Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-07-10
A MISER'S
LITTLE JOKE.
Icopyrigh.. 1906. BY NJ. McKeon.l


Henry Tweed was a miser. There
was only one saving clause in the
mans whole life His word was as
good as his bond. He exacted the last
penny, but he also paid the last At
twenty years of age he was lending
money and buying real estate. AT the
same time he was living on raw veg
etables and wearing clothing begged
here and there 1t Is not on record
that any man ever bested him In
trade Of any sort. When his father
and mother died it was generally I'M
derstood that Henry had no near rela-
tives. He was never heard to refer
to any one. nor did any one claiming
relationship ever visit him. He died
Mt the age Of fifty from exposure to a
storm and was supposed to have left
fortune Of about $4,000. 1t was
soon discovered that he had left a
quarter of million dollars.
Henry Tweed had no friends. He
had never given human being his
confidence. While he had not quar-
relied with men. he had been misery
and hard hearted and exacting. Very
little could be said in his favor and a
great deal against him. One Of the
things remembered against him in his
own town was that Of dispossessing
man who had borrowed money Of him
and then failed through no fault of his
own. He was III when Tweed ordered
the law to carry him out of the house.
He always claimed that he was right
in this. though he realized that all
others berated him for his flinty heart.
After his death It was found that he
had made restitution. He had left all
his property to the man who had cali
ed him a Shylock and scoundrel.
He had appointed as his executors
ken against him.
The will was found, admitted to pro-
bate, and the executors began their
work. The heir had almost been put
into possession when man claiming
to be a cousin Of Tweed appeared and
put In a claim. He had will of later
date than the other. 1t also appointed
different men as executors. The law
says that the last will stands. This
will upset the other. but 1t did not
stand for long. A woman who easily
| proved that she was a cousin came on
| from a distant state and exhibited a
| letter and a will making her the sole
| legatee This was dated two weeks
| later than the second. 1t was perfect
| ly legal. and again there was change
| OF executors. Things had scarcely be-
| gun moving under the new will when
| flood of relatives appeared. There
| We're uncles and aunts and cousins ga
| lore, and all had will.
1t transpired that one lawyer had
| drawn up all the wills as q sort of job
| lot. There were fourteen of them in
all. and he had given Tweed whole
sale rate. Each one down to the last
| had n later date than the other and
| named different executors. Not one of
| the relatives had known Tweed in life
| or cared about him in the slightest.
| and he stated TO the lawyer that he
| wanted revenge on the whole crowd.
There was bitter feeling among the
| heirs and much loud talk about law
suits to break the will, but the final
| legatee agreed to give each one GER
| tain sum and thus brought about
| peace. In due time he entered into
his own and began to enjoy himself.
| The newspapers had got tired of pub
| fishing columns about the eccentric
| Henry Tweed. and people who knew
| him best had talked the matter out.
when there was new development. \
| lawyer who had not before been men-
| toned in connection with the case
came forward with paper signed and
witnessed reading that the last and
| true will had been concealed and that
1t named different legatee from any
! of the others. Whoever was in pos
| session when this paper was presented
| should remain so until the will men,
| toned should be found.
| All the Old excitement was at once
revived. The heirs under the other
! wills returned and began searching,
| and at one time over 100 persons Wee
| hunting in every likely spot for the
| paper. The man in possession had tie
| house taken to pieces and ever inch
| of barns and sheds gone over. Thee
was digging In the cellar and oG.dooci 5.
| Wooden and brick walls We're search
| ed. Men hunted through orchards ana
| fields and thickets. and for & m02.h
| scarcely any other work was done in
| that part of the county. II it hadn't
been for old Granny Benson. the will
| might never have been found She
was old and light headed, ana no one
gave her any attention. She heard
the talk all around her, but had moth
ing to say for some. weeks. Then a
storekeeper asked her in half humor-
Gus way where she supposed the pa
per had been hidden. and she said:
"Why, we all know that Henry
bought coffin at bargain five years
before he died and kept it in the
| house. He was buried in it. l guess
| he had pocket in the coffin and put
the paper in it,