The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-08

lNeW 1Ork der0l0.l
Mr.. Jefferson Davis, ex-prxsident of the
late ''so-called," IL likely TO have an unhap-
py time In retaining the estates Of his ad.
mirer, M1- Dorsey, devised to him by the
last will and testament OF that lady, and
into the possession OF which he duly entered
about month ago.
The theory advanced to support the valid.
ity OF the will was that Mrs Dorsey, imbued
with . lofty and absorbing love OF the South
in Its late struggle for supremacy, had
adopted the ex-president Of the Confedera-
cy 20 the embodiment OF "the lost cause"
death all she had on earth. This theory was
published in letters to the press by Mr..
Edgar Howard Farrar, who claims to have
been Mrs.. Dorsey's lawyes. Farrar IL by
marriage . nephew OF Jefferson Davis, who
benefits BY Farrar's action IN the matter.
provisions OF which she confided to him as
early Is 1875 and this will his businesr part
ner deposited In the bank at New Orleans,
whence IL was produced after her death.
Mrs. Dorsey's love for her relatives. which
erst while found expression in promises for
the future, after the installation Of JEFF DAYS.
IN his ponhon at Beauvoir, resulted In the
ban,shment OF her nephew, who was the
business msnegeS of her estate ana seem.
ing isolation on her part from all Of them
up to the time Of her death. These relatives,
North and South, the moment the disposi-
tiOu VI ncI pfOptIty was muu0 puDllc, pro-
tested loudly and declared their Intention OF
contesting the will, and they have gone SO
far that the matter will soon take q legal
shape
A report got into circulation that In ad.
dition to the suit TO upset the provisions Of
the will which Mr.. DAVIS, through his
nephew has had admitted TO probate, a suit
OF graver character would be instituted
against HIM and others for alleged con.
spiracy to deprive Mrs Dorsey's natural
heirs OF their rights, and for exercising undue
influence over her mind, and for
against the law. This report coming
to the ears OF Farrar he became indignant
ana threatened 10 make mince meat of any
of the relatives OF the deceased who dared
impugn the integrity OF his uncle. Two
weeks ago, near New Orleans, he me Cler-
ence Routh, one of the nephews OF Mira.
Dorsey. Farrar was quickly accused of
fraud, and upon resenting the charge was
threshed by Routh, receiving in the en-
counter q pair OF black eyes and sundry
other Commissions and injuries.
One member of the family, however, coin
cides with the Davis set-Major Clement
Hill Walker, one OF her Southern nephews,
between whom Colonel +. H Ellis, OF Brook
Ign, Mrs. Dorsey's brother, fighting talk has
been exchanged. In fact, the major has
challenged the colonel, his uncle. to moral
combat unless he makes full retrsction OF
all that was said in q private letter from the
latter to his nephew. A representative of
the Herald accidentally encountered Colonel
Ellis on q Roosevelt street ferryboat the
other morning, and the conversation nntu-
rally drifted into the abso rbing topic.
HAS JEFF Davis evinced any disposition TO
colonel?"
why. no." replied he, he is like ieech,
and intends to stay on IL till the necessary
amount Of legal salt removes him."
But, Colonel" interjected the reporter,
why did you not reply to the attacks on
you in Walkers letter."
II have no wish myself to enter into any
newspaper controversy" SAID he Though
them questions me on the matter. never
hesitate to give my views on the subject.
can not make public all know in the mat
ter, because II might interfere with the trial
of the case before the courts. As far as
Walkers letter is concerned, which appeared
in the New Orleans Democrat, pronounce
every statement therein made respecting me
to be altogether false. / wrote him letter,
In which / not only pronounced them false
hoods, but called him liar. In reply, be
demanded that retract the offensive word,
or afford him satisfaction, as the insult was o
mortal one. Again wrote him, and in that
communication declined 10 retract or fight
but told HIM that the first time met him 1
should give him q good sound kicking.
Walker is q cousin, and though member
three or four weeks at Beauvoir with JEFF
Davis, and he Is the only one Of us that is
low enough to do So"
us Farrar in any way connected with
mo; he was introduced at Beauvoir by
JEFF Davis. He claims to have been my
sisters lawyer. That Is q lie. He never was
her lawyer, but Mr.. Steele, of st. Joseph, La.
| was, and he is our counsel now-I mean the
counsel Of the heirs to Beavuoir, Elk Ridge,
Elliston and the other properties. Farrar
married niece OF JEFF Davis and hence was
drawn into the matter. Clarence Routh
gave him q good pounding week or 80 ago
| for his part in the matter"
Are there any hopes, colonel, on your
part, of the courts throwing aside the will?'
IL intend to fight 1t out"-speaking en-
| phatically-"if Il expends all the property
| In legal expenses. You can rest assured that
| the revelations IL will make will not rebound
| to the credit OF JEFF Davis, whom I consider
| q mean, sneaking-well, that will come out
in evidences ny and by. Why, he and Far
for lawyers TO lake the case for a contingent
fee. pronounce this q lie. We never
heard OF my sisters death until we saw it in
| a newspaper, and the will was offered for
probate without the legal notice required
being sent to any OF us. But as soon as we
| found what was going on we engaged coun-
sci, and their investigation previous to trial,
taken in connection with letter l received
from JEFF Davis has shed a great light on
the mystery OF her conduct"
"Whst would you have me infer,
colouel?"
.Just what mean to say. The whole
case Is o trumped up game between JEFF,
Farrar and others to get the property. The
contest will place JEFF Davis before the
| world Is q scheming villain, and one OF the
few who conspired TO play on the mind OF a
| weak woman near her death. jeff Davis lie
. damned sharp schemer. but bis sharpness
| in this will not do him any good. He says
the property 10 only worth $50 900. Then j
| say so much the meAner for him to take 90
small an amount from those it belongs to
when he has enough and more without
| touching it. Others say the estates are
worth $3.50, 900, but he can't get $4,000 for
them II he wants to. a. / don't mean he
shall have once cent from them"
"You spoke OF . letter from him to you.
Can you let me see that, colonel?"
mo; am sorry can not That letter IL
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