Volume 14 , Issue 34

100 Years Ago Today - 20 August 1912

It was Tuesday, August 20, 1912, that we read in The World, out of New York, about the "Young Mrs. Astor Not To Contest Husband's Will." Col. John Jacob Astor died earlier in 1912 in the sinking of the Titanic.

Judge Henry A. Gildersleeve, counsel for Mrs. Madeline Force Astor, widow of Col. John Jacob Astor, today dictated the following statement for publication in The Evening World, which indicates quite positively that there will be no contest of the will.

Madeline Force Astor, the widow, had always expressed entire satisfaction wight he provisions made for her by her late husband, both in the ante-nuptial agreements which were entered into and also by the various articles of his will. She has not now nor has she ever had any desire or intention to dispute the validity of the agreements or attack any of the articles of the will.

As for setting aside the will any lawyer of the slightest experience would not advise that it could possibly be done. Col. Astor was of sufficient age and of sound mind when he executed his last will and testament. It was prepared by Mr. Lewis Cass Ledyard, who was familiar with the various wills of the several heads of the Astor family.

The will was drawn in accordance with provisions contained in similar documents executed by needs of the Astor family who preceded Col. Astor.

All of its provisions were valid and strictly conform to the laws of the State of New York. In reference to the article of the will providing for posthumous children it must be said that while the fund of $3 million seems to be rather small in view of the large estate Col. Astor left and as compared with the sum William Vincent Astor will receive, it is, nevertheless, a large fortune and sample for the heir's maintenance and education.

It was highly probable that the trust estate set apart in compliance with this provision of the will, if wisely and judiciously selected from the Astor property, will quadruple in value before the heir reaches the age of twenty-one years. Should there be no increase in value of the corpus of this trust the unexpended income therefrom, with accumulated interest, will amount to at least $5 million or $6 million, which the child would received for his own on reaching his majority.

Judge Gildersleeve came down from maplewood, New Hampshire, where he was spending his vacation especially to consult with Mrs. Astor and her father, William H. Force, with reference to the early appointment of a guardian for little John Jacob Astor. He was in conference with the Force's that afternoon, and he would not return to New Hampshire before Thursday night.

In connection with his statement concerning the position of Madeline Force Astor and her family with respect to the will of Col. Astor, Judge Gildersleave wished to have it made clear that it only covered his present view of the subject. he would not be bound by it in any way as to the future. In substance he did not desire his statement to be taken as in any way outlining the attitude of any guardian who might act for the littlest Astor within the next two years, the time in which any provision of the will might be attacked in the courts.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---