Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-14
ATTACK SWORD SALE
Heirs Bring Suit for Share in
Purchase Price.
AllEGE ILLEGAL TRANSFER
Weapon Once Owned by Washington
Now in Possession of Mount
Vernon Society.

BALTIMORE, May 1.-the Washing
ton sword bought by Mir. J. Pierpont
Morgan, the we'll known banker. for
preservation at Mount Vernon. where j
now hangs, is the object of controversy
i'm suit instituted i'm circuit court No
- yesterday. The suit was brought by
Trapier g. Lewis and Mrs. Grace Lee
Martin, wife of Capt. Amos ii. Martin.
against Miss Virginia Tayloc Lewis,
Henry Howell Lewis. Lawrence Tayloe
Lewis. the Mercantile Trust and Deposit
Company and Miss Lewis as the admins
tratriX of the estate of her brother, Capt.
Henry Howell Lewis, ST., through William
Cotton. attorney.
All the persons named as parties to the
suit are descendants and hers of Maj.
George w. LEWIS of Virginia. aid -de-camp
of Gen. Washington. to whom the SWORD,
father of his country. Gen. Washington
wore the sword during the campaigns of
the revolutionary war and gave 1t to Maj.
Lewis shortly after the Independence OF
the United States was established ana
Gen. Washington had retiresl from the
presidency. In bringing the suit Mr..
Trapier s. Lewis and Mrs. Martin are
endeavoring to recover the shares alleged
to be due them of the so.OD paid by Mr.
Morgan for the sword. MIR. Lewis claims
to be entitled TO One-third and Mrs Mar
| tin to one-n.nth of the money.
Gift to His Son.
During his lifetime, the bill OF COM
plant states. Mai. Lewis gave the sword
to his son. George Washington Lewis of
Oak Grove, Westmoreland county, Va
1t was given by the latter to his brother,
Capt. Henry Howell Lewis. who served
in the United States and Confederate
navies, and who kept it as a treasured
heirloom until his death in this. city
March II, 1893.
Capt. Lewis was survived by three
children, who were his only heirs-at-
law, his wife having pre-deceased him.
These children are Miss Virginia Tayioe.
Lewis and Trapier s. Lewis, named i'm
the suit, and Henry G.. Lewis. who died
| u widower September u, 1892, leaving
his children, Henry Howell Lewis, jr,
Mrs. Martin and Lawrence Tayloe Lew
is, minor, also parties to the suit.
Miss Lewis was appointed administra-
trix Of the estate of her father, Capt.
Lewis, but, it is alleged, she did not
mention the sword in the inventory of
his estate. Although the sword is right
fully part of the estate of Cant Lewis
and belonged to his descendants, it is
alleged that Miss Lewis and Henry How
ell Lewis. jr., have unlawfully sold it
to Mr.. Morgan for 5000. After deduct
ing expenses of about $500, it is asserted,
price was placed with the Mercantile
Trust and Deposit Company to be in
vested. The income from this sum- it is
stated, is to be paid to Miss Lewis for
life, and it is then to be turned over to
her nephew, Henry Howell Lewis, jr.
Sold Without Her knowledge.
At the time of the sale, the bill states,
Mrs. Martin was with her husband, Capt.
. Martin, in the Philippine Islands, where
he was stationed at military post. She
knew nothing of the transaction until she
recently came to Baltimore with her hus-
band to visit relatives. Neither she nor
her uncle, Trapier 5. Lewis, it is stated,
approves of the sale.
Miss Lewis, it is stated, is about twen-
ty years old, and Henry Howell Lewis,
ir., has declared his intention of dis
posing OF the money or securities upon
her death for his exclusive benefit. If
/ the sale of the sword Is treated as an
accomplished fact. it. is asserted. Trapier
:. Lewis is entitled to one-third and
Mrs. Martin to One-ninth of the proceeds.
I The court liz asked TO require the Mer-
camille Trust and Deposit Company to
account to the estate of Capt. Lewis
| for the proceeds of sale of the sword and
! to prohibit Miss Lewis and Henry How
! ell Lewis. jr., from receiving any of the
money.
/ For some time before it was sold the
sword was on deposit with the Safe De
posit and Trust Company for safekeep-