Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-11-15
ASToR
GAINS CONTROL
OF VAST ESTATE
Reaches His Majority and
Takes Over the Aston For
tune Of $65, 600, 900 Left by
Titanic Victim.

New York, Nov. ls.-WilllAm VIM
cent Astor, head of the American
branch of the Astor family since the
death Of his father, John Jacob Astor.
who went to his death on the steamer |
Titanic on the morning Of April IL,
1912, reached his majority today and
by virtue Of this fact came into full
control Of the Astor fortune which 10
conservatively estimated at $66,000,o00.
When the estate was appraised BY ex-
perts shortly after the death Of Colo |
mel John Jacob Astor. to determine
the amount Of Inheritance tax to be
paid. the aggregate value Of the estate
was placed at between $75,o00.000 and,
$50. 200. 900 A these figures are Off
cial and probably a. nearly correct a.
possible under the circumstances, the
amount Of tho fortune into the posses
sion Of which young william Vincent
Aston came today. may easily be es-
timated.
Under the terms Of Colonel Astor's
win. William Vincent Aston was made
residuary legatee. The shares Of all
other heirs were fixed in plain terms
by the will itself. Mrs. Madelaine
Talmage Force Aston, the widow, re-
|ceived for life, or until remarriage the
income from s5,o0o0o0 and the use Of
the Fifth Avenue home of her late
husband. as we'll as $4,000 outright.
Muriel Aston, a daughter. by Colonel
Astor's first marriage, received trust
fund of 100000. A similar trust
fund Of 100000 was provided for
John Jacob Aston ILL.,. the posthumous
child Of Colonel Astor. Other requests
aggregated nearly 100000. Deduct
ing these trusts and requests from
the estimated total value Of the es-
tate would place William Vincent As
tors share at about $65.000.000.
No Aston has ever come into the
family fortune at so young an age as
William Vincent Astor. His father
was 20 before he succeeded, and his
father, John Jacob III. was So, apd his
father. William Backhouse l.. was S.
Was q FraiI Baby.
William Vincent Aston was born In
the old Astor homestead on Fifth
avenue and Thirty-fourth street on
Nov. Is, 1891, five mopths before his
grandfather died and his father be-
came head of the house. He was so
frail baby that only unremitting care
kept him alive. He lived the loneliest
childhood because of this and, when
other children romped in the open air,
he sat over a toy piano in a nursery
to which no playmates ever came.
| Servants saved him every exertion,
nurses were always with him; physi-
| clans awaited calls to him that had
precedence over all others.
| Six years of this unceasing attention
| brought Vincent Aston to degree of
| health it had been thought he never
could attain. Newport was astonished
to see him come there five years ago
and take an active part in the sports
of the summer colony. 1t waa still
more astonished at his great interest
in automobiling. He drove his ewn
car with daring skill, although he was
then only 10 years OF age. His father,
wishing to strengthen the boys health
by keeping him out Of doors as much
as possible, encouraged his fondness
for automobiling and yachting. but al
| though Vincent Astor continued to re-
tain a certain amount of interest in
| the sailing sport, he devoted the
greater, share Of his interest to auto
MODELLING.
Submitted to Operations.
As a boy Of IL or 10 William Vincent
Aston passed through severe sick
nesses and had to undergo several
surgical operations. Every year he
was taken to st. Moritz or the Riviera
on account OF bronchial trouble. The
constant care required by his dell
cate health retarded his education to
some extent. He was sent to Elton.
but soon returned because the Eng
fish boys at that famous school made
life a burden to the rich young Amer
lican. He went through course at st.
Georges. at Newport and then en-
tered Harvard university for a three
years course. He intended to take
his bachelors degree and then study
law. but all these plans were changed
through the death Of his father and
the change in conditions caused there
tby.
During his college days William VIM
cent Aston made an attempt to 60 in
for athletics and was assigned q place
in the freshmen crew. but soon with
drew and confined himself to = life Of
; luxury and daring automobiling. He
became noted for his speeding and re-
peatedly came in conflict with the
lspeed laws.
1t II not surprising that william
Vincent Astor h considered the great.
est catch by the mothers OF marriage
able daughters. There have been {
number OF rumors OF engagements OF
the young man to various society girls
and others. but 20 far there seems tc
be no evidence that the young mau
|, has formed any attachment likely t.
Head to his marriage In the near future
Dentist. DR.. Carpenter. idaho Bldg
Con w. hssse, WsAeh inspector oi
o. .. L. for 70 years. There's q rsasen