The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-08-11
Contrasting the Will.
. the Kansas City Journal.

From the Kansas City Journal.
up in m of the offices of the Shed
ley building dispositions have been heard
during the past three days in a case
which promises to become of almost
national interest. The dispositions were
taken in the suit of United States
Marshal Joseph D. Shelby against Mrs.
ThOmas IL. Clay and others, of LeXing-
ton, KY, to break the will of Mrs. A.
M. Graft, General Shelby's mother, who
died about W years ago, and who left
her fortune, estimated at between SIS
600 and 500, OOO, to Mrs. Clay, with only
minor requests to others.
mrs. A. M. GratZ was a remarkably
cultivated woman, who look a great
interest in the advancement of those
members of the family for whom she
held high esteem, SC much 80 that she
reared and educated both Francis T..
Blair and Il. GratZ Brown, who were
first cousins. When she died, two years
ago, and it was found, to the surprise of
almost everybody, that her sOn, General
Shelby, was ignored in the will. Gen
eral Shelby filed a protest against the
will, and brought suit in the courts at
Lexington to have it set aside.
Mrs. Clay is the wife of Thomas III.
Clay, assistant editor of the Youth $
Companion. and grandson of the dis
tinguished Henry Clay. Both Mr.. and
Mrs. Clay were here during the hearing
OF dispositions, represented by their
attorney, John Shelby, partner of w. G..
+. breckenridge, who figured in the
Pollard scandal. General Shelby was
represented by Wash. Adams, of this
city, and Judge Parkinson, formerly of
Butler, Mo.
General Shelby based his suit to
break the will Of Mrs. A. NJ. Gratz on
the ground that Mrs. Clay had exercised
u singular influence Over his mother.
In this connection it might he stated
that Mrs. Clay is q half sister of General
Shelby.
during Thursday and Friday, Miss
Annie Crosby, Of Philadelphia, Pa. was
on the stand, giving her dispositions.
Miss Crosby is n daughter of Rear
Admiral Crosby, Of the United States
Navy, who is now on the retired list,
after serving many years with distinc-
ton. Her brother, Benjamin Crosby,
who, for fOur years, has been a cadet at
Annapolis, and who was appointed by
General Harrison, also gave dispositions,
as well as b. Shelby, son of General
Shelby, who has been attending school
IN Lexington, Ky.
The testimony of Miss Crosby and
her brother was Of more than ordinary
interest. General Shelby attempted,
through his attorneys, to prove that Mrs.
Clay had used influence Over his mother,
Mrs. Gratz, In the removal of the body
OF Mrs. II. IL. GratZ from the family
burying ground at Lexington, Ky. 4
great deal Of stress seemed to be placed
on this point, As showing the amount of
influence which Mrs. Clay exercised
over Mrs. A. M. GratZ. Both Miss
Crosby and her brother gave evidence to
the effect that Mrs. II. II. GRATIS body
had been removed from the Lexington
burial ground through the influence OF
I'll. II. Gratz is a half brother of
General Shelby. He il editor of the
Kentucky Gazette, which was established
which Is the Oldest publication west of
Gratzis wife was q daughter of Colonel
Eugene Irvine, who fell at Vicksburg,
on the Confederate side, and who COM
manded q regiment from Cass, Jackson,
johnson and Lafayette counties, Mo.
Thomas Clay and his wife, who
became the benefclaries Of Mrs. GratZs
will, were living In Boston at the time
Of her death, and subsequently moved
to Lexington, Ky.
I'm connection with the suit, several
unwritten pages of the late war, in
connection with the differences in the
Shelby family, might he given. Captain
Cary Gratz was mentioned during the
dispositions. General Shelby was seated
ut the same table with Captain Cary
Gratz when he was given his commission
through Francis +. Blair, who alsG
offered y commission to General Shelby
1t was this Gratz whom General Shelby
met in the last charges of Wilson.
creek, when Lyons. with intrepid spirit
faced the advancing Missourians, who
fired as they stepped, with only a body
guard around him. Lyons fell, anC
Gratz. who bravely stood by him to tn,
last, also fell over his body"