Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-21
A New Phase in the Mystery Of the
Holt Will,
VAUDEVILLE AN AUTOGRAPH FIGND
He Even Forged a Signature in
Order to Secure Another.
FACTS ABOUT HIS MANIA

The question which will henceforth inter-
est all the parties to the Holt will contro-
versy in the greatest degree is. where did
the late ]. r. Vaudeville get hold of the
mutilated copy of the will of 1873. When
young Mr.. Orlan Clyde Cullen burst like a
meteor across the armament of mystery
which overhung the posthumous affairs Of
the famous late judge advocate general he
cast one CLEAN of light before he spluttered
and went out. This Illuminated the hither-
t. vague and indefinite belief that the will
of 1873, naming Miss Throckmorton and
Miss Hynes as beneficiaries and Luke Dew
lin as executor, had been recovered from
attempted destruction, ard had by some
means found Its way into the possession
of an autograph collector.
As much Of young Mr.. Cullen's story as
relates to Mr.. Vaudeville having had the
document in his keeping is believed by per-
sons who knew Mr.. Mandevilles habits to
be true. 1t is easy to see how young man
of romantic fancy, who had already essay
ed literary flights by his contributions to an
amateur writer's column, could have come
across the disfigured will among the eff
fects of the late Mr.. Vaudeville, which had
Come into the possession of the young
mans family by reason of an unpaid board
bill or other unimportant means. and had
been inspired by the discovery to weave
filmy work Of fancy that would plunge a
curious community into wild excitement,
and place him for the time being upon
pinnacle only few inches lower than the
dizzy height occupied by the late and
lamented Sherlock Holmes.
Some of MIR. CuIlen's Inconsistencfes.
In constructing his chapters however
young Mr.. Cullen, falling into the ways
that amateur lterati sometimes follow,
neglected to study the history of the time
he no oh to toII II
instance. he forgot that at the period in
which he professed to be on terms of close
intimacy With Judge Holt the latter was
very old man, while he was n very little
boy. The fact that Mr.. Cullen even at this
time is making the amateur department,
hereinDefore tioned. scintillate with his
burning thoughts illustrates very forcibly
the fact that he could hardly have enjoyed
that close personal friendship with Judge
Holt which his story would seem to indi-
cate. But that the burned and disfgured
document which is now in controversy be-
fore the District courts was in the possess
sion OF the late j. r. Vaudeville and was
found among his effects after his demise is
regarded by those who have considered the
matter as not only reasonable, but highly
probable. The fact is that Vaudeville was
the most obdurate, Jealous and uncompro-
missing collector of autographs that it is
possible to conceive. When he first came
to Washington his short, stout and heavy
figure was a familiar and for a long time
welcome one at many well-known private
houses and public establishments. He pur-
sued each new fad that came along with
peculiar pertinacity. and as his methods
and Mannerisms began to get him dislIkel
by those who had at first welcomed and
then tolerated him, he gave more ana more
time to the pursuit of his own fancies
Vaudeville ms an Autograph Hunter.
1t was as an autograph collector, how
ever. that Vaudeville displayed both his
md !, lie Lol
ability. For number of years and up to
1876 the late Alexander Gardner was one of
the leading photographers of Washington
His establishment was on PENNSYLVANIA
avenue between 9th and 10th streets, above
the once famous book store of Philip &
Soiomons Mr.. Gardner gained fame and
substance from the remarkable pictures he
made OF the battlefe;ds at Bull Run and
other places, as well as from the regular
business of photography which he pursued
Among Mr.. Gardeners regular customers
was the late ]. r. Vaudeville. Mr.. Mande-
vile was constantly at the gallery of Mr.
Gardner, where he had an immense amount
OF work done in connection with his auto
graph mania. This consisted of photo
graphs of documents. reproductions of pa
pers and other things, nearly all of which
were so treated that the sheet upon which
they were transferred from the negative
would have margin left at the lower end,
according to Mr.. Mandeville's instructions,
~ nat iooh "ouio De lett Tor the writing
In of names and signatures. So far did
Vaudeville go in his desire to secure sigma
lures OF 1llustrious people that he lost the
friendship Of Mr.. Gardner by forging the
name of member of the latter's family
to letter requesting the autograph of a
prominent man. 1t happened that the
gentleman addressed was an intimate friend
of MIR. Gardner and frequent visitor at his
residence. He knew the member Of Mr.
Gardeners family whose name had been at
tached to the communication he received
and he took the letter to Mr. Gardner
The Latter charged Vaudeville with the au-
thorship Of the forgery. and upon the lat
him out Of the photograph gallery.
Mr.. Lawrence Gardeners RecoIlections
Il remember Vaudeville very WELL" said
Mr. Lawrence Gardner, the son of the late
Alexander Gardner, to Star reporter to-
day. Il was present when my father or
dered him out of his establishment for
forging the name of one very dear to him
to letter to a well-known public man re-
questing his autograph. Vaudeville was
absolutely wrapped up in his mania after
autographs. The happening I allude to oc-
CURED. I believe, in 1874. 1 knew Mande-
Photographic work done at my fathers gal
lery In connection with his craze"
Now, where did Vaudeville get that dis
inquired will? He was known to be a
searcher of every junk shop in town and
purchaser of unique documents as long
as his money held out. Here is an inter-
esting opportunity for the heirs-at-law of
Judge Holt to follow a very clearly defined
lead.
Applies for Divorce.
According to petition for divorce from