New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-15
GEN. STEUBEN'S WILL ATTACKED.
HEIRS OF THE GERMAN SOLDIER con-
WINGED IT Is A FORGERY.

| WINGED 1T Is FOkGfRh
Hazle,on. Penn April "A (speciaD.-The papers
| OF General Steuben. which have been preserved Tor
. century nv the New-York Historical Society as
valuable relies Of the Revolution. are. according
TO descendants OF the famous warrior ana the
testimony OF experts In handwriting, forgeries
| That these people Convinced that iraua mas
! been pract.sed Is evidenced by the fact that they
| have already engaged counsel and VIII institute
| legal inquiry into the character OF the documents
These papers have been regarded by the Historical
Society as being the most valuable In their arch'ves
| Some years ago the question OF Their genuine
ness was raised and several relatives Instituted an
| investigation They lacked the necessary FUNDS TO
push the inquiry and II was finally dropped "heh
General Steuben died he had no direct heirs In this
country and there one to look after the
vast estates granted him by Congress- since that
time members OF the Generals family came to this
country and settled In the Lehigh Valley. where
they well known
since tho first doubt was raised regarding the
documents held by the Historical Society these
people have been busiiy engaged working on the
case f. H. Rausch OF Mauch Chunk. who Is an
expert In handwriting, was engaged some time
ago 10 assist with the research. Mr.. Rausch has
! figured in numerous important cases. and Is con-
sldered an authority on matters or this KIND After
n careful examination he pronounced the docu-
ments forgcries. and made an elaborate statement
IN support OF his assertions He says that there Is
| scarcey any similarity between an alleged VIII ana
the Generals letters lie expresses the opinion
| that the papers were filed out by one OF the Gem
erals aids .
Continuing Mr.. Rausch says: IT Is not at all
dlmcult 10 imagine how the fraud was perpetrated
| General Steuben was the only member OF his
family then In this country. and there was no in
terested heir to .ook after his estate. Then his
| aida who were familiar with his arairs, ana
nroba bIy with the assistance OF confederates came
In the conclusion that they might as wen manu-
xti,l iat I
heirs in the country to question IL the paper was
nut through the form OF probate ana remained
undisputcd until now. . ,,. ,.,. -.
TIE technical flaws which Mr. Rausch picks out
bcrs of the family are now acting IN concert ana
vi nush their claim II they succeed In establishing
the forgery.
Arthur Warner the venerable and wen-known
r.cord,np secretary Of the New-York Historical
Society said .ast night that he had never heard
NJ any chlrga OF forgery in connection with the
Steuben papers. ANA
William Kelly the society's librarian. said; Ihe
authenticity of these relies has never before been
disputed The society has twelve pouhd Voiumes
NJ manuscripts consisting OF autograph letters
from army officers to General Steuben and his
answers TO them, including letters from Lafayette
Tn. ate Frederick Kapp, OF Germany wnere ne
d,ed who was formerly lawyer In this city, ana
who wrote n biography OF General oteuDen sa.e
to the society a large box full OF the manuscripts
Of the Generals correspondence wnicn ne msn
Srom ri the bound vo.6mes General Steuben was
rrest orranIxcr. and his relics inc de plans anu
orders for army organization In his own nan ~
Writins He was . bachelor and aaopsss ~ Nv