Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-03-24
A STRANGE kUHr.
A Family OF Negroes RecoVer q
Valuable Estate.
The judiciary of Kentucky and
the Administration Of Justice.

Bv a Correspondent of the Courier-Journall
SPRINGFEEID, KY, March Is, 1862
One Of the largest causes ever in the
Washington Circuit Court was finally
decided to-day. Mary Aisop, woman
of color, and her six children, recovered
a Judgment for $4,000, with several
wears Interest, against the executor and
heirs of Samuel Redding, deceased, late
of this county. Jesse Alsop, wealthy
planter OF Mississippi, died In this coun-
~ some ten or dozen years ago. Out OF
his large estate, which was situated in
Kentucky and Mississippi, he devised to
Mary, his freed woman, and her six chill
dren. whom he had em8ncipated sad set
no i'm life in the county Of Claiborne, O,
$50 600 to be raised by his executor after
his death by sale of his property II Mis-
sissippi, consisting Of land, negroes,
stock, etc. He appointed Samuel Red
ding his executor, to whom he devised
his property in Kentucky. After making
his will he sold himself, by his agents,
su his Mississippi estate and took notes
therefor, payable to himself. He died IN
possession OF these notes, and ms VIII
vas probsted in the County Court Of this
county, and Redding qualified az ms
executor and took charge of these notes
HDl tAalUlSA 3o RAAb VI eL~
tucky property Of said Alsop devised TO
him in ths will. Jesse Alsop had no inn
medisie family and no relatives nearer
than nephews and nieces; Redding was
no relative. He very emphatically IN
his will imposed upon his executors the
duty of converting his Mississippi proper
ty into money and investing $50, 600 of
the proceeds in real estate in the State Of
Ohio. in the name and for the benefit of
Mary and her six children, By declaring
that this was " "the great desire OF bis
hearth Redding had gone on under
tke will, which had been admitted to
record in 1856, and collected most
Of these notes due in Mlssissipp pi,
and had made q settlement OF
his accounts in Yszoo county OF
| that State. where he had also quaihed
| as executor, showing himself indebted
to the estate some $4,000 This settle
ment was made in 1860, but nothing was
done for Mary and her children. she
brought this suit in 1866. The question
presented (, decision by the plesdings IN
| ia the case is, whether the conversion OF
the property by the testator IN his iiie-
| time amounted to an ademption or rev.
| ocation of the devise to Mary and her
| children, The case excited great inter-
est in this community. The questions
| of law involved were Interesting to the
| LAWYERS and court The amount inyolv-
ed in the litigation, the circumstances OF
the case, entirely novel IN this commu
nitv. the relative position IN society oi
of the parties to the suit, the possible
connection that msy have once existed
between the teststor and the objects OF
bis munificent bounty, and the unusual
fact that no one of these colOred citizens
of African descent, parties to this suit
and deeply Interested in is result, evei
made their personal appearance IN court
rendered the case one Of uncom mon IN
terest. even in this county, noted for 1T
liti0ation. But the interest OF this com
munity, In this case, was much increased
Nv the character, official position ant
nol,ti.al relations OF the distinguished
counsel that appeared 10 pehsii o. sn'
negross. The Hon. NJ. r. Hardin, Judg'
az Tie Court of Appeals OF Kentucky,
native of this county, and very popula
with its people, gave TO the argument
the case the full force and weight tbs
Ms great talents, legei learning, and per
sopal and of5icial influence could eonn
> mand, In behalf OF Mary and her chil
! dTen. The Hon. ]. w. kavan
augh, the Judge Of this Circuit Coarl