The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-04-23
WILL OF AN ECCENTRIC NAN.
Disinherited in His Youth, He Leaves
$500, 600 to Churches-His
Relatives Amazed.

Relatives of Augustus P. Lines, for
merly of this city, are discussing the
strange will which excluded them from
all benefits in his estate, said to be
worth more than half million dollars.
He died in New Haven, Conn, and, al
though a Protestant, distributed the
bulk of his property among churches
of all denominations, Protestant and
Roman Catholic alike.
He also provided large fund to en-
dow a chair in the Yale law school.
His widow has an annuity derived from
Il fund of $4,000 set aside for her, but
owing to the manner in which she had
been accustomed to live the income will
not be sufficient to maintain her estab-
lishment. She is 70 years old and is
considering the advisability of contest
ing the will. Many of the kinsfOlks are
anxious to have her do so, as upon her
action would depend their own chances
of obtaining share.
Mr. Lines was so years old, and he
had passed three score before his
wealth came to him. In his youth he
had a disagreement with his father,
which drove him to work for livell-
hood. He obtained employment in an
engraving shop, and from the position
Of ordinary laborer rose to be one OF
the best engravers on steel and gold in
the country.
Most of his work was done for gold
and silver smiths who desired artistic
and intricate mOnOgrams made for
them. He was able to put aside COM
potency, and when his hand was. not
capable of doing the careful work
which his business required he retired.
His father had disinherited him, and
he expected to have no money except
that which he had actually earned.
He was surprised when a wealthy
uncle in New Haven, in view of the
way in which the nephew had been
treated by the elder Lines, left him
several hundred thousand dollars. He
invested his unexpected fortune in New
Haven real estate, which returned a
large income.
Interested in charitable work, no one
in New Haven was better known than
he among the poor His funeral was
attended by all classes. Although he
was generally considered eccentric, he
was tolerated in his ideas of religion
He was a member of the Methodist
Church of the Redeemer, to which he
left liberal portion of his estate.
Catholic churches in New Haven shared
equally with those of other denomina-
tions.
1t is understood that Mrs Lines feels
hat she has practically been disinherit-
ed New Haven attorneys have been
retained to examine into the facts con-
nected with the making Of the will with
view to beginning contest, it is said.
The widow, who under the will OBJ
tains only an annuity, would have one
third of the property absolutely, and
the remaoining two-thirds, if the will
| were broken, could then be divided
among the other heirs.
Yale and the other benefciaries are.
ready to defend their claims. Mrs.
Lines thinks, rather than go to the ex--
pense of a contest she would prefer
some method of arbitration by means.
of which settlement could be reached.
The money set aside for Yale is to-
be used to found a chair of testament
tary Law, provided the testament which
gives it shall resist an attack in the
courts.-New York Herald