The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-09-18

more than $1,000, Oe0-an immense
amount OF property in those days
before swollen fortunes became so
common. and Hetty Green's attempt
to break the Will and substitute in
it's place another which she produced
after her auuts death. and which the
trustees maintained was a forged
document Months were spent in the
preparation Of evidence bearing on
this point. and thousands Of dollars
were expended FOR expert witnesses.
Photographic reproductions of sigma
lures of Sylvia Ann Rowland and
their enlargement. But the issue was
never determined. the decision of the
court sustaining the original will and
rejecting that produced by Hetty
Green. being based on point Of law.
It is interesting TO note. I'm view OF
Mrs Green's prOverbial frugality and
plain mode Of living. that the foun-
dation Of her fortune rested on silk
stockings. Way hack in the eight
zenith century. Isaac Rowland. great
grandfather Of Hetty. set to work to
make a fortune. The amassing OF
the first $1,000 was his greatest diff
ficulty. In those days many schOOn-
ers piled between the states and the
West Indies in the merchant service,
and the sailors wore silk stockings
into port on their return trips. Old
Isaac Rowland bought these. washed
and ironed them. and sold them at n
good profit. That gave him his start
and when he died. In 1888. his for
tune was n large one for those times
Isaac Howland's granddaughter,
Sylvia Ann Rowland, was possessed
Of a fortune Of over $4,000, 900. a pro-
diCious sum for childless woman Of
simple tastes living in country town.
Hetty Green as girl spent much OF
her time with her aunt Sylvia. As to
whether she entertained any real az
lection for her. there is a conflict Of
testimony. Certainly Hetty professed
such affection after her auut's death,
claiming that II was reciprocated by
her aunt. and that they had made
wills in each others favor AS TO the
relations between Hetty and her faith
err. Edward Mott Robinson. there is
no uncertainty. They were far from
cordial: and n legal decision by which
Mr. Robinson came into the posses
sion Of a large share Of the Rowland
fortune was distasteful both TO Hetty
and her aunt Sylvia, who maintained
that the Rowland money should have
been kept in the Rowland family. Mr..
Robinson died in 1865, leaving Hetty,
hts only child. about a million dollars
outright. and some 100000 I'm
trust. the income 10 be hers during
her life The will was a great disap-
pointment 70 Hetty. A month or so
later Sylvia Ann Rowland died, leav-
ing many public and private requests.
and the residue in trust for Hetty
| during her life. This will was even
a greater disappointment TO Hetty,
| for she had hoped TO secure her
aunts property outright. She object
| ed 20 its being prObated. but later
withdrew that objection and made
no contest. But after the viii had
been confirmed by the supreme court
| Of Massa chusetts. she and her fiance.
| Edward II. Green. brought suit In the
| United States court to compel the
| trustees to perform an agreement
/ which she claimed her aunt had made
/ with her and which was embodied in
/ a will which she produced as being
/ her aunt's last will and testament.
This viii left all the property 20
/ Hetty. and contained the following
/ interesting declaration. referred to in
the subsequent litigation as the sec
/ ond page" Of the will:
/ BE Il remembered that 7. Sylvia AM
/ Rowland OF New Bedford. in county
| Of Bristol. do hereby make. publish
! and declare this. the second page o
| this viii and testament. made on The
| eleventh Of January. I'm manner fol
| lowing: TO wit, hereby revoking al
| wills made by me before or after thi
| one-I give this will to my niece. q
| show II there appears will made
| without notifying her. and without re
| turning her viii to her through Thorn
as Mandell as 1 have promised 10 do
I implOre the judge 20 decide I'm favO
OF this will. as nothing would induce
me TO make will unfavorable to m,
niece: but being ill and afraid If an,
| or my caretakers insisted on my max
ing a will to refuse. as they Nigh
leave or be angry. and knowing m,
| niece had this viii 20 show. my nice
fearing also after she went away
hearing but one side. might feel hur
at what they might say Of her. as the.
| tried 10 make trouble by not tellinl
the truth to me. when she was her
even herself. i give this will to m.
| niece to show, IL absolutely uecessar
to have a. 20 appear against anothe
| viii found after my death. I wish he
| 10 show this will. made when I am II
] good health for me. and my old tori
will made on the fourth Of March. II
the year Of our Lord one thousan,
eight hundred and fifty. 10 show ais
! a proof that IL has been my lifetim
wish for her TO have my property.
| therefore give my property to m
niece as freely as my father gave Il {
me. I have promised him once. an
my sister n number OF times. TO civ
il to her. all excepting about one hun
dred thousand dollars in presents Z
| nv friends aud relations In witnes