Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-05-14
WAsRINGTON's SWORD.


The Washington sword bought by Mr..
J. Pierpunt Morgan for preservation at
Mount Vernon, where 1t now hangs, Ia
the object of controversy In suit insti-
tinted In Baltimore yesterday. The aust
was brought By Trapier 8. Lewis and
Mrs. Grace Lse Martin, wife of Cspt.
Amos Fl. Martin, against Miss Virginia
Tayloe Lewis, Henry Howell Lewis,
Lawrence Tayloe Lewis, tbs Mercantile
Trust and Deposit Company and Miss
Lewis as the Administrative of the estate
OF her brother, Capt. Henry Howell
Lewis, sr., through William Cotton,
attorney. All the persons named as
parties to the suit are descendants and
heirs OF Msjor George W. Lewis, of Vjr-
ginia, aide-de-camp Of Gsnersl Washing
ton, to whom the sword, In It, sosbbard,
was presented by Washington. General
Washington wore the sword during the
campaigns OF the revolutionary war and
gave it to Msjor Lewis shortly after the
independence of the United States was
established and General Washington had
retired from tue presidency. 10 bring.
Ing the suit Mr.. Trapler 8. Lewis and
Mrs. Martin are endeavoring to recover
the shares alleged to be due them OF the
$5, 900 paid by Mr.. Morgan for the
sword. Mr.. Lewis claims 10 be entitled
to oue-.hird and Mrs. Martin to one.
ninth of the money.
During his lifetime, the bill of COM
plant states, Mayor Lewis gave the
sword to bis SOD, George Washington
Lewis, Of Oak Grove, Wes!moreland
county. 1t was given by the later to
his brother, Capt Henry Howell Lewis,
~to served In the United States and
Confederate nsvies, and who kept 1t as
treasured heirloom uatll his desth In
B ,ltimore on March II, 1898. Captain
Lewis Was survived by three childIen,
Who were his only hsirs.at.law, his wife
having pre- deceased him. These child.
rem sre Miss Virginia Tayloe Lewis and
TrapIer sS. Lewis, named 10 the suit,
and Henry G. Lewis, who died Wild
over September II, 1902, leaving his
children, Henry Howell Lewis, jr.,
Mrs. Martin and Lawrence Tsyloe
Lswls, minor, also parties to the .u
Miss LAWS was appointed adnlnistrat-
tix Of the estate Of htr fbther, Captain
Lewis, tu:, it Is alleged, she did not
mention the sword In The inventory of
his estate. Although the sword ia right
fully part of the estste of Captain
Lewis and belonged to his descenhauts
it is alleged that Miss Lewis and Hsury
Howell Lewis, j., have u1laWully
sold It to Mr.. Morgan for $4,000 A't,r
deducting expenses of about $500, 1t Is
asserted, the remaining u, 500 OF the
purchase price was placed with the Mer.
camille Trus! and Deposit Company to
be invested. The income from this sum,
it Is stated, Is 10 be paid to Miss Lewis
Tor life, and 1t Is then TO be turned over
to her nephew, Henry Howell Lewis, ir.
At the time of the sale the bill states
Mrs. Martin was With her husband,
| Captain Martip, In the Philippine Is
lands, where he was stationed at mill
tsry post. She knew nothing OF the
transaction until she recently came
to Baltimore with her husband to visit
relatives. Neither she nor her uncle,
Trapier 8, Lewis, 1t is statsd, approved
OF the sale.
Miss Lewis, 1t Ia ststad, Is abou! 20
years old, and Henry Howell Lewis, IT,,
has declared his intention OF dIsposing of
the money or securities upon her death
for bis excu,ive benefit. II the sale OF
the sHord is treated as an accomplished
fact, It is asserted, Trspier 5. Lewis Ia
entitled TO one-lhird and Mrs. Martin to
one-ninth of the proceeds.
The ccu't Is asked 10 require the Mer
camille Trust and Deposit Company to
account to the estate of Captain LsWis
for the proceeds of the sale OF the sword
and to prohibit Miss Lewis and Henry
Howell Lswls jr., from receiving aoy of
the money.
Ihe board OF regents of Mount Yer
non will fight With every RESOURCE of the
Law II sn attempt Is made t. take the
battle sword of Wash inRtou from Mount
Vernon by those who yesterday entered
suit 10 Baltimore for Its possession.