The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-07-15
his Son, Rudolph G. Leeds, on
Return From New York,
States He Is Satisfied With
Arrangement.
NEWSPAPER TALK
WITHOUT GROUND.
But Few Are Acquainted With
The Provisions of the Fam
GUS MiIIionaire's Will, the
Son Being One.

Rudolph G.. Leeds returned today
from New York where he attended the
funeral of his father, William b. Leeds
the multi-millionaire who recently
died in Paris. France.
"The will of my father has been
read and l am perfectly familiar with
Its ents." stated Mr.. Leeds this
morning. "The provisions Of this will
are entirely satisfactory to me and
there is no cause for coatesting it.
My father divided his estate in the
fa,rest possible manner.
"All newspaper talk regarding the
division of my fathers estate have
been purely fiction as but few are IA
miliar with the contents Of the will
and certainly not the newspapers.
The New York dispatch sent cut
last evening, parts of which we're re-
putiated by Mr.. Leeds reads as fol-
lows:
"The will of William B. Leeds. who
died In Paris on June %, will be offer
cd for probate nayJ Tcontf. according
to Information received from abroad
by friends of Mr.. Leeds. The will is
in the possession o. lewis Cass Led
yard, Mr. Leeds attorney, who is still
IN Europe and Will be brough, over by
Mr.. Ledyard early in August. 1t would
surprise none of Mr.. Leeds friends il
fr,, fol
lowed by spirited contest
The information received by Mr..
Leeds friends Is that the will cuts out
absolutely the first wife of The testa-
tor, Jeanette Irene Gaar Leeds. who
Is now living in Richmond, Ind, the
f,ome of both Mr.. Leeds and his first
wife.
The first Mrs. Leeds. who assisted
Mr.. Leeds materially in his early busi-
husband after they had been married
seventeen years. This was in 1900,
and 1t was reported widely that she
received at the time ST 100000 in lieu
of alimony. This report, it was de-
clared today, was erroneous, though
the first Mrs. Leeds never took the
pains to deny it. Not only, it was de-
clared, did she not receive 1000, 900,
but has never benefited in the slight
est degree from her husbands estate.
She was extremely anxious to get a
divorce and made no fight for a money
settlement.
Though the will makes no provision
for the first wife. to Mr.. Leeds son
by that wife is bequeathed $1,000, 900,
either outright or in trust. This son,
Rudolph Leeds, is % years old. is mar
ried and lives in Richmond. Ind. An
unsuccessful contest by his mother
could not jeopardize his Inheritance
while successful contest would large
ly increase it.
The will is understood to bequeath
an estate valued at between 5000, ,00O
and $10.000,000. The only other speci
fic beQuest of Importance apart from
that to Rudolph Leeds is one of the
second wife. who at the time of heI
marriage was Mrs. Mamie May Stew
art Worthington. To her Mr.. Leeds
leaves all his real property.
The most valuable pieces are q
house at 9S7 Fifth avenue. this city
for which Mr.. Leeds paid s250,O00 anG
Rough Point, the Newport villa, which
Mr.. Leeds bought from Frederick Van
derbtlt for 100000. In Mr.. Leeds
lifetime the second wife received valu
able presents of jewelry and, it i.
thought. large blocks of securities.
The residuary estate. worth probab
ly $7,o00,000, is left to an infant, BY
the second wife. This bequest, it i.
understood. is made in trust until the
child attafns his majority. The Unit
ed States Trust company and George
F. Baker, president of the First Natio
nal bank, are named in the will as ex
ecutors.