Mrs. Mary Thomas Piper, a wealthy widow of Kansas City, died in 1910. To Rollins Bingham, a nephew, she left $250 to be held in trust and used only for his funeral expenses. It appears that the conduct and habits of the nephew had not been pleasing to the testatrix, and she adopted this weird way of revenging herself upon one who had formerly been a favorite kinsman, but had subsequently incurred her displeasure.
This sum of $250 was left in trust in the hands of her executor to be held until the death of the nephew, and then applied to give him proper burial.
Rollins Bingham was a newspaper writer of Kansas City, Missouri, and his father was General George C. Bingham, a distinguished Missouri artist, who painted the well-known pictures, “General Order No. 11” and the “County Election.” He died quite recently, shortly after the above-mentioned will was probated, and the legacy at which he scoffed was used for the purpose named.
To induce People to Pray
The will of Master Robert Toste, Provost of the Collegiate Church of Wingham, dated 17th of August, 1457, recites: “My body to be buried on the uppermost step, on the north part of the high altar, where the Gospel is read in the choir on holidays in Wingham. I Will that a marble stone be laid over me, with an inscription, to induce people to pray for my soul. I bequeath part of my books to the new College of All Souls, founded by Archbishop Chicheley, part to University College, and part to the University Library of Oxford.”
Buried in an Old Chest
The Rev. Luke Imber, of Christchurch, Hants, England, one of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for that county, who, at the age of eighty-three, married a country girl of thirteen, desired in his will that he might be buried in an old chest which he had for some time kept by him for that purpose, and that the bearers should have each of them a pair of tanned leather gloves and a new pair of shoes, which were given accordingly.
Bribing the Children
Mr. Tuke, of Wath, near Rotherham, England, who died in 1810, bequeathed one penny to every child that attended his funeral (there came from 600 to 700); 1s. to every poor woman in Wath; 10s. 6d. to the ringers to ring a peal of grandbobs, which was to strike off whilst they were putting him into his grave; to an old woman who had for eleven years tucked him up in bed, £1 1s. per annum; to his natural daughter, £4 4s. per annum; to his old and faithful servant, Joseph Pitt, £21 per annum; forty dozen penny loaves to be thrown down from the church leads on Christmas Day forever. Two handsome brass chandeliers were also bequeathed to the church, and £20 for a new set of chimes.
Hand to be Cut Off