AN AMERICAN'S FORTUNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20251, 10 May 1929, Page 8

AN AMERICAN'S FORTUNE.

OVER TWENTY MILLIONS*

MR. R- WANAMAKER'S WiLL.

According to papers filed at Philadelphia recently, Mr. Rodman Wanamaker, who died on March 9, 1928, left personal estate to the value of £11,500,000. This is exclusive of 75,000 shares in the John Wansmaker Company, appraised at close upon £10,000,000. Mr. Rodman Wanamaker vas head of the great departmental store founded by his father, the late Mr. John Wanamaker, He was chairman of New York's Welcome Committee, and had officially greeted every distinguished visitor to the metropolis for several years. His estate is the largest left by any Philadelphian, and included more than £1,250,000 in insurances from 60 separate policies issued on his life by 44 different companies in the United States, Canada and South America.

The chief portion of the estate will be held in trust, for tlie benefit of the three children. Provision is also made for Mr. Wanamaker's second wife, the former Miss Violet Cruger, who obtained a divorce in Paris in 1923, and is now the wife of Mr. H. B. Viney. of England. The precise amount is not stipulated in the will. The largest public bequest is £400,000 for the creation of a John Wanamaker Free School for Artisans. The will gives £SOOO for cancer research at Lankenau Hospital, Philadelphia. If Princton University, from which Mr. Wanamaker graduated* in 1886, decides to establish a business school, the trustees will allot £3OOO yearly for 10 scholarships.