Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-10-30

The STORY OF LOsT WILL.-The
New York Herald of Saturday publish
es very interesting and dramatic story
OF the loss and subsequent discovery of
will by which large family in strait
ened circumstances are at once restored
TO affluence. The story is substantial
ly as follows: There once lived on a
magnificent estate in Prince Georges
county two brothers-Thomas b. and
David Crawford. Both were bachelors
for many day, until Thomas, TO use
language which all can understand, fell
in love with bis housekecper, and was
married TO her in secret in Washington
by priest. This marriage. when it
became noised abroad, caused an es-
trangement between the two brothers,
which continued up to the time of the
death OF Thomas, which occurred in
March, 1854, only little over twenty
FIVE years ago. He left behind him a
will, bequeathing all his estate TO his
wife and four children, mentioning her,
however, as Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor
her maiden name-and not Mrs. Craw-
ford, as he should have done. Only
fiye years after the other brother died,
and though search was made high and
low. no will could be found. Now the
fight began. The children of Thomas
put in q claim to the estate, on the
ground that they were the nearest OF
kin; while across from Old Virginia
so the story goes-came troupe Of
what would have been sisters and cou-
sins and aunts, had Pinafore been dis
covered at that time, all desirous OF
sharing the estate. They were headed
by r. s. Blackburn, and the matter
went Immediately into the courts
From the Prince Georges court it went
TO Charles county. and thence to the
Court of Appeals of Maryland, where
Blackburn was authorized to admins
ter on the estate. In further court pro-
ceedIngs, the question OF the legitimacy
OF the children OF Thomas Crawford
was raised, which was settled by hunt
ing up the priest who married them,
who was then in France. The case
eventually reached the United States
supreme Court. after all the lawyers
originally engaged had died and others
has taken their places, where a verdict
in favor of the children of Thomas
Crawford was rendered. They took
possession and sold off parcels of their
property, which is now entirely diyi-
ded up into small farms. Now comes
the startling finale. The will Of David
Crawford has been found, and by II he
bequeatbs his vast estate, not tn the
Crawford children, but to the Virginia
relatives. II had been drawn Up by
Washington attorney just about the time
OF the breaking out Of the late war
The attorney joined the Confederate
army and was killed; but had instruc-
ted his Office boy to send all the papers
IN a box in his Office 10 the parties 10
whom they were directed. Among the
papers as the will; but the boy, ia
stead OF obey ing orders. took the box
home with him 10 Virginia. Only last
March the box was found in a Virginia
attic: the will was brought out and, old
aud time-siained "a IL waS. filed in the
Office OF .he Register Of Wills of Prince
Georges county. This puts new as
pect on affairs, and the legal fght over
the eslate is likely to renewed. The
property was, as stated. sold in parcels
by the Crawford children, and the pres
ent holders are in fear and trembling
lest their deeds be pronounced null and
void, aud the property be all handed
over, an The viii directs. the heirs Of
the Blackburn Virginia branch.