The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-28
"WORTHY POOR" ARE
"ALWAYS WITH U.s.
{. n. Bell Declares OeViSee of
Wilder Wills Is Definite and
Specific.

who are the worthy poor of St.
Paul?" counsel have repeatedly asked;
and our reply is, that it is immaterial
So long as the devisee is definite and
specific, 1t is no concern of theirs who
may be the benefciaries."
This declaration was made by c.. N.
Bell yesterday in the hearing before
Judge Bum on the validity of the
Wilder wills.
Five months ago." said Mr.. Bell, "a
corporation was formed under the laws
of this state and in accordance with
the terms of Mrs. Wilder's will and the
title to the fortune of Fanny S. Wilder
has passed to that corporation in full
compliance with the law. That is suff1-
clent. The devise was to this corpora
ton"
WHO are the worthy poor? That is
not for them to question. The court will
take judicial cognizance that the poor
we have always with u.s..
For many years the board Of control
of this county has from it's office in
this same building dispensed a portion
of the county taxes in charitable ex-
pendlture. To whom do they give this
money, or the provisions that are
bought with the public money; to the
criminal class of indigents; to the rich ?
No, to the worthy poor.
Law Doesn't Define "Worthv Poor"
"And in that case. who determines
who the worthy poor are; is that all
deflned in the laws providing for this
expenditure? No, 1t is not, and the
BOARD OF control must determine who
are worthy of relief The board is con-
st1tuted for that purpose"
Mr.. Bell, who is of counsel for the
trustees, began his argument in the
afternoon, and had not completed if at
the hour of adjournment. He protested
TO the court that the motion to inter-
Vene had no proper place in this action,
at least at this time. The case of Vic
tor M. Watkins ct al. against Charles
II. Bigelow ct al, as it had been begun,
was a friendly suit, he said, for the
purpose of getting a judicial construc-
ton of some portions of the will of Am
herSt II. Wilder. In the estate involved
In that instrument the presumptive in
terVenors. could not properly have any
interest to be considered at this time
and no foundation had been laid fol-
their intervention. The will Of Mr.
Wilder, he said, had been probated
years ago, and the proper time fo1
these people to present any claims they
the probate court.
Mr.. Bell, later in his argument, took
UP the Fanny S. Wilder will and talked
at length in it's defense.
Frank B. Kellogg completed his adj
dress in the morning and was followed
| by Jared S. How, also Of counsel fOl
the trustees, whose argument extended
! into the afternoon session.
Would Tear Laws to Tatters.
Mr.. How said the San Francisco at
| torney, Mr.. TreadWell, had come here
in an iconoclastic and hypercritica
| spirit to tear the laws of Minnesota tc
tatters, to disclose to the residents OF
| this state that their legislature did not
know what it was doing, and passed
| laws without knowing what their eff
! feet would be, and without regard tt
| consequences. He came here to show
| that it would be impossible in this
state for a man to leave his property
| to a charitable object.
'Why," said Mr.. How, eff we want tx
keep our money from being spread al
| over the Pacific coast, or being carried
| off to Illinois, after We die, we mus
| initiate the red man and have it buried
| with u.s.
Mr.. How spoke of the claimants az
| distant relatives of Mrs. Wilder, some
| of whom she had never seen, and who
would now come forward to thwart hel
dearest wishes and spread the fortune
which she had dedicated to charity al
over the Pacific coast and Illinois.
| 1--WE all know" said he, land the
court knows, and everybody knows
that Mrs. Wilder had only one objec
| in view when she made her will, an(
that was the establishment of a grea
| and worthy charity"
E. S. Durment, attorney for DR.. Ap.
pleby, started to address the court al
to which of the three wills should b.
considered first, but Judge Bum ruleC
that at this time only the constitu
! tionality Of the law under which tn,
| Wilder charity was created and tn,
! validity of the will of Mrs. Fanny S
| Wilder would be considered.