Alga Smith Law

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Alga {William sometimes wrote Olga) Smith Law (b. in San Francisco on June 11, 1874; d, in London on January 22, 1934) was the wife of George Law. She was only 22 when Law died intestate at age 53. Her grandparents asked William to be co-administrator of the estate with their granddaughter.

Before her marriage Alga Law was introduced to William by her grandmother, apparently because of her singing voice.(Diary, 1893-09-12)  In 1894 William noted in his diary that he had a “long conference with Olga [sic] Smith.(Diary, 1894-07-05)  Alga called on William three times afterward. (Diary, 1894-08-06; 09-07; 09-17)

George Law was president of the Eighth Avenue and Ninth Avenue Railroads in New York City.(3)  Alga and George married on September 24, 1894, surprising many friends who had thought him to be a confirmed bachelor.(4)  After their wedding, Law was sued by Miss Josephine Mack for breach of promise; Law denied the claim.(5)(9)  He died intestate on July 7, 1896, and Alga’s grandparents initially asked William to be a co-administrator of the estate.(Diary, 1896-07-12)  Questioning the widow’s age and William’s relationship to the family,  George’s sisters objected, and William withdrew, suggesting the United States Trust Company instead.(Diary, 1896-07-22)  After the grandparents were able to prove that Alga was over 21 years old,  she and the United States Trust Company were appointed co-administrators.  The estate was estimated at $1.5 million plus $100,000 in real estate.(1)(6)(10)

Considered quite beautiful, Alga  was wooed by the Maharajah of Kapurthala, a prince of India., whom she had met in Paris in 1898.  He was taken by her beauty, calling her “the beautiful black pearl of the Americas.”(7)(11)(13)

Alga died in London in 1934.  In her will, as a memorial to her grandfather, Alga left funds to the Bar Association of New York City to benefit needy law students. Alga had lived with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C. Bainbridge Smith, since the age of three when her mother died.(1)(12)  In 2017 the fund’s trustees reported assets of $1,119,490.(2)  Alga’s grandfather had been an attorney and was listed in King’s Notable New Yorkers of 1896-1899.(8)[jsm/les]

For a portrait of Alga Smith Law go to: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2014685878/

Sources:

1. “The Age of George Law’s Widow,” New-York Tribune, July 17, 1896, p. 7. 
2. "C Bainbridge Smith Fund Uw Alga Law Bar Association of Nyc 117886", IRS Form 990-PF 
available at the GuideStar by Candid Web site
https://www.guidestar.org/profile/51-0252549
accessed February 8, 2019
3.” George Law Dead,” New-York Tribune, July 8, 1896, p. 7.
4. “George Law Married,” The Evening World. September 25, 1894.
5. “Geo. Law Sued for $150,000,” Evening World, August 23, 1895, p.3.
6. “George Law’s Widow Too Young,” The Sun, July 16, 1896, p. 8.
7. “Just Like a Woman.,” The Philipsburg Mail, December 16, 1898, p. 7.
8. King, Moses. Notable New Yorkers of 1896-1899.  New York: Bartlett $ Company 1899, p. 92.
9. “Miss Mack Sues Geo. Law,” The Sun, August 24, 1895, p. 3.
10. “Mrs. Law Appointed Administratrix,” The New York Times, July 23, 1896, p. 1.
11. “Society,” The New York Times, July 12, 1896, p. 20.
12. “Students Get Aid in Mrs. Law’s Will,” The New York Times, February 28, 1934, p. 22.
13 .“To Grace His Harem,” The Wichita Daily Eagle, August 4, 1898, p. 8.