Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-07-23
Correspondence cthe v. y. Jo"ndfef co"-
merc6.
oLp Po,Nr CoMroRr, July 10, 1885.

OLp PoiNr COMFORT July w. 1901
You are aware that question touching the a.
bdity oil tho asst VIII ofJohn Randolph OF hod-
noake, is now pending before the General Court
of Virginia.
nv hi, frs, VIII dated in 1921, al his negroes
are emancipated and he dovises Tor thclr Use two
farms. the Bushy Forest and Lower Quarter Is
tates which he directs his Executors to sell, tie
proceeds TO be applied ior their benefit. The resi-
due of his estate is given TO Judge Leigh. | am
told that the two farms are valued nj Slooeob,
and that the beques, to Judge Leigh is OF equal
amount. Bishop Meade of North Carolina, and
Francis S. Key, Esq. Of Washington, are he tx
eeutors.
After his retnrn from Russia he made another
Will dated in January, 1872, and IL question To
be tried relates to his state of mind nj the time OF
making H. The bulk OF his estate is given to
minor named Byrap, ason Of Te,tators niece and
grandson of Judge Coulter, of Va. In the even,
of the death OF Mr.. Bryan, ;be property to 90 TO
the first son of Henry -. George Fucker ani if
he should die without issue, 10 JUDGE Fuckers So
cond son. Judge Leigh receive, legacy under
this VIII Of or 1000 dollars. The W Ill con-
tans some other small requests
Both wills being properly executed, the FIRST it
would seem. is void, unless some good objection
exists to the last VIII Ill the Prescriptions Of
law are in favor of its validity, until the contrary
appears, 50 TIA. - lborine oar Is thrown upon
those who Sc ~ he FIRST VIII. They contend
tina, Mr. RI aaa insane at the time OF maxi
ing the last Il ll| GREAT dcul Of evidence has
been offered =. u, to sustain THIS point.
suppose ta#H itself affords some evidence
OF his state OF
la the introductory part oft h. states that he
makes his Nh binding on himself, his heir, and as
signs. The words in italics convey 10 meaning,
and are quite unlawycrlihe, and it IS considered.
u, least, remarkable. thai man othis precision ia
the choice Of language, shouI have used these
words.
In another part OF the VIII he dcyise3 his
Bushy Forest Estate expressing that he make, the
devise subject TO such charges he shall after
wards direct when he has more leisure to make a
VIII.
Blu, without before charging thai estate, lac pro-
cce1s and says, further charge my Bushy For
ss, estate with legacy 10 J. Randolph Leigh Of
$4,000.
How this inconetuity is explained, am Al
losst o determlnc Mr.. Randolph has not however
been remarkable OF late wears for cohcrency
Of thought, and the VIII j. evidently written
with view to avoid his dyins interstate, aud he
~ doubt contemplated writing II ont with more
care.
Nothing else, that am aware of. occurs in the
VIA itself, which shcw, an un,oaud state of mind.
In other respects is properly written, and con-
sisten, as FIR as | could learn
The next specie, oreyi1entc is II rrlatins fo
his general department.
ion remember that NJ Il lnlolph returned from
Russia in the till OF 1851, and his pecuaritiey OF
conduct before aud since TINT period, have been the
subject Of remark il ~ the public journals
Shortly after h'>lcturn, he proceeded to his owl,
District and addressed his constituents -irst, |
understand, at Prince Edward Court House, and
subsequently AT other places in the District Iii,
2d and (probably his) Sd speech have been very
much the subject of remark, as con aiming n
grca, deal of abuse OF men and things, and wer,
considered very singular, more than his phil
hpcs in the Senate House. do not know tina
any reference has been made TO them by the Coun
sci.
Evidence was produced showing his treatmcn
~ his slaves after his return.
Mr. Randolph, before that, always cnjo,ed lh
reputation OF being kind master. He was AWAY
known however a dscpnaran in tn treatmen
OF his negroes, and rigidly kept up the relation q
nas.er and slave.
After his return he treated them with cruelty
it is said, and his slaves were fearful of being XII
led
A great many Of his letters ware read In IN
Court, some OF them written with beauty and Gle
gnnce, and when read drew forth the admiratin
ofthc auditors. One ofhis letters was quite singl
lar. Ii is written to an oldmin, nrighhnr nf hi
rcqnestiny hial to come round and pray ar him
complaaiH~ tint he wasnnlrr Inc influence of Il,
Devil, who appeared to HIM in peculiar mannc
II believe IN the shape of a mulatlo girl and
bottle of Champagne.
The date of it, | think, WAS within three or 70,
weeks from the date of his will
His insanity in April seems u conceded. |
November and December previously, SOM, cvi
dence OF it appeared. In January ii was slighcr
but bccam, more apparent afterwards, His deaf
happened in the fall OF 1882, as near as can re
collect.
This sketch, necessarily imperfect, and III ma
be- inaccurate, presents some Of the points, An
shews part of the evidence elected at this sinrr
lar trial.
Bishop Made, am told, attempts 10 sustain III
earliest VIII aud Judge Coulter the las
Daring his stay in London Mr.. r. made cod
icil to the first Win, rcvoking the bcuurst Off
two farms to the slaves, anl making som, othc
PFovi.iontor them his will probably be con
tested.
Samuel Taylor, Of Chesterfield, John Robcr,
son OF Ricbmond, (the present representative /
In the evidence think of Mr. Marshall, il an
peared that after his return from Russia he chang
oil tho names ofhis negroes, substituting those o
distinguished ancinnts. Ono Of them, boy. H.
named Anchises. and rmittod him to 90 from In
quarter, and sern 5en the fire in one of his sit.