fall
of On his shoulder he carried an axe,
which he had used to chop wood and nuke
fires q, on his !, Journey for he had come from
AT that time he was worth SIS 900, which
he had inherited from a relative. When
he appeared at the bank with his axe. a
clerk grabbed revolver and sent hurry
up cai 10 tne ponce s'aloh, thiHkins tnat
crazy man had come down from the forests
10 clean the bank.
Todd, however. had no belligerent In
tentions and laid down his axe and pro-
duced well-stuffed wallet, the contents
of which he deposited in the bank After
his first appearance he showed up In town
every six months to have his book balanced
up and generally to make new deposits
He continued to walk from Canada and
always trundled a wheel borrow, IN which
he carried the notions he peddled. He
was never known to stop at a hotel on the
way, but preferred to live like a tramp.
Todd's faith In investments was broken
by his loss on railroad bond which he
bought early in his career. For this he
paid $1,000, Many .years after. learning
neyed to New York city on foot to sell It.
1t almost broke his hea ri when he received
only s2s2 for it. After that time he was
never known to invest his money, preferring
to deposit it in savings banks where interest
wes certain.
1t has developed since his death that he
was born in Herkilner county. N. Y, where
he worked as farm laborer. At the death
Of his parents he inherited $4,000.
The habits of a miser developed rapidly
in him 1t is 81 id that once he mode a
bargain to work upon farm and agreed to
eat only two me;.ls a day on condition
that in return he should have a slight in
crease in pay. For a long time he made
ulpS through tne country WIN MS wheel.
barrow, getting his meals in return for his
wares and sleeping in barns or fields.
The civil war was too much for Todd,
and to csc: pc draft and taxes he left for
Canada, where he lived ever after.
About two weeks 60 claim for his money
was sent in by Jennie Yarwood Of Rome,
who said she was a distant rels tive Of the
dead man and had a note for s. 900 given by
Todd and never paid. In her affida Wit she
set forth that she had been unable to hnd
nN~ll tetnr No A. L.
lived near Herkimer. but moved With her
family to Michigan many yelre ago.
Jennie iarwood says she 10 q great
granddaughter OF sister OF Todd's mother.
Since that time ". j., Dingledime. cashier
TO the officers OF the Onondaga County
Savings Bank asking about Todd In behalf
Of some relatives living thsrs. .