The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-23
a CURIOUS SUIr ATIAw.
\ Famous Gladstone Nas Bnrn Kept In One
Family for Mwc Than IL Century.


One of the most interesting cases
which has como up for legal decision
for years will be decided at the De-
cember term of the court at Lees
burg, London county, Va, when the
famous maidstone, whose virtues have
bocu hcrnldod over the country for u
hundred years, will he sold in order
to settle tho estate of tho lato Mrs
Fred.
This stone, whose properties are
by somc IS erted to bo merely of u
superstitols nature, while others
hold them to DO scientific reality,
is now deposited in tho London
National Bank at Lcesburg, await
ing tho decision Of the case Sow
eral prominent lawyers of the Old
Dominion arc engaged in tho suit,
among them Mr.. Eppa Hunton,
Jr., son of TX. Senator Hunton of
Wurrenton, Va.
Tho maidstone is about the color
Of chocolate, is two inches long by
ole broad and half an inch thick. 1t
has Il silver hand holding it to-
gcthcr, having been broken several
times.
The claimants are Mr. Triplet,
Mr.. Scaton, aud the Misses German,
these heirs being niecrs and noph
cws Of tue late Mrs. Fred, and on
the decision being given in favor Of
tho Misses German, the propos, d
salo was ordered for the next term Of
court.
Tho facts regarding the maidstone,
as gathered by a woman visiting
LccsEurg, are that it came over to
this country from Scotland, in ITO,
and has been religiously preserved
as ono Of the most valuable relics of
tho age. 1t is reputed to cure the
poison of Il mad dog by application
to the wound, adhering to the bite
till the virus is entirely absorbed.
The fuct. that it is tho universal
custom Of that section of Virginia te
take a person afflicted by mad dog
bite to the maidstone shows that be
lief in its medical properties obtains
largely in the community. 1t is con
iidently asserted that it has been sue
ccssfui in 130 cases, and it has neve
been applied to any ono who after
ward developed any symptoms o
hydrophobia.
Just how tho stono cano to thi
country and in whose possession i
not known, but it said to be the on
spoken of by Sir. Walter Scott, i
"The Talisman," and its effects ar
certainly similar to tn" cures re
corded in those pages. In chaper
of that romance, we read al accouu
Of cure wrought by Saraccn ply
sician on soldier in tho Crusade
army, the same remedy being IL
same day successfully applied to Il
relief of Richard, of England, c.
eur do Lion, from fever.
A letter received last week fro
Mr.. Luke e. Woodword, now
Winchester, but formerly Of Recto
town, Fanquior county, Va, Civ
some additional light on the histo
= of the stone. Mr.. Woodward is
gentleman Of high standing.
: SIN regard to the maidstone, whn
y is now in litigation at Loesbur
- Mrs. Lnke Woodward, deceased, W
. a Fred, aud inherited the stone frc
u her father, it having been in the fal
* lily for many generations. Two &c
III orations ago it became worthle
l. from the fact that tho knowledge
" cleaning it Of virus extracted frC
~ mad dog bites was lost, and
III stono was laid away for 10
~ timo.
Ss can old German happened
o. spcnd u night with tho owner, q
D. in general conversation its failure
IL alhore to wounds containing vi
/" was spoken Of The old man 8
're he could clean it and would do
Ill provided tho ownor would give !
no. oae.half of it. 1t was severed
ny twain, and tho last account the Fl
be ilv had Of tho other part WAS tina