Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-18
LIBERIA's GREAT LAWSUIT.

The CONTEXT over the Charitable
Will of the Ex.PFestdent OF Ihs
RepHblic.
Cor. Of the Methodist
MONRovIA, December 20, 1876.
Few countries are favored with a
truer example of christian patriot
ism than wUs furnished to Liberia
in the case of the late most worthy
ex-president, j. Payne Roberts, in
whose mansion, under the superior
and ladylike supervision of his ex.
cellent widow, we have found a
resting place from the heat Of the
African sun during many days. He
was ever on the alert to do some
thing, especially for the well-Geing
Of the aborigines of this country.
Far out from Monroyia, and a dis
tance from the Mesurado river is a
place known as Palmwine's Town.
A large number of people from
many tribes passed this point OIL
their way to and from the coast,
aud he conceived the idea of going
himself and sitting in the patti" "
as the natives call it, and for some
months Of each year talking to
these passing companies about civ
ilization and Christ, the author and
fnisher OF civilization. What good
he might have done had he been
permitted to carry out his plan
But it was ordered otherwise, and
we tell the story as it has just now
been told to us, as showing the
spirit Of the man, who has left an
other evidence Of his great interest
in the people Of this republic by
the provisions of his last will and
testament, which, unfortunately,
is just now being contested in the
courts of this capital by one of the
heirs, who is greatly dissatisfied
with it.
The will is most carefully drawn,
asmuch so as sany document we ever
saw, and we have seen some of the
ablest documents ever drawn by
Judge Binney and men Of his stamp
of mind and legal acquisition. We
are not sure that we recall all the
items of the demise exactly, but, as
we remember, he leaves his wife
certain lots and his mansion in
Monroyia, aud certain uses and
yield Of property besides. He was
the possessor of coffee farm on
the north end of Cape Mesurado,
of 102 acres, and, if we recall right
ly, another one besides. He was
also possessor of $4,000 in United
States bonds. He secures to his
wife certain income from these
during her life, and gives certain
proportions of his estate and the
yield of thom to his daughter. The
$40, 600 of United States bonds and
coffee farms he provides shall, after
his wife's death, be set apart as a
perpetual foundation for increasing
the educational facilities of the
country. He also specifies how the
board of management Of such trust
property shall be created, by pro-
giding that the board of stewards
Of the Methodist Episcopal church,
in the city OF Monroyia, shall APP
point a given number Of trustees,
who shall hold this property sub
iect to the provisions of the will,
and who shall be accountable to the
said board of stewards in the
church of Monroyia.
We shall not be able to traverse
the case as it is presented in the
courts, but may give rude sketch
of some of the points raised by the
attorneys of the daughter, who
seeks to invalidate Che will. First,
as we get it, the plea is thatex-P Pres
ident Roberts died intestate. Sec
ond, that it was not possible for him,
nor is it competent for any one else
in the republic, to dispose Of prop.
erty of which they may die pos
sessed by any will whatsoever, be-
cause the republic of Liberia has
never enacted any statute of wills
of its own, nor has it adopted nor
indicated any purpose to adopt any
such statute of wills, now or here
tofore in force in any other country,
Thirdly, thatin Che drafting of this
document called his last will and
tactop,o,,t NJ, DoIo,kr ,,,o. tlr r,,t.