The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-03
DOUGLASS CHILDREN
NOT TO CONTEST WILL
RumOP of Effort to Get Per-
sOnal Property Denied.
IT BELONGED TO WIDOW
The Question Has Been Settled by Sew
eral Court Decisions in
Past Years.

Reports TO the effect that The child
rem of Frederick Douglass by his first
we. a negress. would make efforts
10 obtain possession OF the books. man
uscript, and other personal effects left
70 his second wife. Mrs. Helen Doug
lass, who died At Cedar Hill. ,Anacostia.
on Tuesday. were promptly discredited
today. and virtually denied by one of
the children employed in a Govern
ment department
That the possessions over which the
heirs are credited with intending to
raise a question belonged to Mrs. Doug
lass and she had a right TO will them
70 the Douglass Memorial and Historical
Association which she had incorporated
by a passage Of a law two years ago, ap-
pears to have been settled by the de-
cision of several courts within the last
six or eight years, hence the report
which comes from Rochester,, n. Y.
the home of Mrs. Rosetta Douglass
Sprague is not given credence. 1t is
characterized as further evidence of
4frs. Sprague's alleged aggressiveness
and love for contest. This contest,
should it be begun. would, it is said,
be additional proof that she is work
ing on the wrong lines, and her efforts
would prove futile.
Inc Douglass VIII.
When Frederick Douglass died in 1895
he made win. which was not operative
as to real estate. because of the lack Of
a sufficient number of witnesses. There
fore Mrs. Douglass could not get any of
his real estate 1t went 10 the children
and other descendants. The viii was
operative as 70 personal property, and
the possessions, books, manuscripts.
etc, went TO Mrs. Douglass and she kept
them at her home. At her death she
left them 10 the Memorial and Histori-
c:d Association named in honor Of her
husband Mrs Douglass, after the will
was probated, asked the court to let the
vii be construed as meaning she should
not receive any of the real estate. but
was entitled to $1,000 in Government
bends which her husband owned. 1t was
proved that the bonds had been sold,
but Mrs. Douglass then asked for $4,000
in cash. The Supreme Court Of the
District denied this. The decision was
affirmed by the Court Of Appeals Of the
District. and Mrs. Douglass took the
case to the Supreme Court Of the United
States. II was never heard there, as
the heirs compromised with her by Civ
ing her about 5000.
Many Suits Filed.
WkIe Mrs. Douglass was suing for
the $500, the heirs entered a counter
suit for the personal effects Of Fred
erick Douglass According to the will
the famous negro left the effects TO his,
wife, and the court construed the VIII
accordingly. settling the matter for ali
time by saying the heirs had no right
TO item
Charles and Lewis Douglass OF Wash
ington, seemed content to let the case
rest there. but Mrs. Sprague who. it
is said, entered several subsequent
suits against Mrs Douglass. after the
fl al judgment of the courts has per-
sisted IN threatening suit. and is said
10 have fought the matter year in and
year out. It is not believed by friends
of the family she is supported by her
brothers. because they both practically
a,'er they are through fighting cases
and getting nothing from them