The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-28
TRAMP BEQUEATHS
WOMAN s330,000
MRS Pill INNER GETS REV ARD FOR
PLAYING coon SAMARITAN
no ECCIEsToN.
TAKES IN AGED OUTCAST
TRANSFERS HiH FROM nrDE-A-
WEE HONE TO HER OWN DWELL
ING AND Is MADE BENEFICIARY
IN REMARK WILL.

ATLANTIC CITY, y. J, Aug. 81
An amazing Will Is which George w.
Ecelcston. Of Ashland. Ncr.,1 wto WAS
believed when ne arrived here. walk
Ing on crutohes and dressed in rags.
10 TO "A tramp, beQueathed 70 Mrs.
Claire Paving Plummer. president Of
the Shut-in Society Of New Jersey
and founder OF the Bide-a-Wee nome
III .ongpurt, S33o,00@, because she
took him In and cared for him, was
made public by Mrs. Iiummer here
to-day.
eAle week before. HIS death. 2ccsvs-'
ton called Mrs. pIummer and told
her size had been more Kind to him
than any one else in years. more
kind than his son and his daughter,
and that he had a paper ne wanted
her ia Keep and not to open until
after he was dead.
Mrs, Rlanmer took tire paper ard
pat it away. thinking possibly 1t might
contain a bank note, After his death
she opened the envelope and found
the viii. reading as follows
Fl. George W. Eccleston, Of the
city Of Ashland, county OF Saunders,
the State Of Nebraska. bequcath to
my best friend. Claire Pawling Plum
nler of the city OF Atlantic city,
county of Atlantic and State of New
Jersey, who has done more for me
than my own children, She took me
IN when homeless and helpless, not
knowing she would ever receive one
cent. / asked my SON Charles, and
my daughter, Bessie. to make room
for me. they both refused. Claire
Plummer did without question and
without price.
Three 10 Share Property.
'Tn appreciation of this great act
Of kindness. / give To the three fol-
lowing all my property. real. per-
sonal and mixed 10 be divided be-
tween Claire Pawling Pluminer. my
son. Charles Eccleston, and my daugh-
ter. Bessie Eccleston. to share
equally. each to receive one-third of
nay estate. Should either Of the heirs
try to contest this will the one con-
testing shall forfeit his or her share
in the estate and the portion of the
one contesting shall be divided be-
tween the remaining.
II prefer and demand that Claire
Pawling Plummer shall share In the
estate: ] further devise that my good
friend, Mr.. II. S. Wiggenhorn, act as
administrator and my best friend.
Claire Paving Plummer. shall act
as Administrative. / solemniy de-
clare this to be my last will and
wishes Woe be unto him who tries
to alter this document. Signed in the
presence of these witnesses.
GEORGE w. ECCLESTON."
Did Not Know of Wealth.
Even after Eccleston's death. which
occurred in Mrs. Planners home,
and the will, bequeathing her one
third of his estare, was read. she
did not know that he was wealthy It
was only after visit to Ashland.
Neb. that she ascertained the extent
Of the property to which she is now
heir. Mrs. Piummer returned from
Ashland day or so ago.
II. s. Wfggenhorn named in the
will as Administrator, Is president OF
bank In Ashland. After reading
the will the son and daughter who
live In Spokane Wash. decided not
to contest.
Eccieston. who was remarkable
character, had been in sanitarium
after sanitarium and horne after
home. from San Francisco to Maine.
before he was finally picked up by
the Salvation Army in Atlantic City
~ an outcast and he looked the part.