The New York herald., 1879-09-30
JEFF DAVIS AND "BEAUVOIR." ("


MR.. DoRsEY's OPINION OF THE CONFEDERATE
PRESIDENT CONDUCT SERIOUS CHARGES
A CHALLENGE, AND PROBABLY DUEL rs
| PROSPECT.
Mr. Jefferson Davis. ex-President of the late $50
called" is likely to have unhappy time in retain
ing the estates of his admrer. Mrs. Dorsey devised
to him by the last viii aud testament of that lady,
| and into the possession Of which he duly entered
| about month ago.
The theory advanced in support of the validity
| of the will was that MRS. Dorsey. imbued with a
lofty and absorbing love of the South in its late
struggle for supremacy. had adopted the ex-Presi-
dent of the Confederacy the embodiment of 1.-the
lost and in testimony thereof left him at her
death all she had on earth. This theory was pub
lshed in letters to the press by Mr.. Edgar
Howard Farrar. who claims TO have been Mrs.
Dorsoy's lawyer. Farrar is by marriage nephew
of Jefferson Davis. who benefits by Farrars action
in the matter Farrar claims to have made her will.
the provisions of which she confded to him early
1873, aud this will his business partner deposited
in the bank at New Orleans. whence 1t produced
after her death.
Mrs. Dorsey's love for her relatives. which erst
while found expressions in promises for the future.
after the installation of jeff Davis III his position ut
Beauvoir. resulted in the banishment OF her
nephew who was the business manager OF her es
tate and seeming isolation her part from all of
them up to the time of her death. These relatives.
North and South the moment the disposition of her
property was made public, protested loudly and de-
cared their intention OF contesting the will. and
they have gone far that the matter will tako
q legal shape.
report got into circulation that in addition to
the suit to upset the provisions Of the WILL which
Mr.. Davis through his nephew has had admitted to
probate, suit of graver character would be insti-
tuted against him and others for alleged conspiracy
to deprive Mrs Dorseys natural heirs of their rights
and for exercising undue influence her mind,
and for even yet more serious offence against the
law This report coming to the ears of Farrar he be-
came indignant and threatened to make lnince meat
of of the relatives of the deceased who dared i'm
near Now Orleans he met Clarence Routh one of the
nephews of Mrs. Dorsey Farrar was quickly
cused of fraud, and upon resenting the charge
threshed by Routh receiving in the encounter pair
OF black eyes and sundry other commissions ana in
juries.
One member Of the family, however. comedies
with the Davis set Major Clement Hill Walker
OF her Southern nephews, between whom and Col
one f. II. Ellis Of Brooklyn Mrs. DOrsey's brother
lighting talk has been exchanged. In fact the Major
has challenged the Colonel his uncle. to mortal
combat unless he makes full retraction OF all that
was said III private letter from the latter to his
nephew. representative OF the HERALD accident
ally encountered Colonel Ellis Roosevelt street
ferryboat the other morning and tho conversation
naturally drifted into the absorbing topic
HAS JEFF Davis evinced any disposition to loosen
his grip on that estate of your sisters ColonelY'
"Why, no" replied he "he is like a leech, and in.
tends to stay on it til tho necessary amount OF legal
But Colonel, interjected the reporter, 'why did
not reply to the attacks on you in Walkers let
II have no wish myself to enter into any
paper controversy" SAID he. Though when meet
one Of the boys, one OF them questions
the matter never hesitate to give my views on the
subject. cannot make public all know in the
the before the courts As far Walkers letter
is concerned which appeared in the New Orleans
respecting me to be altogether false. wrote him
letter, in which not only pronounced them false
msnded that rstract the Offensive wora Or afford
him satisfaction, AZ the insult a mortal one.
Again wrote him. and In that communication de.
time met him I should give him good sound
kicking. Walker is cousin. and though member
OF the family has since the difficulty spent three
four weeks at Bcauvoir with jeff Davis, and he is
the only of US that is low enough to do so."
els Farrar IN any way connected with your fam
nyw
"No; lie was introduced at Beauvoir by jeff Davis
He claims to have been my sisters lawyer. That is
lie He her lawyer, but Mr.. steele, of st.
Joseph La, was. and he il our counsel now-I mean
the counsel of the heirs to Beauyoir Elk Ridge Ell
iiston and the other properties Farrar married q
niece OF jeff Davis. and hence drawn into the
q week ago for his part in the matter"
"Are there any hopes, Colonel. ON your part. OF
the courts throwing aside tho will5'
II intend to fight 1t out'-speaking emphatically-
You rest assured that the revelations it will
whom consider mean, sneaking-wel. that will
come out in evidence by and by. Why, ho and
Farrar started the runor that wo bunting tor
lawyers to take the case for a contingent
fee. pronounce this a lie. We never heard
and the win was offered for probate without the
legal notice required being sent to any of But
az soon as E we found what was going on we engaged
taken in connection with letter received from
Jctf Davis. has she'd great light on tho mystery of
"what would you have mo infer, Colonely"
Just what mean to say. The whole case is
trumped up game between JEFF, Farrar and others to
get the property. The contest will place JEFF Davis
before the world . scheming villain, and Of
woman near her death. JEFF Davis is a damned
sharp schemer. but his sharpness IN this will
is only worth Then 40 much the
for him to take small amount from those it
belongs to when he has enough and more without
touching II. Others say the estates worth
S250O0 but he get $780, 900 for them If he wants
to. as don't mean he shall have one cent from
them"
'.You spoke of letter from him to you. Can you
let me that. Coloncly'
mo; l am sorry cannot. That letter Is vital to
some OF the points we make III our complaint. 1t
kills him and his claim and settles the whole matter.
him rient down to it, and. it will have its weight
on the trial, it cannot be made public now. One
thing can say OF It, however. He says that up to
tho last moment my sister spoke in the kindest
terms of myself and family. aud this puts Walkers
charges that she and were bitter toward each other
'Arc all the other members of the family who
claim to be hcirs in accord with you. Co lonely'
Eyes" said he. 81 60 into the fight not for my
sake. but for the sake Of my children and thcy all
feel foel, that IL cannot get share of the
property we will sink il ALL And now in conclusion
let me tell YOU that my sister died from
sary surgical operation"
"What do you mean by that, sir?'
81 mean that she was persuaded to undergo a
gca operation that was altogether unnecessary, and
that will be proven on the trial"
This was all the Colonel would disclose for the
present OF his knowledge of the controversy.
DEPARTMENTAI. XACANCIES