Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-10-07
LYNCHBURG, VA, Sept. 20.

LINCdbUhd. v Az OCpGs 20. OIL.
To ". G. Elan, Esq, Editor Richmond
Wing:
oir-Your letter dated 'sWhig" Office,
September 9th, 1881, inquiring about Ma
ior Daniels connection with will THAT
of the late banker. Seth WoOdroof,) in
which am interested, has been duly re-
ceived.
l beg leave to say in reply, that though
Major Daniel is the opposing counsel IN
that matter, and that his pecuniary inter-
est Is in conflict with mine, yet knowing
as [ do, the whole case, and his relations
to it, I must say positively and of my own
personal knowledge, that Major Daniel 8
course has been characterized by the high
est sense of honor and propriety.
When my relative. the late Seth Wood
| roof, was on his bed IN his last illness, he
sent for Major Daniel to write his will.
| Major Daniel responded and wrote a part
| of the will-but when Mr.. Woodroof di-
| rected him to put In concluding clause,
| making him Major Daniel) residuary
legatee, Major Daniel with that modesty
and sense of delicate honor, SO character
| istic of the man declined to do so, refusing
| to act further. and Mr.. Woodroof had to
| call in another lawyer to finish the writing
| of the will.
| The history of the contest i'll the courts
is briefly as follows:
| Mr.. Seth Woodroof died in 1875
In 1876, VIM. Pettyjohn' 3 legatee's
brought suit against ]. W. Daniel. exec.
| utor Of W oodroof, to recover from Wood
| roofs estate a child S interest, in amount
| which interest the said Seth Woodrcuf got
| by the will OF VIM. Pettyjohn, but which
| the legatees of Pettyjohn claimed was
willed to Wocdroof in fee. only in the
! event of his leaving lawful issue at his
death. MIR. Woodroof was never married
and Pettyjohn 3 legatees claimed that the
| entire interest received by him under the
will of VIM. Pettyjohn. at the death OF
Seth Woodroof, reverted to Pettyjohn'
| Eeirs, one of which [ am.
| The case was decided against us in the
Circuit Court Of Lynchburg, and an ap-
peal was taken, and the case is now pend
ing on the appeal in the Supreme Court at
Richmond.
| :'Tbis authoritative statement Of the
| facts,7 in that case, you have my full au-
| thority to use by publication or otherwise
ito exhibit Maj. Daniel IN has true chdrdc
| ter to the public" | would further say. in
reply, that know Major Daniel, and know
| his relations to the suit above referred to
| and his connec: ion with the will of MIR
| Woouroof, and that th7re is absolutely
| nothing whatever in this case, either as
| counsel opposed TO me, as executor W
| Woodroof, OF any other way. to cast the
slightest reflection. or even the shadow OF
suspicion upon him.
and in all fIankness and justice. must
say, that if the Richmond CIV hig" and the
organization it represents, rely upon this
! or such like reports to compass the defeat
of an honest. upright and fearless man
your undertaking had just as well be
ABANDONED NOW. LyDchburg or its vi
| entity, the home of John Daniel, where be
| is known, loved and respected by all
| classes, ces and conditions, is not the
| place to enquire for authoritative state.
ments of facts. the publication" of which
would be injurious to his character.
You might probably find some political
scribbler to make up something against
| him: but in the writer you find one who
in an acquaintance, of 80 years extending
back to his early Doyhood, has never found
even one man who could rightfully say
aught against John W. Daniel.
| LIE; me beg you to abandon your effort
to injure so good and true man, and
unite your efforts with mine to make him
the next Governor of Virginia. You are
at perfect liberty to publish this. or to en-.
quire further of my counsel in the case
Mr.. Ed, s. Brown. of Lynchburg.
| Very respectfully,
| VIM. RIDGWAY.