Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-05-09

IS INTERESTING LAW Casa
friend of this place handed US a copy Of
The New Orleans Times. dated the 23d
OF April. From it we extract the follow
ing notice Of most interesting case now
before the Courts of that city, in which
not few persons in this county are in
teresied
The Second District Cour, has been
engaged for two days pas, in hearing the
argumen, ID The great Shepherd will case.
Judge Campbell aud c. NJ, Conrad for
the heirs of James II. Shepherd, have
occupied the court for these two days.
Mr.. Conrad had not concluded his srgu.
ment yesterday, and will resume to-day.
Randall Hunt and Christian Roselius will
reply for the heirs OF K. ID. Shepherd.
Rarely have the bar and an audience
been held in proiounder and more inter.
esIed attention than by The mastery pre-
sentauen Of the facts and law for the
plaintiff by Messrs. Campbell and Con-
rad. The history Of the case, running
through correspondence Of the late 4.
ID. Shepherd for the last thirty. FIVE years,
had all the in!sres, OF romance. The
theory Of the plaintiff is that Mr.. r. ID.
Shepherd vas made lega,ee Of his broth
er's property by will which was &C.
companied by sealed letter directing
him at his death 10 distribute the proper
~ among certain Of James II. Shepherds
heirs.
The existence of this letter is proved
by small envelope which was found
in the papers Of the succession OF James
ii. Shepherd, and was endorsed by Mr.
Shepherd with the words, Letter Of in
s,ruc,ions Of J. Fl. s., for 4. D. Shop
herd, or, in case OF his death, for Abra.
ham Shepherd. '-aDo,her brother. This
is the only vestige extant Of this letter.
IL is, however, frequently referred to in
the correspondence Of Mr.. R. d. Shep.
herd with the members of his family I;
and most searching analysis of this cor
respondence is believed to establish the
character Of these instructions. and 90
Justify the claim Of the plaintiffs to be
recognized as heirs al law, or legs,ees,
under the tes'amentary dispositions con.
,aiped in This letter, OF instructions. 1t is
charged that Mr. Z. d. Shepherd SUP
pressed or destroyed this letter in order
TO defIsud his nephews and nieces Of what
they would be entitled to under it. or that
the said letter created substitution which
was Illegal under our law. and would
cause the property to revert TO the heirs
at law Of Mr.. James ii Shepherd.
These propositions were enforced with
great ability, and were illustrated by
many Interesting sketches Of the chaTac-
tiers oil the several members OF the Shep.
herd family. The defendant in the sui,
are the only daughter and two grandsons
Of Mr.. i. d. Shepherd-Mrs. Peter C..
Brooks and sons, OF Boston.
Since the above was in type we have
received the following, taken from the
New Or+ans Times dated May LIST:
Juige John A. Campbell occupied the
Second Dislric. Court in an srgumen, in
favor of the plaintiffs in the Shepherd
will case which eDchsined the attention
Of large audience Tor several hours.
Judge Campbell's argument was direct
&c mainly 10 the points
That James H. Shepherds private lei,
ter TO his brother was a testimonial dispo.
siton which had all The weight and pow
fr Of a will that il contained the direc.
lions which bis brother. by accepting the
succession, came under an obligation tc