Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-17

G. G. TEGETHOFF. POI East 18th
street. Flatbush, l.. /.
This will. which makes Mary W. Harri-
man, widow of Edward H. Hartman, the
sole legatee of his colossal accommodations
sole eXecutrix of his estate and the rich
est woman in the world. with absolutely
unrestricted freedom to do as she pleaseS
with s1OO,OOOOOO or 500 OOO, 900, was filed
for probate with the surrogate at Goshen.
N y the seat of Orange county, of
which Mr.. Hartman was legally a resi-
dent.
Not q hint of the value of the estate is
given in the will. which contains just
ninety-nine words. If the estate amounts
to only S1OOGOO.OO each word was worth
81 100000; and $1,000. 900 if the estate totals
S2OO.0GOOOo.
Involving as it does the absolute dis
position of one of the greatest fortunes
ever accumulated. the Hartman will
stands alone for brevity lucidity and the
absence of cumbersome legal phrases.
Lawyers, when they read it, declared it
unassailable, and proof against any con-
test that could be devised.
No Mention Of the Children.
The fact that it contains no mention of
any of the five Hartman children led to
the conclusion that ample provision was
made for them by Mr. Hartman when he
realized that his recent illness would
prove fatal. While no official announce
ment was made. it is supposed he trans
ferred to each one Of them several mil
lions in securities which are to be held in
trust until they reach an age suitable for
the responsibility Of managing large
wealth.
Also 1t is Sumised that Hartman had
a thorough understanding with his wife
to ho,- ont Of a hI1lk nj he
estate. and that his faith In her good
judgment was SO absolute he did not deem
it necessary to incumber the legacy with
restrictions or conditions.
That Mrs Hartman will be guided In
her management of the huge wealth,
with its multitude of responsibility, by
Charles A. Peabody and eX-Judge Rob
ert S. Lovett the two lawyers whom her
husband trusted most, is regarded as
certain.
The bulk of the Hartman fortune is
tied up in the securities of the Harri-
man roads. and both Judge Lovett and
welfare of those properties. While the
conservative interests of Wall street
hoped to see the Hartman securities
trusteed by express provisions Of the will.
and thereby put where their possible sale
would not be overhanging the market,
no fears were aroused when the contents
of the will became known at pm.
Mr.. Peabody, who is president Of the
typewriter copies of the will made early
in the day. and when he received word
by telephone from the lawyer whom he
had sent to Goshen that 1t had been filed
with the surrogate there, he at once dis
tributed the copies to the newspapers
and the various Wall street news agen-
cles-
IT was Mr.. Peabody who dreww the will
at Mr.. Harrimans dictation, and he was
also a subscribing witness. He refused
absolutely TO discuss the value Of the
estate or any provision Mr.. Hartman
may have made for his five children. The
other subscribing witness, Charles c.
Tegethoff. was Mr.. Harriman's private
secretary. He also refused to discuss the
matter, saying he was pledged to silence
Judge Lovett Wouldn't Talk.
When Judge Lovett was asked to esti-
mate Mr. Harrimans fortune he said he
could not talk of 1t, as all matters per-
tanning to the estate were in the hands of
Mr.. Peabody.
When the estate is finally appraised for
the purpose of levyfng the state inherit
ance tax, the value then disclosed is not
expected to represent by very many mill
lions the full fortune left by Mr.. Harri-
man. All transfers supposedly made by
Mr.. Hartman to his children. his brother,
sister and other relatives will not figure
in the appraisal and consequently these
amounts will escape the inheritance tax
The estate will be appraised by the
treasurer of Orange county. Had Mr..
Hartman been legal resident of this
city the estate would have been valued by
a board of salaried appraisers. of which
James Yereance is chairman. In the out
lying districts the county treasurers are
designated by the statutes the apprais-
ers. and they receive fees for performing
such duties. The fee of the treasurer of
Orange county for appraising the Harri-
man estate will amount to a modest for
tune.
If Mr. Hartman transferred any con-
sdera bic amount of his wealth just before
his death. and II could be shown that he
did so to avoid the payment of the in
heritance tax by the benefciaries. the
state would have the right to institute
proceedings for the collection of the
evaded tax.
Chairman James Yereance of the New
York board of appraisers said yesterday:
The law recognizes that a man has
the right to dispose of his property as
he sees At. but ii also recognizes that
the state is entitled to tax on inherit
ances. II ii can be shown that a man
has made transfers of his property just
before death, in contemplation of his
death and for the purpose of evading the
inheritance, then the state can step in
and collect the usual tax on those trans
fers"
What the Widow Must Pay.
The inheritance tax which Mrs. Harri-
man must pay is 1 per cent of the total