Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-02-16

PROBATE court Judge EdWaru M.
Burke. presiding. was held Tuesday
afternoon, when the viii of Charles
Denison Chapman was admitted to
probate Mr.. Chapman's will is in
way, a peculiar document. inasmuch
| that the document is OF no legal &C
count with the exception of the nomin-
alton Of the executor. With this ex-
ception the estate would be distributed
| by law just as Mr.. Chapman directs
| in his will. After the Introductory
clause stating that he was of sound
mind, etc.. the will reads as follows:
First: I hereby order and direct that
| all my just debts. and funeral expens-
! es, be paid out of any portion of my
| property and estate which may be
| found most available for the purpose
within a reasonable time after my de-
| cease.
Second: Subject to the foregoing
| provision of my will, give, devise and
| bequeath all my property and estate,
both real and personal, and wherever
| situated, to my next of kin and heirs
| at-law, to be divided and distributed
among them in the same proportions
and shares provided for the descent
and disposition of interstate estates of
| deceased persons under the laws of
1 Rhode Island
| Lastly: I hereby nominate, consti-
| tute and appoint Nathan B. Lewis sole
/
| testament, and revoking all other and
| former wills by me made. and.I do es
! tablish this only as my last will and
| testament.
The will was executed December 9,
| 1913, and was witnessed by Nathan B.
Lewis and Bertha NJ Brown. Mr..
| Chapman died January 26, 1915.
| Under the law one-half of the per-
sonal estate goes to the widow, Ellen
| NJ. Chapman, who also has one-thirS
| life interest in the real estate. The
| balance goes to the heirs at-law of
Whom there is quite a number Of
| cousins. Mr.. and Mrs. Chapman have
| lived apart for several years, and, per-
| hapS, for that reason her name is not
| given in the will. and the document
| was drawn to provide for an executor,
| rather than for disposition of the prop
/! ertY of the deceased. Judge Lewis was
| executor of the estates of Mr.. Chap
mans father and mother. and he is
therefore familiar with the property
| conditions. He was confirmed as
| executor bond being fixed at $4,000,
by Judge Burke.
/ Former Governor James H. Higgins,
of the law firm of Fitzgerald and Hig-
II gins, Pawtucket, was at the court ses-
sion as counsel for Mrs. Chapman, In
response to queries by the ex-governor,
Judge Lewis said that he did not know
the value of the personal estate but
should say it would amount to perhaps
II $4,000, and perhaps more. He said
that $1025 was found in the CHAPMAN
saloon and at his. home and that there
was a $1,000 bank note in the safety
deposit box at the Washington Trust
company. Later it was learned that
Mr.. Chapman had $4,000 on deposit in
that institution. He understood that
| $50, 900 was received from the sale OF
the Canal street property to the
Crandall brothers and added that Mr.
| Chapman had been spending money
freely since then until he died. Be
, fore the execution of the will Mr.
II Chapman made no mention of any
| special relatives and his heirs-at-laW
| (besi6es his wife,, are an uncle and
an aunt on his mothers side and quite
a number of cousins. Mr.. Chapman
never said who those relatives were
and never expressed any like or dis
like for any of them.
The present will was intended as a
| temporary will, and another was tc
, have been substituted for it. Judge
| Lewis said that the present will is
the only one he. ever prepared for Mr.
: Chapman. When this will was exc
cuted Mr.. Chapman owned considerable
real estate, but had since sold the
Canal street property to the Gran
dali brothers.
Upon farther inquiry by ex-Gox-
ernor Higgins, Judge Lewis said thai
Mr.. Chapman owned real estate In
Pawcatucl1, valued at perhaps $4,000:
and at the time of his death owned
the Chapman place in High street, in
Westerly, valued at $4,000. He also
owned a farm, with dwelling, and
granite quarry property. but the judge
had no knowledge of the valuation. Sc
far as he knew, but he had not as yet
made personal investigation. The per.
j sonal property consisted of the saloor
and contents, about $2,025 in cash. the
household furniture and two automo-
biles, all perhaps valued at SIS, 900
No stocks or bonds have been locat.
ed.
Judge Lewis asked for the appoint.
ment of Eugene B. Pendleton, Everett
A. KiEgs1ey and John E. Edmond a:
appraisers. Ex-Governor Higgins
suggested that the widow be repre-
scented on the board of appraisers, and
asked for the appointment of JOSEPH
T. Murphy as one of the appraisers
I After some little discussion, Mr.. Muir
by was substituted for Mr.. Edmond
1 Ex-Governor Higgins filed with tn,
court an application for an allowanc,
for the widow from the estate.
The will of John w. Hunserford, o
Hadlyne, who died in Westerly, Feb
bate, on approval of waiver of no
I tice by Nellie E. Hungerford Randall
E adopted daughter of the deceased, ant
the only person in interest. Afte
II the payment Of debts, the rest and res
fdue of the estate is given to Mrs
I Randall. AS Mr.. Hungerford had dis
4 posed of most of his estate during hi
lifetime but little property remained
and the bond of Mrs. Randall, as exc
cutrix was fixed at $1,000. Attorne.
Samuel H. Davis was appointed ap
praiser The will was executed il
Hadlyme, Conn. February r. 1914, an
witnessed by Mary Warner Brown
Emma Rolfe and Samuel H. Davis.
III Miss Harriet E. CrandaII, who die,
in Westerly in January, left will
which was admitted to probate, AM
which contained several requests: T.
Frank W. Coy, $500; Nellie Burdicl
1 Grant, $500; John r. Burdick, $500
HI William A. Burdick, $500; Adelaid
Burdick, $500; to Wood River Gene
terry association, $500; to Wood Rive
4 Cemetery association, for perpetua
care of Emma Crandall lot, $500; t
the town of Charlestown, $500 70
perpetual care of the burial lot o.
the farm Of Oliver Crandall; to Rich
mond Cemetery association, $500 70