Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-26
The Document Received by Register
Wright This Morning.
DISTINGUISHED WITNESSES TO IT
The Heirs-at-Law Are Completely
Left Out.
A SIN G U L A R G A S E

When on the 1st of August 1884, the ven-
cradle Joseph Holt, judge advocate gen
eral under President Lincoln, died here, a
thorough search for will of the deceased
failed to discover one, and subsequently,
uIon the petition of Washington D. Holt,
William G. Sterett, a well-known Washing
ton journalist, and John w. Holt, of the
next of kin of the deces sed, the National
Safe Deposit, Savings and Trust Company
of this city was appointed administrator
of the estate. That order was made on the
2Sth of last August and the value of the
estate. real ard personal, was estimated to
be from 100000 to 100000. the personality
amounting to about two-thirds.
The FrnitIe.s Search for n Will.
The search for will was, however. kept
up. AMI Col. Wright. the register Of Wills
was offered a large sum if he found will
The home CT Judge Holt, on New Jersey
avenue. was Sc. rched from top to bottom.
and all mis- papers were carefully gone
over but nothing was found until last De-
cember, when a revoked will. in the hand
writing of the deceased, was discovered.
This paper was dated April 0. 1S4S. and
divided the estate among the heirs at law.
While 1t was signed, it had never been wit
ressed by any one. and on the back of it
was this Endorsement also in the hand
writing of Judge Holt "Will Of J. Holt.
Holt
Administering the Estate.
The National Safe Deposit, Savings and
Trust Company proceeded in its duties as
administrator Of the estate, and on the
9th of last October the company was or
dered to distribute the sum of $1,000 among
the heirs at law. An inventory of the per-
sonal estate showed that it amounted to
$13O,6G4.90 and an inventory of money and
debts due the estate increased that sum
$12, SO and $13,2f3.O0, respectively. Col
onel Wright and some of the heirs at law
were firmly convinced that the deceased
left a will. and the search for 1t was never
wholly given up But no VIII was round,
been given up, when this morning Colonel
Wright. the register of wills. found in his
mail a long white envelope, addressed in
printed characters. ITO the Register of
Wills, Washington D. c.
The envelope was postmarked Wash
ington, D. c.. g pm, August "a, 3D., and
was therefore, mailed last Saturday after
room. Opening the envelope, but not dream
ing of its contents, Col. Wright discovered
a single sheet of letter paper, yellow with
age. and bearing evidence of having heen
burned here and there. The sheet had been
carefully pasted on another sheet of paper
and was folded between another shee- of
blue letter paper. The envelope contained
rothng else
Spreading the pasted sheet out Col
Wright was greatly astonished to discover
that the paper was a will of Judge Holt,
dated February Z, 1873. 1t was found to be
in the handwriting of the deceased, and. as
will be seen from the following copy of
1t, was witnessed by President Grant. Gen.
w. T. Sherman and the latter's wife:
'In the name of God amen.
'I, ]. Holt, of the city of Washington,
d. c.. being of sound mird, declare this to
be my last will and testament.
81 do hereby give, devise and bequeath
all of my property, both personal and real
to Lizzie Hynes. cousin of my first wife.
and to Josephine Holt Throckmorton. who
is my godch.ld, and to their heirs and
assigns forever.
II do hereby direct that at my death all
of my property be divided equally between
them.
"Lizzie Hynes Is 20 inherit hers at my
death; Josephine, at age of twenty-one;
her father, Maj Charles B. Throckmorton.
will hold her share in trust. l appoin. Mr
Luke Devlin of the city of Washington.
D. c., whose character I believe to be of
the highest standard, and who will, 1 am
certain, carry out my wishes, my executor
Signed and sealed by ME, in tho presence
of these witnesses IN the city of Washing
ton, D. c., February T. 1873.
~. HOLT.
ELLEN B. E. SHERMAN.
"U. s. GRANT.
"W, T, SHERMAN"