New-York tribune., 1919-04-15
Incomplete Document Will
BE Followed as Far as
Possible in Distribution
of Estate, Say Relatives
s3O,OOO,OOO to Widow
Because of Incompetency
Changes Are Planned
to Make Charity Requests

famed in his will made thirty years
ago.
Mr.. Woolworth, who died practically
sole owner of the tallest building in
the world and the largest stockholder
IN the corporation owning nearly 1000
5.and-fO-cent stores bearing his name,
executed his first will July ], 1889,
when he WAS small merchant.
In this instrument he left his entire
estate to his wife. Mrs. Jennie Wool
worth. Only a few months ago Mrs.
Woolworth was declared mentally In
competent by shcriffs jury, her prop
erty and affairs now being controlled
by Hubert T. Parson, as her commit
tee. Mr.. Parson is president and
general manager Of the f. W. Wool
worth Company.
The unfinished draft OF tho document.
which MIR Woolworth intended to make
his last will, brt which he had not
fully approved before his death or cx-
ccuted, makes numerous bcqucsts to
charitable institutions, to friends and
relatives. business associates and en-
pcyes.
Estate More Than S30,000,000
1t is understood that the estate Of
the merchant will amount to between
s3O,OOO,O0O and S4O,OOO,0OO.
Charles +. F. McCann, son-in-
law, announced that the intentions of
Mr.. Woolworth, as expressed in the
paper left incomplete by his unex-
pected death, will be carried out by
MS family in Sc far as it is possible to
do under the decedents' estate law.
81 desire to say that the family will
carry out Mr.. Woolworth's intentions
as they are expressed in the later doc
ument,' said Mr.. McCann.
I'VE are not prepared to make pub
lie the contents OF either will. The
matter is a personal one, but we shall
see that his wishes are respected"
There is one possible obstacle to the
plans OF Mr.. Wooiworth's family.
That is the will which it is understood
Mrs. Woolworth has made.
To Arrange Settlement
1t is likely that she has left some of
her estate to blood relatives, which
property now must include the estate
that will come to her from Mr.. Wcoi-
worth. In these circumstances, it will
b. necessary to make terms with these
beneficiaries if they are inclined to
object to the distribution of the large
estate of Mr.. Woolworth according tc
his wishes, rather than in conformity
with the only legal formula in exis-
tence. In any event, the relatives OF
Mrs. Woolworth would be we'll pro
tected.
As in the estate of Mrs. Ida :. Flag
Ter, an incompetent, whose income
from trust fund Of se.cral million
dollars is greater than is 'equIred fo1
her care and comfort, application
could be made, if needed by relatives O
Mrs. Woolworth that part of her in
come be paid to them.
That Mr.. Woolworth had in mind th'
making of new will and differen
distribution of his estate than is pro
vided in the thirty year old will wa.
indicated when he had his wife's dove
interest IN his estate judicially com
puted few months ago. WhateveI
share goes TO Mrs. Woolworth, it vii
have to be placed in the care of hel
committee. Hubert I. Parson.
Parson Probable Administrator
Mrs. Woolworth was also named a,
sole executrix in the will of her hus
oand. Because Of her legal status she
Will be unable to qualify in this ca
paclty: Therefore, the procedure likel,
70 be followed will be an application b,
Mr.. Parson to the Surrogatcs' Cour
lor the issuance of letters Of admins
'ratlon, with the Will annexed. TIL,
spphcatlon Will be made in Mineola
Nassau County, where Mr.. Woolwortf
died, and 1t is probable that Mr. Par
son VIII be one Of the administrators.
mir. Parson, who was associated with
Mr. Woolworth for many years, is vice
preSident and general manager Of The
+. ". Woolworth Company For thrc,
Years he has conducted the affairs O.
the corporation, and probably was bet
ter versed in them than the head o.
me company, who, because of illness
mad not taken an active part in thu
arrangement for several years, spend
'Ag rnuch time In repairing his health.
ne nominating committee Of the di
iectors VIII hold it's annual meeting OF
AprI 70. Mr.. Parson, it was said, il
me logical successor to the presidency
submitted to the stockholders at ;
May
Stores Policy Unaffected
Mr. Parson made it known ycstcr
sHoS NHt utdln Oh MT. w WOOIWOrtl
And the distribution Of his cstat
you'd IN no way change the manage
ment Or the policy Of the and 10 cen
s,ores scattered about the Unite
SEates and Canada. with some in Eng
isnd. Also the present head Of tn
corporation wanted it known that
wideiy circulated stories notwith
sianding, there was not dollar o
iotelHn capital invested in the Wool
@ortn Euildlng, which is controlled b.
me broadway Park Place Company.
mr. Woolvvorth was practically III
sole owner Of the building" said NJ,
fafson. This cdifice cost w,,h' tn
iand, about s13,000,000. With the in
tfeaSed value Of property it to-da
nag mucn greater value. Just wha
~ ~ real value under present rea
ss,a'e and building conditions. Nh
ia'son diI not care TO venture eyci
Huess. Besidcs. Mr.. Parson Was au
sn"llty for the statement that tn
~ofid famed structure which Mr. Wool
""ftn erected az his monument has n
.Hpso,edness against it, standing fre
ar. Woolwortt's ambition wag t
~. s'c tnis building 20 down TO poster
~ "i'h'ut cent Of indebtedness II
B. monument to his name" said Nj
His Ambition Realized
"as this ambitioa reaIizcd7
as ana there IL to-day not a cent q
nneTDtslness on the building NJ
s,golWcrth owned il practically on,