The evening world., 1903-07-09
Mrs. Hardy Begins an Action to
Recover the Vast Fortune
Left by the famous Governor
of New Jersey, Twenty Years
After HIS Death.
HIS WILL STOLEN FROM
4; THE HALL OF RECORDS.
Plaintiff Bases Her Demand on
Scrap of Paper Found Among
Her Mothers Effects, in
Which She Says Her Children
Are to Inherit Fortune.

One OF the mos: interesting suits ever
brought in the Chancery courts OF New
Jersey was begun to-day when Lawyer
John Fallon fled papers in an ct!on
brought by Mrs. Bertha Hardy, OF No.
l123 Willow avenue, Hoooken. to re-
cover property valued at S.OOO,00o lert
by her grandfather, Charles Smith
Olden. Governor OF New jersey during
The war. and one OF the States most
distinguished jurlsts.
Mrs. Hardy Is :hs only surviving d.
rect descendant Of Gov. Olden. Nearly
balf 4 century has passed since her
E~randra"ent Occupied the highest office
In his native state. He has been dead
t~wenty-nlne years.
The basis for the present action is that
the original will left by Gov. Olden has
heen stolen from the Trenton Hall o.
Records and that the only copy Of the
viii Ia now in possession of persons who
have a purpose in concealinE its con-
tents.
He Nothcr DisInherited.
According to Mrs. Hardy's story she
IL the daughter OF Elizabeth Olden. the
only child OF the former Governor.
When q young woman Miss Oldcn mar.
fled Samuel Mortimer. n Bohemian
landscape painter, against her fathers
will. For this she was dlsinherite1,
Her children. however, we're to get the
bulk Of the estate.
Mrs. Hardy was the only child or the
Mortimers. Both her father and mother
died IN comparative poverty while she
mas Sat two years old. The great for
,une Of Gov. Olden had not then been
distributed. though a multiplicity OF
heirs were fighting for It. Mrs. Hardy
vas ,llen adopted by the parents of her
as husband. Thomas Hardy. They
rev up as children together and mar
g,d very young.
Little thought had ever. been given 10
The chances OF securing my portion OF
the Olden estate until a short time ago.
when Mrs. Hardy came across an age
w!:he-ed scrap Of paper or wh!Ch her
mother had written that though she was
Gu; off by her fathers will her daughter
would inherit his millions.
Two Valuable Blocks.
Though far from ~atfluent, Mrs. Hardy
FeS oSt ~ SNSst s'N
lawyer. who. upon investigating records
and mouldy documents, found that there
was ample basis for a suit. The Olden
estate consists OF a square block OF
property In Washington, D. c., one side
OF which faces on Pennsylvania avenue,
ani a square block in Trenton. y. j..
opposite the State House. These two
blocks are valued at 5000. 900.
SHOULD Mrs. Harry he successful in
her suit. not only will those who are ct
ifesent in possession of this property
be compelled to vaoate. but also to pay
back more than 1000, 0o0 that has &c.
cfued to them in rents since their occu'
palcy.
tCharles smith Oldeu was one of the
most distinguished Governors OF New
Jersey. His term in Office EXTENDED
from 1850 to 1864. and historians recorc
that IL was largely through his efforts
sisiat New Jersey contributed her spiea
did quota of troops toward the North
y4fIi cause.
A Princeton Graduate.
Gov. olden was born in Princeton II
1903. He was the son of a well-to-dt
Merchant and. after graduating from
Princeton College. he entered bushes:
In Philadelphia. From there he wen
10 New Orleans, where he MADE a big
fortune and retired in 1884. He returned
10 Princeton and was made treasure
lit was almost entirely through hi
mufSfAcence and sldDful management
that the university was able to recove
from the financial embarrassment
caused by the burning of Nassau Hall
He, entered politics and after severa
terms in the Legislature was elected
Governor In 1853.
After the war he specialized Target!
In real estate and amassed a FORUM
os several millions. He was Presiden
tial elector several times before he d!et
N Princeton in 1915.