New-York tribune., 1910-12-11
mrs. TRASK GIVES
AWARD TO CHARITY
Dedicates Her Share Of Money
Paid by New York Central
for Husbands Death.
SARATOGA SPRINGS BENEFIT
Turns Over $4,000 to the Vii
lage and to Beth esda Episcopal
Church in Memory Of
Spencer Trask.
nv Telesraph TO The Tribune I


Saratoga Springs. y. Y. Dec 1o-Mrs.
Katrina Trask. widow of Spencer Trass.
of New York and Saratoga Springs. has.
through the agency of the president cf
this village given to Saratoga Springs
the sum of S24.50o. and 10 Bethesda
Episcopal Church. this village. Of which
Mr. Trask was a member. the sum OF
$500 This represents Mrs Trask's
share of the settlement which MIR
Trask's executors made with the New
York Central Railroad for his death on
December 81. 1909. 1t is understood
that the company settled with the
bankers estate for S6OOOb-
In communication to Village Presi-
dent McNulty received to-day Mrs. Trask
saws that she could never consent 10
take the money for her personal use.
and desires to make a gift to the village
in memory of Mr.. Trask- In her letter
Mrs. Trask said, in part:
After the death of my husband. Spen-
Ger Trask it was many days before
was able to talk with my counsel and
advisers: when / saw them they urged
upon me my duty TO take action against
the New York central Railroad for the
unspea ka bIy criminal csrelessness which
led to the fatal tragedy of December 81.
1909.
Such action I have positively refused
to consider. I maE.~ only one request
namely, that I might never again hear
the name of the New York Central Rail
road spoken in my presence. My ad-
visers, however. pointed out to me that
this was impossible. They said l owed a
duty to the community, a grave respon-
sibiIity TO the public This argument
was further urged by several other able
advisers, who pleaded that I must sac
rifce my feelings. at whatever cost OF
pain. for the protection of others in time
TO come
Moreover. my counsel told me that 7
had no choice in the matter. that as
| executrix / was obligated under the law
to join in bringing suit. Therefore. great
| ly against my purpose. I consented to
allow my co-executors to proceed a they
| felt 1t to be their duty. entreating them
! if possible 70 avoid litigation.
The officers of the railroad. TO avoid
litigation. made a settlement with my
co-executors. From the amount paid by
| the officers of the railroad in this settle
ment the proportion required by law
was given to my husbands next OF kin
| and I am informed that the remaining
sum of $50, 900 belongs to me. Of course
L personally would not touch this money.
II hope it is needless for me to say
| that il would not be conceivable for me
| to use it, no matter what my stress
might be- 1t must be dedicated: and I
am sure the most fitting dedication is to
give it to the town to which Spencer
Trask devoted many years Of Jealous
service and for which, in the end. he
sacrificed his life
I II therefore have directed my lawyers
to place sd, 800 with my bankers. in
trust, to be used for the village of Sara
toga Springs
| II beg. sir. that you will consult with
| the trustees of the village and with ths
reservation commission Of which Spen-
Ger Trask was chairman, and learn their
| Judgment as to it's expenditure. reserv-
/ ing for yourself the power of final de-
cision. subject to my approval"
| In closing. Mrs. Trask expresses a de
! sire TO be permitted TO unite with ths
president in bringing to pass in the town
a threefold betterment-a practical
progress, an intellectual growth and
above all, moral development