The sun., 1919-04-27
HIS WEALTH LEFT
TO TOWN CRONIES
Barber With Blacksmith and
= Other Tradcsmen Share
Hart Estate.
FAMILY GETS NOTHING
Unexpected Money Dazzles
Friends Who Worry Over
Income Taxes.
FAMILY GETS NOTHING

The village OF Hartsdaie is enjoying
la period of delightful excitement over the
Court OF Appeals decision which afiir'ms
the order of the Surrogate Of West
chester county, admitting the will of the
late Lemuel NJ. Hart to probate. Under
its terms sixteen old friends and cronies
of the testator inherit legacles ranging
from $1,000 to $4,000. The decision is
final and now the beneficiaries are sure
of being paid their requests, after n
contest in the courts which lasted more
| than two years.
| During the legal battle Joseph Hart,
brother OF the decedent, who contested
the will, and one of the legatees died,
while John Radichan. the village barber.
who was left $1,000 by Mr.. Hart, has
moved to Denver, Col.
Mr.. Hart lived In the old Hart home
stead. not far from Central avenue.
Hartsdale, overlooking the Scarsdale Golf
/ Clubs links, which he once owned. AT
| the time of his death he left property
estimated to be worth more than $780,
900.
For years II had been his custom to
stroll down tho village street and chat
with Edward f. Grune. the village
blacksmith the village barber Benjamin
Townsend, the carriage manufacturer !;
| William Secord, the village postmaster.
and other tradesmen, each OF whom in
herits a large sum of money. Not one
| of his old cronies ever received a hint
that he intended to leave them money.
Call for Barber.
As he grew old and feeble, Mr.. Hart
would telephone for the village barber
to come to the greenhouse and shave
him.
In the contest IL was contended by
Joseph Hart that his brother was UNI
duly influenced and that he was not COM
petent TO make Will. 1t was con-
tended that one OF his odd hobbies was
to decorate the interior of his green
house with old tomato cans
Lemuel Hart left his brother nothing
The contest was started two years age
in the Surrogate's Court. and finally
former Surrogate William A. Sawyer ad-
mitted the will to probate. An appeal
was taken to the Appellate Division and
then to the Court Of Appeals.
Il Edward +. Grune. the village smithy
was found in his shop shoeing a horse
when the reporter called to see him. A.
he drove In the nails In the horses hooi
hs talked about the good qualities OF hi,
departed friend. --.---
He was a real man. said Mr.. Grune
land this legacy of $1,000 is new found
wealth for me. II seems a strange coin.
cidence. that my shop was once tn,
property OF Mr.. Hart. He was a goo
old fellow. Nearly every day he woult
stroll down TO my shop for a talk. Some
times he would bring his team to be shoe
and he would spend hours talking to m,
! about various things, but he never CAV,
me q hint that he intended to leave IN,
any money. On Sundays my wife an,
myself would call on him and he would
entertain US In his greenhouse telling
stories and talking about his farm.
What do I intend TO do with tn,
money when l get i,? Well. 1t will be
nice nest egg and | expect to spend par
of II in improving my property. II
these times, believe me. that roll vii
look good to Inc and it will come ii
handy, too"
Thanks From Old Friend.
AIRS. Louisa Drury. an old time frient
Of Mr.. Hart was bequeathed $4,000
Dear me-what will | do with tn,
money!" she said why. or course, whei
| l get II, ! VIII put II in the bank.
had known Mr. Hart from the time
was four years old. He knew that
was poor and 1t was very thoughtful
OF him to remember me"
Benjamin Townsend, carriage manu-
facturer and life long friend of NJ. Hart
was left $4,000 BY Mr. Hart and h.
sang his praises too. He was n mos
respected citizen" said Mr.. Townsend
, Now, don't go and say that he neve
took bath in forty years or that h
was eccentric. because IL Is not true
He was one OF the most respected citi
Gems Of Hartsdale. He had his pecul
iarlties. but he was an inoffensive, cdu
Gated, smart fellow. He never gave al
, inkling that he intended to leave m
some OF his wealth. He used TO brinl
: his wagons down TO the shop to be re
v paired and he would talk with me abou
: various village affairs but he neve
spoke about how he intended to spen
I his money"
I Among others who received legacie
under the will are Annie Wilson. $4,000
e the late Alvin Townsend, brother Q
= Benjamin Townsend, who died las
2 week Howard Townsend, $4,000: WI
e liam Taylar. an uphosterer; Williar
= Secord. ex-postmaster and now employe
= by the Harlem Railroad Company
o James Leviness. carpenter; Eliza
}, | Ward, $4,000 each; George Graf
Q $1,000; Catharine Adams. who was MI
Harris housekeepeT, $4,000; Edn
a Adams, daughter of the latter. $500,
{ and she also receives the Hart home
S stead valued at $4,000; Annie Wilson
= $4,000
= All the legatees under the will ar
{ now wondering whether they will hav
e to pay an income tax TO the State a
= well as to the Government when the
receive their requests.
i Mr. Hart. in addition to owning Walt
c able real estate. also had large SUI
e invested in mortgages.