San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-05-04
DECLARED FORGERIES.
Authenticity Of Papers Of Gen.
Steuben Brought Into Question.
Descendants of the Famous Warrior Lead
Ing the Attack on the Valuable Relics
of Revolution Held by New York
e., Historical Society,
s-@N~l .r-><fF

A New York Tribune special from
Hazleton, Pa, says: The papers OF Gen.
Steuben, which have been preserved for
a century by the New York Historical
society as valuable relics of the revolu-
ton, are, according to descepdants OF
the famous warrior and the testimony
Of experts in Handwriting, forgeries.
That these people are convinced that
fraud has been practiced is evidenced
by the fact that they have already en-
gagged counsel and will institute legal
inquiry into the character of the docu-
ments. These papers have been re-
garded by the Historical society as be-
ing the most valuable in their archives.
When Gen Steuben died he had no di-
rect heirs in this country, and there
was no one to look after the vast es-
tate granted him by congress. Since
that time members of the generals
family came to this country and set
tied in the Lehigh valley, where they
are we'll known.
Since the first doubt was raised re-
garding the documents held by the His
torical society these people have been
busily engaged working on the case.
E. II. Rausch, Of Mauch Chunk, who is
an expert in handwriting, was engaged
some time ago to assist at the research.
After careful examination he pro-
nounced the documents forgeries, and
made an elaborate statement in sup
port of his assertions. He says that
there is scarcely any similarity be-
tween an alleged will and the generals
letters. He expresses the opinion that
the papers were filled out by one of
the generals aids.
The technical flaws which Mr.. Rausch
picks out are NUMEROUS and seemingly
convincing. The members of the FAM
! lily are now acting IN concert, and will
push their claims if they succeed in
establishing the forgery.
Arthur Warner, the venerable and
well-known recording secretary of the
New York Historical society, said that
he had never heard of any charge OF
forgery in connection with the SteubeI
papers.
William Kelly, the society librarian
said: he authenticity or these Tellcs
has never before been disputed. The
society has ~ bound volumes of man
uscripts, consisting of autograph let
ters from army officers to Gen. SteubeI
and his answers to them, including let
tiers from Lafayette. Gen. Steubel
was bachelor and adopted as his SON
Maj. Walker and Capt. Walker, win
were the aids on his staff. His CORE
spondence, etc, contained in the boun'
volumes which have mentioned, wer
, received by the society from his adopt
ed sons, to whom by a will, the origina
of which is among the relics, all of hi
estate was bequeathed. That will wa
duly probated in this city, and in som
western place, the name of which
cannot now recall. 1t bears officia
Endorsements as to its having bee;
= regularly probated both here and there
"a few years ago some persons VIII
, claimed to be relatives of Gen. Steube
|, intimated an intention to contest tn
l will, but not on the ground that 1t wa
O forged document Any charge ths
any of the documents are forgeries
! absurd" "