Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-06
WHIMS IN OLD WILLS.
Curious Desires Have Actuated
Many Testators.

From the New York Evening Post.
The dryness of the law is sometimes al
leviated by the freaks and whims that ap.
pear in wills.
Many persons have settled incomes or
animals Horses, cats and dogs are the
most favored, but monkeys, goats and
birds have been known to receive such at
tentions. The Count of Mirandola provid-
ed in his will for fish which he had own.
ed for twenty years; at last reports the
fish was enjoying good health in its aqua
rum at Lucca. In 1913, Mrs. Elizabeth
Hunter left her dearly beloved parrot
the sum of 200 guineas a year, to be paid
as long as the parrot lived, to it's custo.
dian. The parrot itself went TO Mrs. Mary
Dyer.
In case the parrot survived Mrs. Dyer
the latter had the privilege of bequeath-
ing the bird. but it could not go to a ser
want or a man. only to "a respectable fe-
male" Moreover it was to reside in q
fine, large, glded cage, to cost not less
than 10 guineas." and it was not TO be
taken out of England.
Some persons have used their wills as
means of paying off old scores. In TIC
Stephen Swain of the parish of st. Olaves
London. left John Abbott and Mary, his
fear the sheriff should not be provided
In 1893 Philip Thickness Willed that his
right hand be cut off and sent to his son.
in hopes that such sight may remind
him of his duty to God after having so
long neglected the duty he owed to a
father who once affectionately loved him. -
Lieut.. Col. Nash got even with his wife
by leaving the bell-ringers of Bath Alb
hey fifty pounds a year on condition that
they muff1e the bells of said abbey on the
al n Of n rria 90 ri
with "doleful accentuation from am.
to 8 p.m.." and on the anniversary OF
his death to ring merry peal for the same
space ''in memory of his happy release
from domestic tyranny and wretchedness'
Jasper Mayne, who died in 1920, must
have been person of humor. He left his
servant an old valise, stating that it con-
tanned something that would enable him
to drink. When the valfse was opened II
was found to contain only a red herring
Occasionally a testator exhibits an orig
inal idea as to the disposition Of his body.
Sieur Benoit, whose will was probated in
Paris in 1877, ordered that he be buried
In his old trunk to save the expense Of a
coffin. He added that he was attached to
the trunk. it having gone around the
world with him three times.
Wills often exhibit their makers van
ity, as in the case of Thomas Chepstow.
This individual made large fortune and
had his head turned by it. He tried to
d
flee. but nothing could be found under the
name Of Chepstow. An official suggested
that as his grandmother's name was Hurls-
wick, he might use the Hurlswicks coat.
This he did, and It proved a finishing
stroke. for he came to believe that the
unadulterated Hurlswick blood flowed In
his veins. When he died he cut off with
a small annuity his cousin Diana. an aged
spinster, who had kept house for him for
many years. because she could prove no
Hurlswick blood. and left his money to
Mr. w. Hurlswick Of Islington."
He didn't know this person, having only
selected him from the directory on account
of his name. Matters were complicated by
the appearance of two claimants: William
Hurleswick. rag and bone dealer, and
Walter Hurlswick mercer. It looked as
IL the name in the Will was without an
'e;" but microscopic examination showed
that an re" had originally been written
in lead pencil, SO the rag and bone man
got the property.