The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-07-27
CHAPTKR XII

CHAPTER XII.
The Author accuses Lispsnard Steuart Of J" Hypocrt.
ST.. Baseness," Z" Meammsss," and Robbery
andconcl.aies by taking about Religion,
FRIDAY MORNING, July 81, lS43.
To Mr.. Li.pesard Ste,oar
SIR
When your letter OF the 18th inst came to hand
yesterday, was aborng under an attack OF the sc.
we're ndisposltion which has so recently confined
me 10 my bed and IN consequence | was able TO
do little more than 10 acknowledge its receipt I'm
der these circumstances beg leave to make a fur
her reply TO 1t, 10 be published in connection with
the whole OF our correspondence, tomorrow NOR
ming.
In tins letter you apprise me that you are acting
under the advice OF three lawyers strengthened
by the wishes and instructions OF every other mem
Der of the family !" and find enquiry, that with
your usual regard tor the courteses OF ife you and
your. lawyers" have meanlv awaited yourself OF
my illness IN the country TO obtain from my wife her
assent 10 your proposed robbery of herself and chill
dren This was no difficult matter. You and your
- associate, who boosted under oath oil her legal
knowledge, know well the generous character OF your
sister and her horror OF family controversy; you
knew that if she were entitled 10 million OF dol
lars from the estate of her MOTHER she would cheer
fully rehnqush all, sooner than permit the justice
OF her father TO be questioned; and you knew too,
that II any earthly consideration could sway me
from my purpose in this Case, II would be the ap.
prehension OF giving ner pain; and acting on this
knowledge OF her character, so different from that
OF her family, you basey and meanly awaited your.
selves OF my absence, 10 induce her TO sign docu-
ment which would embltter her peace hereafter, II
were not FULLY determined To guard the interests o.
her children from the too generous and conhdng
character OF their mother. By what means you
have procured the assent OF other heirs TO the va
lIdity OF The paper have the hardlhood 10 call
The will OF Robert Stewart, together win the dis
graceful scenes which have been enacted and the
black frauds which have been perpetrated under
fhS Jlsh nj FAhn Sholt oil hn dI.
season
CHAprKR Kill
The author argues the case-po,ps out the Whoe fury
# has artnry Of io0rds, and ends by defining J0r
third time has position, and that Of his anfago-
mist.
Originally you and your lawyer declared that the
estate was insovent, and sought 10 hide your fraud
under that plea but this plea you appear TO have
abandoned, and am now urged not TO seek justice,
both OF whom will come in for a third ii the will
could be laid aslde.' A third of what Why OF
an lnsolven estate This appeal to my interest has
been made in vain. If the Lspenard estate is not
for will be quite as we'll satisfied to it pass
into the hands OF strangers To her blood, as re main
in possession OF the very honest and honorable son
who has so managed as TO have IL devised 10 him
"tor his sole benefit" Of the degree of moral hon.
esty which this reasoning of yours exhibits, leave
the public to Judge.
Anotherpea which you and your lawyer have urg-
ed against your committing your pretended lncn-
tlons TO legal form, is, that by doing the mem.
bers of the family, that is Mrs. Sarah Stewart and
myself, would be Ineligible as witnesses in the suits
against the estate by the heirs at law of Alice Lis.
penard. This is the weakest OF all pleas tor fraud
you and your lawyer told the heirs it was on this
plea that Mr. Robert Stewart was persuaded or
frightened into devising his estate 10 you
The plea in itself is disgraceiul one to all con-
graceful a Mr. wv" who 1 was az authorised
by you to engage as the counsel of Robert Stewart
for the defence Of the suit commenced by the heirs
of Alice Lispenard. promptly told me in March last
Sarah Stewart and added, that he should be retain
ed, ne would condition that not a member of the
family should be examined for the defence.
But suppose it were otherwise, Suppose for a
moment that her testimony was important. When
asked on the stand, will she not b. compelled TO
swear that you soemny assured her and her sisters
on your honor as man, that you would al once
cheerfuly put the estate in the hands Of trustee
for their joint benefit, if it not that by DOING
she and others oil the family would be rendered IN
competent to appear as witnesses! Most assuredly
she would /; and would not this admission be quite
as fatal as the making the assignment In trust! AS
TO my being hereaf examined for the defence
that is quite impossible as 10 all future suits
shall be party complainant. This plea then, tails
TO the ground, like every other you have used TO
are honest and honorable, at the time that you
shrink from putting them in legal shape. The
veil under which you have attempted to hide your
intended robbery OF your orphan sisters, was quite
too thin tor the purpose designed; and yet thin as
ii was, circumstances and your own admissions IN
your last letter, have deprived you OF It's benefit,
and you stand before the public In your true char
acter. II there is any thing In that to command
more than ordinary admiration, you will OF course,
be grateful to him who has been instrumental In al
ordng you the opportunity of being justly apprecia-
ted by discerning public.
What issintended to be conveyed by your allusion
TO your unpleasant situation and the Importance OF
not "distracling' your attention" is more than
can discover; and have therefore, no reply to make
10 1t. Sufficient has been written TO enable you TO
see the precise positions which we respectively6c-
Guy which is the great object had In view before
commencing my opposition to the Willis being ad-
United to probate.
Your obedient servt,
j. WATSON WEBB.
II be Of history in general, that 1t is phi-
osophv teaching by example," it is surely equally
true in relation to autobiography 1t is indeed from
the fact that it conveys its lessons with such force,
that this species of historical narrative, is 80 pecu
llsry valuable The story of Webb's life is full OF
neral lessons. And the passages now given TO the
world are pregnant with instruction. They exhibit
in great ana glazing characters the folly of re-
Jecting wholesome and affectionate advice. Mr..
Bennett on the 18th day of.February, in the present
year Of our Lord, ls43, thus advised Webb, after
the!verdict had beensrendered inthe celebrated Lis
penard case:-
This verdict may affect the temper and disposition OF
Mr. Stewart to such extent that he may be brought
recollection Of his sister in Ireland, and sundry
nephews and in this country They may become
the subjects OF his requests in his last will and testament
Should he however, die interstate, the property by the
provisions of Alexanders will cannot pass to these me-
phews OF Robert but before said must pass
TO the children Of Alexander l.. Stewart.
II will be seen, therefore. that friend Col Webb
can take either bird in hand, half a dozen in the
bush that is to say he have either $40 900
cordng TO the verdict about 5000 900 in expectancy
on Robert Stewart hereafter He will please to let
know possible which hoin OF this dilemma he
chooses and, in the time, he take horn OF
fresh Croton clear his ntelects Tor the question
Our advice friend Webb is to take the $4,000; for
looking at the whole OF this business, have the