The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1919-04-26
OLD CRON'ES WIN
RICHES LEFT THEM
BY VILLAGE ORACLE
Court UpholdS Claims of 10
Friends to Whom Lemuel
NJ. Hart WilleI $4,000.

The sixteen old friends and cronics
of Lemucl NJ. Hart to who, he be
aueathed $4,000 havc como into their
own, the Court OF Appeals having
sustained the order OF the west
chester County Surrogate in ad-
mitting his will to probate.
Hart was olghty-nvo years old
when he died two years ago and had
been long the magnate and oracle OF
the village or llartsdaic. cuce ho
owned most of the village. lie spent
his declining years with the village
barber. the blacksmith. the carpenter.
the postmaster and other cronies he
had known nearly all their lives. Ho
loved to talk with them OF old times
and TO discuss the war and other
topics.
But never 10 any OF them had be
given the slightest intimation that be
had provided for them all in his VIII.
giving 10 them from $1,000 70 $1,000
each and 20 Miss Edna Adams.
daughter Of his housekcepcr. the Old
homestead overlooking the Scarsdale
Golf Club links, which latter he also
once owned. This property is valued
at $4,000.
The Ming OF Tic viii threw the vii
lagc into fever ot excitement L!tti.
but the good luck oC the Old mans
cron!es was discussed FOR days. ana
then came a contest Of tho will fled
by Joseph Hart. a brother OF the dead
man. Lemucl had made special mcu-
t!on.of this brother in LIS will, saying
she had enough Oh this worlds goods
and didn't need any more.
Tho litigation lasted two years. n
tho interim Joseph Hart died and
John I,adiachan, tho billaEc ba-bc'
moved to Denver. The other lcsa."es
beside the barber, who was letL
$1,000. arc Mrs. Louisa Drury. So
900; benjamin Townsend. carr.ass
manufacturer; Annie Wilson. Ss.-
900; Edward Townsend, $1,000.
William Taylor. upholstcrcr; WIZ
lam Scsord. former postmaster;
James Lcyinoss. cJrpcnt,r all
Elijah Ward 5000 each; GEO, %
Craft, $1,000; Catherine AIl-nu
Hart's former housekccpc-. $2,o1o.
Edna Adams. her laughter. 5000
and tho old Hart homestead.
"Now, don't say Mr. Hart was &C.
centric said Benjamin 1ownson,.
the cayringc manufactures. ''la
wasn't ~" was ono OF la-'sds 's
most respected citizens. tic had h-
pcruaaTties, bat wtS iuoflruSivy. ~
used 20 bring his wagons To MY sh''
FOR repairs and would ,iuger to "a "a
of village affal:S, the war and Oh
times; but never once 5ii 10 give n
any mixing ot how he INTENDED to d!A-
tribute his money"
Edward Gruno, tho village Sn1itbN.
vas found Ivy an EYcnln World re-
porter in his shop sho".DE al old graz
mirH \ broad slnLc suHuSod his
HWSrthy face when he stopped bis
Work 90 discuss bLs good fortune.
The money came - INC Ike manna
from heaven" said the snitny. eli
means wealth for me. Mr.. Hart used
20 own this shop and often came here,
spending hours watching me AT work
and talking over affairs meanwhile.
ON sundays my wife and ! would
call at his homo and spend pleasant
hours with him. But he never gave
us the slightest hint that no was
going 20 leave US any money"
Mrs. Drury, an old friend OF TTart's,
is all "fusscl up" over her windtali.
what viii do with it?" she re-
peated. why, of course TIL put It.
right in the bank. MIR. Hart knew
me since ! vas four years old. Hc
knew J wng pUOr, and II was very
good and thoughtful Of him 20 leave
me the 5000"