The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-31
FIGHT FOR TODD's 100000.
The Miser Who Bequeathed a For-
tune to the Woman He Robbed.
From tho Nrnrr XorIr G.

The Miser who Bequeathed a For-
tune to the Woman He Robbed
From the New York Sun.
Syracuse-The strange will of George
Washington Todd. who left his en-
tire fortune of more than $40 900 to
Mrs. Peter Jordan, whose purse he
stole fifteen years ago, is in keeping
with his eccentric character. Twice a
year he visited this city and every
time he made his appearance on the
street he was followed by a crowd
who wondered what Rip Van Wrinkle
had suddenly come 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 Hamilton, Ont, near which
place he had a sort of home. He evil
IDENTIFY felt that his end was near, for
before he left Hamilton he drew up
the will which has already been pub
lished
More than thirty years ago Todd
made his first appearance at SYRIA
cuse bank. He was tall and ungainly
and unwashed. His hair looked as if
1t had never been cut and his clothes
as If they were ready to fall off On
his shoulder he carried an ak, which
he had used to chop wood and make
fires on his Journey for he had come
from Hamilton, Ont, on foot.
At that time he was worth $4,000,
which he had inherited from a rela-
tive. When he appeared at the bank
with his ak, a clerk grabbed a re-
volver and sent a hurry-up call to
the police station, thinking that q
crazy man had come down from the
forests to clean the bank.
Todd, however, had no belligerent
intentions and laid down his ak and
produced well-stuffed wallet, the con-
tents of which he deposited in the
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 wheelbarrow in
which he carried the notions he ped
died 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 a railroad bond
which he bought early in his career.
For this he paid $1,000 Many years
after, learning that it was depreciating
In value, he journeyed to New York
city on foot to sell it. 1t almost broke
his heart when he received only $2S2 for
u
known to invest his money, preferring
to deposit it in savings banks where
interest was certain.
1t has developed since his death that
he was born in Herkimer county, New
York, where he worked as farm lab
orer At the death of his parents he
inherited $4,000.
The habits of a miser developed rap
idly in him. 1t is said that once he
made a bargain to work upon a farm
and agreed to eat only two meals a
day on condition that in return he
should have a Slight increase in pay.
For a long time he made trips through
the country with his wheelbarrow. get
ting his meals in return for his wares
and sleeping in barns or fields.
The Civil War was too much for
Todd, and to escape draft and taxes he
left for Canada. where he lived ever
after.
About two weeks ago claim for his
money was Gent in by Jennie Yarwood
of Rome. who said she was a distant
relative of the dead man and had a
note for 5000 given by Todd and never
paid. In her affidavit she set forth
that she had been unable 10 find TOdd's
sister, Mrs. Mary Ann Snyder. who
liver near Herkin1er but moved with
her family 20 Michigan many years
ago.
Jennie Yarwood says she Is . great
granddaughter Of a sister Of T0dd's
mother. Since that time W. J. Din
gledirne, cashier of q bank AZ Harris
onburR, Va, has written 40 the officers
Of the OnOndaga County Savings Bank
aekinR about Todd in behalf Of E0use
relatives living there.