The Will Case

Letter from Douglass Boardman to Daniel Willard Fiske, June, 1890.

Selected transcription:

On the 14th July 1880 you married Miss McGraw, knowing, as we all did, that she was far gone in consumption and could not live a great while. The reasons which induced her to marry at that time I do not know. She had told me she should not marry until her health was restored. . . . Before your marriage . . . you executed an instrument of which the following is a copy “Legation of the U.S. of America Berlin July 13 1880. In consideration of the agreement of Jennie McGraw of Ithaca NY to marry me and of other considerations, I do contract and agree, that she shall have, possess, control and dispose of her property after her said marriage, in the same manner, and to as perfect and complete extent as if she had remained single & unmarried. . .” If she had remained unmarried you could not have disturbed her gift to Cornell Un’y. The McGraws were satisfied with her disposition of her property until you began proceedings. But for your act, in all human probability CU would have held and enjoyed this magnificent request for the building up and maintaining a great library. Was that in good faith to your dead wife? But your purpose you say, was to return the amt to Cornell after you had got it. What you wanted was to punish Mr. Sage and me because we did not concur in your views of the proper administration of the Estate in my hands and of the fund in the hands of the Trustees of Cornell.