The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-11-17
The Packer Estate.

The account OF the executors under the
will of Asa Packer came up last Friday in
the Orphans Court, at Philadelphia, before
Judge Hanna, for adjudication and settle
ment, James II. Campbell, representing
the estate of BarnaGas Hammett, deceased
formerly of the firm of Noble, Hammett &
Co., stated that Supreme Court having late
ly dscided the questions involved in the
litigation between that firm and Asa Pack
er growing out Of the construction of the LIE
high Valley Railroad, it had been agreed
BY SURVIVING members of the firm to with
draw all claims against the estate, thus
finally terminating in that city contro-
versy which arose twenty years ago in Car.
bon county, and in which Attorney Gener
al Brewster, George W. Biddle, William A,
Porter, the late William l.. Hirst, Judge
Green, of the Supreme Court, aud other
prominent lawyers of the State often figur.
ed as Colleagues and opponents The only
remaining obstacle TO the immediate settle
ment Of the estate and its distribution in
accordance with the provisions Of The will
grows ou: OF legacy Of $4,000 given hy
Judge Packer to a military institute in
Virginia. George NJ. Dallas appeared iol
| the Washington and Lee University and
John S Gerhard, for the Virginia Military
| Institute, located in the town of Lexington,
aid both claimants OF the legacy. In the
conrse of the arguments it appeared that
what is now known as the Washington and
| Lee University was formerly the Augusta
Academy. established in l7i9 by Robert
Alexander, one of the original families OF
Virginia. 1t was the FIRST classical school
in the Valley OF Virginia,an was continued
by an uninterrupted succession of principal,
and assistant instructors, on successive sites
until it gradually developed in Washington
College, and finally, after the death of Gen
eral Robert E. Lee, the name Lee was add
ed to its title The Virginia Military In
slltute was established by the State OF
| virginia, in 1889, as substitute for the
State Guard, aud its object was the eduea
| iion OF poor boys, who were required u
| guard the State property at Lexington in
payment tor their tuition. Both colleges
| possess an historical interest, many of theiI
| graduates having found fame on the battle
| fields of Mexico, while others became pro-
mnent generals in the Confederate service
| during the late war. Robert L. Lee re
! manned the president OF the institute now
bearing his name shortly after the surrend
er at AppomattoK until his death and Stone
wall jackson was for many years professor
N the Virginia Military Institute Tho
clause in the will which will require the
Interpretation OF the auditing Judge reads
thus ITO the trustees OF the Washington
College, Lexington. Virginia. the sum OF
| $4,000, and | also direct that the bond ol
the Washington College, Lexington, Vir-
ginia, now held by me, for 81 600, shall be
surrendered or cancelled by the trustees
thus making the legacy TO that college S5,-
| 600" The testimony submitted to the
Court in support of the arguments consisted
entirely OF depositions OF residents OF Lex
ington, Confederate officers and men oi
learning in the South, whose Eames became
| quite familiar during the rebellion. Judge
Hanna will render his decision in a few
days as TO which institution is entitled u
the legacy. The adjudication will then be
hledJ the long protracted litigation will be
referred 10 only for the legal lore contained
IN the numerous opinions and decisions Of
the Judges written during its tendency
and the immense estate Of Asa Packer will
IN time be distributed among numerous
heirs and legatees.