The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-12
MRS. TRASK GIVES
RAILWAY DAMAGES
Donates to Church and Saratoga
$4,000 Paid for Her Illus
bands Death.
WAS OPPOSED TO A SUIT
Authorized 1t Because OF Other
Heirs-Thinks New York Cen
trail Criminally Careless.

Saratoga, N. Y, December 11.--nrs
Katrina Trask, widow of Spencer
Trasls, the banker who was killed in
wreck on the New York Central
Railroad at Croton December 81, 1909
and for whose death the railroad haa
made settlement with tho estate TO,
$4,000. has announced her intention
of defeating her share OF the settle.
ment $4,000, to the work in which
Mr.. Trask was deeply Interested Ta
use this money personally. she dc.
clares. would be inconceiyable. She
therefore gives $4,000 to the village
of Saratoga Springs to be held in trust
and utilized for the betterment of tne
village for which Mr.. Trask was a
jealous worker, and $500 to the rev
Dr.. Joseph Carey, to be used for the
completion OF Bethesda parish house
which was Mr.. Trasks gift to tha
parish. Mrs. Trask, In a letter 10
village President James d. McNuIty.
made public to-day. said.
The subject upon which approach
you L. so terrible to me that I find I
almost impossible to write. But az
want you and your associates to dIa.
matter. l must myself state it. After
the death OF my husband, Spencer
TRASH, 1T was many days before was
able to talk with my counsel and au
Nlscrs. When L saw them they urged
upon me ny duty 70 take action
against the New York Central Railroad
for the unspeakable criminal careless
ness which led TO the fatal tragedy OF
December 81. 1909.
such action 1 positively refused 70
consider. 1 made only one request.
namely, that 1 might never again near
the name OF the New York Central
Railroad spoken In my presence. NV
advisers. however. pointed out TO ms
that this was Impossible. They SAID
that owed q duty TO the community.
a grave responsibility to the pubic
This argument was further urged by |
several other able advisers, who plead. |
cd that l must sacrifice my feelings at
whatever cost of pain for the protec- |
ton OF others in time TO come. More. |
over, my counsel told me that / ha1 |
no choice in the matter; that a.
executrix. | was obliged under the law
tc Join in bringing suit.
Therefore, greatly against my pur-
pose, l consented to allow my CO. |
executors to proceed as they felt IL to
be their duty, entreating them. IL POS.
sible, 10 avoid litigation The officers /
of the railroad, to avoid Mitigation,
made settlement with my co-exeeu.
tors. From the amount paid by tho
Officers of the railroad In this settle
ment the proportion required by law
was given TO my husbands next OF
kin, and l am informed that the re-
manning sum OF $4,000 belongs to me
"Of course. I personally would NOT
touch this money. 1 hope 1t is needless
for me TO say that IT would not be
conceivable for me TO use 1t, no mat
ter what my stress might be. 1t mus
be dedicated. And L am sure that the
most hitting dedication is to give IL
TO the town to which Spencer Trask
devoted many years of jealous ser
vice, and for which. in the end ne
sacrificed his life L therefore havs
directed my lawyers to hand TO the
Rev. DIR. Carey $1,000 TO complete my
husbands gift, the Bethesda Church
parish house for believe that such
mousse VIII contribute largely TO the
common good of the village. And
have directed them to place the re-
naming $4,000 with my bankers in
trust. to DO used for tho village of
Saratoga Springs
II beg. sir. that you VIII consult
with the trustees of the village ana
n. II
which Spencer Trask was chairman
and learn their Judgment as to its ex.
penditure, reserving for yourself the
power of final decision. subject to my
approval. {
May ! take this opportunity. mr. !
President, to convey to you. ana d
you TO your trustees. what
have been too Ill personally to acknowl-
edge before-ny deep appreciation OF !
the public honors that Were given to
the memory OF my husband and NV I
profound gratitude for the reyerent
sent to me. both publicly ?
and privately.
Also, ! would express my earnest .
desire to be permitted to unite in SER ?
vice with you and those faithful ones
who are working for our town Ia G
bring to pass therein three-fold bet u
terment-a practical progress an in
teilectual growth, and, above all al .
moral development"
New Cases of Cholera.
Rome, December 1s-Six new cases l.
81 cholera and one death We're official b