New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-05
AND" ALLOWSWILL FIGHT
Children of c. L. Tiford Gain by
Peculiar Mistake.

Because and was written instead Of the
sign 81" an effort can now be made by the
family OF the late Charles Z. Tilford. who died
in April, 1899. to obtain for his children nearly
$3.50 600 that was bequeatbed by Mr.. Tilford
TO various charitable Institutions in this city.
The fight for the money viii be made under Sec
ton l. Chapter $50. Of the Laws of 1860. which
provides that a man who leaves wife. son.
daughter. father or mother shall not bequeath
more than one-half Of his estate to charity. The
last case TO which this law applied tried
in the Supreme Court in 1872, in which verdict
in favor of the contestants was rendered
When Mr. Tilford died he left a wife, Cortnna
Tilford and two children. Eta Tilford Kirkland
and George +. Tilford, whose marriages he had
opposed. His daughter became the wife OF Ed
ward K. Kirkland, coffee broker Of this city,
and his son secretly married Miss Rita Selby,
who was playing Tony Gay in "A Trip to
Chinatown" at the Madison Square Theatre on
March >, 1899. His marriage first became known
about SIX weeks later, when an entry on the reg
lister of the Marlborough Hotel revealed the
fact. As a result OF these marriage Mr.. Til
ford would neither speak to nor see his children
to the day OF his death.
HIS will, which probated April 10. 1899,
provided that his wife should have the choice Of
the house at No. Al West Forty-ffth-st. or the
country at Rye, y. Y. The rest OF the
estate was to be held in trust. the United States
Trust Company and Warren w. Foster being
named trustees. From this enough was 10
be set aside to give the son and daughter a
yearly income amounting to $4,000 EACH the
income OF the remainder being his widows until
her death remarriage. on her death or re-
marriage, the entire estate. amounting to about
S1,lOOOOO to be divided equally among the
Presbyterian. Mount Sinai, Flower and St VIM
cent hospitals, the Home for Incurables and St.
Johns Guild after $4,000 each had been given
10 the Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty to
Animals and the Metropolitan Museum OF Art
The will, which dated November 80, 1896.
provided that II It were contested the estate
should be divided as though the contestant was
dead.
Another clause, which has given the attorneys
OF the family opportunity 10 try to obtain
Tor The children a larger portion of the estate
directed that certain shares and stocks OF the
1rm OF Park and Tilford belonging TO Corinna
IlIord, be held by the trustees. Park and Til
ford is the name of the New-York corporation
the stock Of which is held by Park & TIlford, of
\ew-Jersey. through which the firm conducts
considerable stock in the firm OF Park & TIL
ford. but none IN Park and Tilford of New York
The trustees have been holding the shares
owned In the corporation Of Park d Tilford, and
to be sure that they are doing right, have asked
the supreme Court 10 construe for them that
clause Of the will
The attorney for the son and daughter.
Charles Pope Caldwell. Of No Al Broadway, on
hearing Of this request fled a request for the
court to construe the rest OF the will. and TO
determine II. under the laws OF 1860. forbidding
@ man leaving more than half of his fortune to
charitable institutions, the will depriving the
children OF about SI3nOp0 could stand The
clause forbiddnE the contest OF the will is
thus avoided The widow has no financial in
terest in the question. since she agreed to ac-
cept the bequest IN the viii IN lieu or her cover
and all other claims The case VIII probably
bc tried IN May.