New-York tribune., 1922-08-04
Takan1iine'sNew
Faith Prevents
His Cremation
Provision in Will Asked
That Half of Ashes Be
Buried i'm America and
the Remainder i'm Japan
Leaves Large Estate
Estimate of ST, 200, 600 on
Property Thought Nomi-
nal; Widow to Get Third

The will of DR.. okichi ,Takamine,
Japanese scientist, which was offered
for probate yesterday in Paterson, N.
j., provides that his body either be
devoted to scientific purposes or Gre
mated, half the ashes to be buried in
His widow said last night, however,
that the provisions would not be car
ried out, because after the will was
made DR.. Takamine became a Roman
Catholic and must have changed his
mind about cremation. AS to his ex-
pressed wish that one Of his scientist
friends examine his body in the in
terets Of science. Mrs. Takamine said
she had consulted the friend, who said
that no great benefit could be derived
by science from such an examination.
The will, which was made at Bilt-
more, N. c., on May II, 1921, offers his
body to the care Of DR.. Malcolm Har-
ris. Of Chicago, "for research and ex-
animation. particularly with regard to
my liver, which was operated on thirty
years ago.
But in the event of an objection to
this proceeding on the part Of his
widow or il his friend Dr.. Harris de-
clines to make the experiment Dr..
Takamine directs that his body be ere
mated and one-half Of the ashes buried
in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York, and
the other half in The place of his birth
in Japan.
The will names DR.. Takamine's
American widow, Caroline, as executrix
With Matasaku Shioharo, of Toxic. to
whom is given the care of the Taxa
mine interests in Japan The total
estate is estimated at upward of ST.
100000. all Of which, save for aumber
Of minor bequests to friends and in
stitutions, goes to his widow.
Because of the large amounts re-
ceIved in royalties on discoveries made
by DR.. Takamine in the field Of medi-
cal research, which Will continue to
now IN, It is expected, for years to
OF Sl,O0o,000 made Of his estate is
purely nominal: and that it will exceed
that sum considerably.
Although the provisions Of the Will in
regard to the disposal Of his BODY are.
to be ignored, the rest of che docu-
ment will be adhered to strictly in
administering sthe estate. and owing
to the innumerable marginal and in
terllnear notes inserted by DIR. Taxa
mine, both in English and insJapanese,
It may be some time before the wishes
OF the testator have been interpreted
exactly.
DR.. Takamine went into minute de-
tail in disposing ofshis estate and Sur
rogate Frederic Begg, of Passaic
County, said yesterday that he would
not permit distribution Of the assets
until the provisions Of the will had
been clarified.
DR.. Takamine's widow is to receive
one-third of the stock of the Takanaine
Laboratories, Inc, and the other third
ia to be divided between her two sons
and their wives. The widow is to re.
ceive the home in Passaic and their
country estate at Marriewold Park, con-
sisting Of twenty acres. A tract of Ilo
acres is left to Mr.. and Mrs. Eben
Takamine and one Of twenty acres at
Merriwold Park to Mr.. and Mrs. Jo-
kichi Takamine ir.
Fifty thousand yen is left to the in
stitute of Toxic and $4,000 yen as
trust fund to establish prizes for stu
dents at the Imperial Academy of
Science in Toxic. There are numerous
bequests to servants both in this coun-
try and in Japan. Dir. Takamine's life
Insurance, amounting to 100000, is in
his wife's name.
Surrogate Begga delayed the filing
for probate pending q conference with
Mrs. Takanine regarding the provi-
sions directing the disposition Of the
bodv.