Smyrna times., 1904-09-28
CONTEST OVER WILL OF DR.. RIDGELY
His Daughter, Mrs. Ruth Anna J. Wilson OF
Dover, Will Not Pile a caveat.


Dover, Will Not Pile a Caveat.
The will of DIR. Henry Ridgely was
offered for probate before Register OF |
Wills Wilson Tuesday. Mrs. Ruth |
Anna J. Wilson, the only surviving |
child of the testator, had decided not |
to file caveat against the will, but to |
resort to a petition for review. This
conclusion was reached because all
parties were desirous that the admins
tration of the estate should be left in
the hands of the executor named in
the testament, Henry Ridgely, Jr.
The only difference in effect between a
caveat and a petition for review is that
in the first an administrator pending
litigation would have to be appointed,
while in the latter the executor named
is permitted to preserve the estate dur
ing the contest The will accordingly
was probated without objection. Eze-
kiel Cooper, assistant cashier of the
Wilmington branch of the Farmers
Bank, and George E. Dawson, who
holds a similar position in the Farmers
Bank at Dover, were the attesting
witnesses. Merely formal questions
we're asked and answered. Henry
Ridgely, Jr., the executor, stated he
was ignorant of the value of the estate,
but that all parties interested were con-
tent that he give bond for 5000, ,000
The estate is variously estimated from
$500, 900 to $5OO,OOO.
The will is in DIR. Ridgeley's hand
writing. He gives to his only daugh-
ter, Mrs. Wilson, merely a life inter
est in a single farm, estimated to be
worth $4,000. Upon her death, the
farm is to descend to her three children
81. Ridgely Harrington, Samuel Max
we'll Harrington and Miss Virginia
Ridgely Harrington. To each of these
three grandchildren a single farm is
left. To his nephew, Henry Ridgely,
Jr., he leaves the home farm, situated
at the edge of Dover and adjoining the
Delaware railroad. This farm has
been held by Ridgely for over a CEN
tury. He also leaves to his nephew an
interest in the old Ridgely house, on
the Green, and two of the old Ridgely
portraits. The only other bequest,
except to his widow, is the income oi
$4,000 to the vestry of Christ Episcopal
Church, Dover, to keep the burial
ground in good order. All the rest oi
his estate, real and personal, including g
family pictures and jewelry, is be
queathed to the widow, Mrs. Annie
/ Ridgely.
Immediately after the probate of the
will, the executor was notified that tbs
, petition for review would be filed, anC
E that the estate must be preserved in
i, tact. 1t was stated that there would
| be no contest over any part of the will
q except that relating to the widow.
! The fact of DR. Ridgely being al
\ wealthy as he vas, and the unsatis
, factory disposition of the propert,
according to the will, has create,
q more than ordinary interest among al
n classes of people of Dover, wher
q the doctor was long and familiarl
: known. At the death of DIR. Ridgely'
a first wife, mother of Mrs. Wilson, VIII
died intestate, one-half of her estat
descended to him, amounting to $50
. 900, which also is bequeathed to hi
y widow, and not one cent to Mrs. Wi
son.
:. Former Secretary of State jaime
Il. Eughes and William S. HiIlt
represent Mrs. Wilson's INTEREST,"
= and a bitter fight will be waged I
y have the will set aside, or at lea
20 that part in which Mrs. Ridgely, til
widow, is the beneficiary, and Mr.
y Wilson, the only surviving child,
- - almost cut out entirely. 1t is n,
- known who will represent the wido
- :. of DIR. Ridgely. but H. R. Johnso
y, who was called in by Mrs. Ridgely f.
- - consultation, is likely to be her cou
"i sci in tn e case.