New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-08
NOT IN WARD WILL FIGHT
Member of ScuIptor's Family
Speaks of Coming Contest.
SAY ESTATE is NOT LARGE
Widow Opposed by Artists Sis
ter, Niece and Nephews-
Brother Keeps Out.


of ]. @. A Ward, the dean of American
sculptors, when it Is offered for pro-
bate tomorrow, have brought out sew
eraI deniaIs by a member of the Ward
family
It was declared. for one thing. that,
contrary to statements that have been
published. neither Edgar NJ Ward.
brother of the dead sculptor; his wife.
Mrs E. NJ Ward, nor their son ap-
proved or would have anything to do
with contesting the will The contest
ants we're said to be the children of
William Ward deceased. a brother of
the sculptor: Miss Eleanor Ward, the
dead mans sister, and Mrs George
Weaver. of Newburg. n. Y. niece.
Some wears ago when J. Q. A Ward
realized that his sister, Eleanor was
reaching a mature age, according to
the. story told yesterday, he gave her a
handsome estate in Urbana. Ohio, the
needs In addition to this he gave her
an annuity, which would supply any
further want. In Miss Eleanor Wards
household was Mrs Anna Gleffner,
who had been her constant attendant
since childhood
Mrs. Gleffner Got $4,000.
1t was added that the sculptor gave
Mrs. Gleffner $4,000 under the proviso
that she remain with Eleanor until the
latter's death, and it was said that she
accepted the offer and still was part of
the Ward household at Urbana, together
with a friend. a Miss Burrows, whom
she invited subsequently to live with
her.
The action of the sculptor in leaving
to his wife his entire estate. which was
said to be not large. it was argued,
ended hope of Miss Eleanor inherit
ing a large fortune, and so the idea "
ccntesting the will was alleged to have
arisen and the rest of the Ward fam
lily was interested in it, with the excep-
ton of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar NJ. Ward
and their son.
The grounds of protest are expected to
be undue influence
Such grounds will be hardly tenable
it was asserted. First the couple were
devoted to each other. and d bequest by
the husband of his estate to his wife
was naturally to be expected Second.
although Mr.. J. .. a. Ward was in his
eiehtieth year. his mind was as active as
when he was forty He was possessed
OF all his faculties, and to say that he
was imposed upon by his wife would BE-
absurd"
| First Husbands Eeduests
II came out also in the interview that
Mrs. J. O. A. Ward inherits S2oop from
her first husband When the Sheridan
statue. designed by Mr.. Ward. came to
naueht, this legacy vanished with other
| funds that had been eaten up by the
preparations for this work
| The property owned by the couple con-
| sisted of an estate in Kingston N Y
which became the property Of Mrs.
Ward at the time OF her marriage: some
houses in 49th street. the rent rom
I which hardly paid the taxes anu some
waste land in Long Island that was SAID
| to be almost worthless
/ These last two parcels-the only ones
| over which. it was said, legal night can
be waged-were left to Mrs. j. q. a
| Ward by her husband.
The contestants evidently think diff
| ferently as to the amount and value OF
the propertv left by the sculptor, and
are directed in the fight by Well known