The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-17
Finley Peter Dunno, Payne
Whitney and f. P. Garvan
Abjure Large Bequests.
WIDOW TO GET RESIDUE
She Had Been Cut OFF in Pub
lisher's Will, but His
Friends Reverse 1t.


and Francis p. Garvan. named as
residuary legatees OF the estate of
Robert J. Collier, the publisher, re-
nounced the bequests yesterday in
favor Of Mrs. Sarah s. Van Allen Col
lier. Mrs. Collier, the sole natural heir
TO the estate. had been cut of by the
terms Of Mr.. Golfers will
The estate was said to be worth
100000. but persons familiar with
Mr.. Golfers affairs declared that figure
was much too high.
The remarkable procedure was dis
closed yesterday when the Collier will.
dated July 9, 1917, was filed by Mrs.
Collier for probate. 1t was witnessed
by Phoebe Kennaugh of 542 Elizabeth
street Brooklyn: Dorothy Doran Of
1s1 Lincoln road, and Edwin W. Will
cox of S15 West Seventy-seventh
street
No provision Is made by the testator
for either his widow or mother Kathe-
rine Louise Collier. He declared that
the latter has been amply provided for
! by the will OF his father. the late Peter
/ F. Collier. and Mrs. Collier, Jr., by that
OF her father. James ]. Van Allen.
Mr.. Collier bequeathed to George G..
! Kennedy of West 104th street and
/ Frank II. Rice, 22S West Seventy first
| street. $150,000 and 1000 respectively
"out OF the profits OF p. F. Collier &
Son. Inc, at any time within three
I years at the discretion OF the execu-
tors, for long and faithful service" to
! his father and himself.
| The executors, also named as residu-
ary legatees, are Messrs. Whitney,
Dunno and Garvan.
/ Exocutors' Declination Filed.
In her petition Mrs. Collier sets
forth that the tsstator left no next Of
kin except herself. She adds that both
the executors and lesatees have re-
fused TO accept their appointment and
renounced their claims to any share In
the estate. In support OF this she Sub
| mitted a letter signed by the execu-
tors in which they said:
DEAR MRS COLLIER: Your husband
by his will, executed in July. 1917, ap-
pointed us as his executors, and after
making certain legacies, left his resi-
duary estate to us. This res!duary es-
tate consisted OF his interest In the
paper known at Golfers Weekly and
In the publishing business, practically
all other properties, including the
country place Wickatonk having been
vested IN you in his lifetime.
I'VE believe that we understand and
appreciate Mr.. Golfers motives in
! making this will. He was intensely
| interested in perpetuating the paper
which he had built up and the pub
! fishing business which he had inher-
tied from his father. We all remem-
Der the serious illness in 1914 which
! eliminated in the stroke which he
suffered in September OF that year
and his great anxiety that this busi-
ness should he carried on without ref
erence to his personal affairs or his
personal participation, and it was this
that led him to entrust the business
to a committee OF his friends in order
TO enable Il to be carried on for him
This trust is still in existence. We
have no doubt that in making his viii
in the form in which we find II he
intended to create a similar trust for
these properties, but II conditions ex-
listed at the time which made such a
will advisable we think they no longer
exist.
Remuneration in Widow's Favor.
Much as we regret being placed in
a position In which we might appear
to disregard the wishes Of our friend
as expressed in his will, we feel that
we must nevertheless decline the be-
quest of these properties. We fee
that the estate should now go to It's
natural ultimate destination and that
we should therefore renounce this be-
quest OF the residuary estate in your
favor.
we believe also that II Is for the
greater convenience and best interest
OF all concerned that we should de-
cline the appointment as executors, In
order that you may act in the ad-
ministration of the will. possibly with
some trust company that you may de.
sire to associate with yourself.
"Legacles are given by the will &c
Mr.. Kennedy and Mr.. Rice, and II
we renounce our appointment as exc.
cutors their right to administration
would be prior to your own, but as we
feel that you should be appointed we
have suggested to these gentlemen
that they should renounce their prior
right-a suggestion to which they
have given a very cordial assent"
In reply Mrs. Collier wrote ex.
pressing her Appreciation and graft.
tude" to the executors, adding that she
fully understood their position in view
Of their long friendship for her hus.
band and familiarity with the bust.
ness OF p. F. Collier & Son and with