Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-22
The Mount vernon Controversy


A TEST CASH AS TO THE VALIDITY OF THE
tOATRACI WITH THE STEAMER ARROW.
Mr.. David Turner, Of Alexandra, has author
iZsd Col. Ban, an attorney OF that city, TO corr
mence suit against j. MICH. HOllings worth, su-
perintendent of the Mount Vernon 4 ssQciation
for refusing him admission to the grounds OF
Mount Vernon because he did not take passage
and was lot landed on the wharf by the steam
er Arrow. In a card published IN the Virginia
S6ntsrsl OF yesterday Mr.. Turner states that on
th5 18Th instant he formed one of party CT if
teen ladies and gentlemen who took passage on
the stes mer Mary Washington for Mount Yer.
non at the request of the party the captain
Here they were confronted with a high fence
and gate, and were denied admission BIZ Col
HolliIgsvorth, nOtY Itb standing each person Of
fered him twenty five cents, the admisst n fee
established by law, his only excuse being that be
was unauthorized TO admit any one except pas
stngeIs by the steamer Arrow.
Mr.. Turner Will base his suit on the act Of
the virginia legislature Of 1855, which decIgres
that by individual subscrl ption a fund was
raised 70 purchase and improve two hundred
acres OF Mount Vernon, which shall "include
den, grounds. ana the wharf aud landing now
constr Gctst on the Potomac river" Aud sec.
ton : provides: "The said association NAV
charge, receive, and collect any fee which may
be prescribed, not exceeding % cents, from
every peT-On over ten years Of age who may
lard ST and Visit Mount Vernon, a"1 the grave
tomb, OF cther place containing the remains of
General Wellington; but no greater sum or fee
all be charged or collected n any c-se." ON
tie 1871 day of March, 1853, the Iegislaturs
amended the act of 1856 90 follows: "And to this
end they may receive from the owner and pro-
prietOT of the said land deed in fee sim ole and
shall have, and exercise full DO 1er over the use
and management OF the same, as they may by
bylaws and rules declare: Proril'ef b3,rsrsr
n a. the said Mount Vernon Ladies' Assoc,s
ton OF the Union shall not have power to alien
the SAID land, or any part thereof, or TO lease
the same without the consent Of the general as
MI. Turner claims that under these acts Miss
Cunningham had no power to enter into a con
tract to alien the said land, or any part
thereof, or to lease the same" And vet, he
says, contract exists which leases the public
wharf, part of the said estate, to private
company, and to the exclusive use of one
steamer; and the said company agrees to paw
for each and every passenger landed at said
wharf TO visit said tomb and mansion Sc cents.
and that to provide against loss by the payment
OF 81 cents more than the legal fee, the estat-
lishGd Price of IS cents for passage and admit
tsnce fee was raised to S1.5O for each person
visiting the tomb of Washington.
IL IL understood that Gen. II. H. Wells has
given written opinion in favor of the legality
OF the contract between the owners of the Ar
row and the Mount Vernon Association, and
that Mr.. u. L. Stanton, of this city, has been
retained as counsel for the association.
N
ARREST OF AN ESCAPED CONvIor-TtceIrg
Tears Gt LiLsTty.-The Baltimore Gazette of this
Grs-on, alias George Igo, was arrested in Wash
iDgton, ID. G., on the charge of arson, having
set re 10 and destroyed stable. The act OF
tne lhesndlary placed other property in peril,
and endangered the lives of persons living in
the vicinity. Soon after his arrest Grsson was
tried, and sentenced to term of twelve years
Imprisonment IN the District OF Columbia peni-
tentiary. After serving only about a month he
managed 70 effect his escape, precisely how he
Accomplishment not being known, and fed to
other parts. He took up his residence in Balti-
more several years ago, in company with a col
ored woman calling herself GeOrgeana Grason,
his reputed wife, between whom there have
been frequent chickering's and quarrels. Re-
Gently GrasOn caused the srrest OF the woman
on some trivial charge, and yesterday, she,
in spirit OF retaliation, appeared at the Off &c
Of Justice Briscoe, and swOre out a warrant
charging GrasOn with having escaped from
the District of Columbia penitentiary on or
about the year 1862, just twelve years ago The
accused was arrested by Officer Kidd and ar
raigned before the magistrate, but in default OF
necessary witnesses shsaring was deferred until
the 18th instant In the meantime Grason was
committed to the city jail.
THE THsATRRs-The first performance os
Mr.. Frances sensational drama, "Mar ked for
Life" at Ford's Opera House last eyening. A.
trscted very large audience, and the fire.
quent applause and numerous encores testified
that the thrilling scenes and fine acting of Mr.
Francs las "Skid,") and the members OF the
company, made q most favorable impression.
The rain storm Of real water and other realistic
effects, drought down the house."
The succession Of novelties st the Theater
Comique last night were appreciated by large
grsmme, particularly Mr.. Cavansgh's comedy
OF "The Mad Poet Of the Catskills."
THR ROOMS OCCUPIED By THE PROBATE
COURT and the Office OF the Register OF Wills
Colonel Webster, have undergone q thorough
overhauling. The partition he's been taken out
snd the two rooms thrown into one. In the
north END OF the room, on a rails seq platform, be-
hlnc herdsome railing, are the decks and seats
Tor the judge and register, and in the Opposite
emo the desks OF the clerks are behind a similar
raihrg on platform. The greatest improve
ment ~ the arrangement of the books (copies
o. wills, &c,) and the facilities furnished for
IhE r Examination.
ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED RoBBRRy IN
| MAEYLASD-Ls night Officers Collins and
Riley arrested coiOred man named Lewis
James, charged with stealing a watch and
chain in July last in Garrett county, MARYLAND.
from smother cOl0red man named John Peter,
son. An officer of that county learning his
Whereabouts followed him to this city, ard he
was taken into custody as stated, and this morn
ing IN the Police Court was committed TOR a
hearing.