Evening journal., 1889-05-16
CALHOUNs HOMESTEAD.
a VIII Case That Influenced a
State Election.
FIGHT OVER A PUBLIC BEQuEsT.

South Carolina Farmers Eager to Secure |
an Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege-The Case Involves the Disposal
OF Fort HnL
CHARLESTON, May 16.-Chief fJustice Full
Ter, of the United States supreme court, will
preside with Judge Charles H. Shnonton, Of
the United States district court, at the trial
of the famous Clemson will case. That case
win pass into history as one Of the most in
teresting that ever engaged the attention of
a court in this state. Neither side viii ac-
cept a decision as final until it has been
carried to the supreme court Of the United
States.
There Is a Hitch in the win.
The case involves the disposal of Fort Hill,
the homestead of Jonn c, Calhoun. When
the great nnllifer died he left the homestead
to his daughter, who was the wife of Thomas
c. Clemson 1t was occupied by the Glenn
sons until their death Mrs Clemson died
before her husband, and left the homestead
to him, It is claimed, in trust for her grand
child Florida Calhoun, daughter of Gideon
Lee, broker Of New York city. There is
some hitch about the will of Mrs. Clemson,
and lawyers are divided as to whether the
property passed over to Thomas G. Clemson
in fee simple or in trust Clemson regarded
the property as his personal possession, and
so disposed Ct il.
Clemson was for several years attached in
various positions to the department OF state,
and finally he was through the influence Of
Mr. Calhoun, appointed minister to Belgium.
After MIR. Calhoun's death he retired to the
Calhoun homestead in South Carolina, where
he died, seemingly in poverty.
The Hermit Was Rich.
II was then discovered that this supposed
pauper. Clemson, died worth nearly 500, 600
He left this money, together with Fort Hill,
to seven trustees who were empowered TO
offer il TO the state for an agricultural and
mechanical college to be named after him.
II the state refused TO agree with the condi-
tions Of the offer, then the trustees were em-
powered to establish at Fort Hill national
labor school with the money.
The acceptance OF the bequest was at once
made an issue in the state campaign. The
farmers openly declared for the acceptance
of the bequost and the establishment Of a
thoroughly equipped agricultural and me
chanical college. They proposed TO apply
the land scrip moneys and the funds obtained
from the provisions Of the Hatch bill to this
college
The Campaign Growing Bitter.
The campaign increased daily in bitterness
until charges were made against Governor
Richardson and other prominent officials
When the Democratic nominating conven-
ton met Governor Richardson was opposed
by the farmers but after a tight squeeze he
managed TO secure his nomination The
farmers then vent to work to secure a ma
jority Of the members of the general assem-
blv and ia this theV were successful
The Family Stirred Up.
Clemsons will was complete surprise to
the Calhoun family. They never dreamed
that he had money. A short time before he
died, Mr. Gideon Lee, who married his daugh-
ter, wrote to a merchant near Fort Hill ask
ing him to see that the old man did not suffer
for food, promising to pay for any provisions
furnished him.
1t had long been understood between Gid
con Lee and John c. Calhoun, of New York,
and Patrick Calhoun, Of Atlanta, Ga, that
as soon as Clemson died Fort Hill would be
sold to the Calhouns. Lee wanted the money
more than the pride Of being owner Of John
c. Calhoun's residence
Determined TO Contest II.
AS soon as they saw the5stir that the win
had created in South Carolina politics they
determined to contest it. OF course, they
had all the friends OF the South Carolina
college ON their side II was denied that the
property was really his to give. It was
claimed that it really belonged to Miss Ice
his granddaughter, and the contest was
brought in her name Miss Lee had not
been altogether ignored by Clemson, as he
had left her some of the family plate ant
portraits and $4,000 in money
The Present Status Of the Dispute.
When the issue was raised in the legisatan
over the acceptance of the bequest fierc
and acrimonious debate arose. The farmer
had managed their campaign well, and as
result they had secured a majority Of botl
the house and the senate. The bin Of accept
ance was passed by good majority, but tn
governor refused to sign it That is the wa,
the case now stands.