The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-08
THOSE INTERESTED.

THOSE INTERESTED.
II he parties most interested are
William de Ia POer Beresford, a
delicate little English lad of
fourteen, and Louis Gordon
HamersIey, brought UP in semi-seclu-
sion ard much mystery with his sister
in the big HamersIey mansion on Fifth
avenue
The little, English boy is the son OF the
late Lily, Duchess Of Marlborough, who
died At DOrkinE. Surrey. England, on
January IL 1909 and Col. Sir william
de Ia Poer Beresford, the third and last
husband taken IN the course Of her mat
riuOniaI ventures The little American
boys father was J. Hooker HamersIey-
The latter was a cousin Of Lotis c.
Hamersley. who was captivated by the
pretty face Of Jane Lillian Warren
Price OF Troy. y. Y, and, bringing her
in marriage one Of the largest fortunes
OF that day and time, enabled her TO
give golden wings 20 her dreams Of am
bitiOu, which eliminated when. in later
years. as an English duchess. she kissed
the hand Of Queen Victoria.
Legal Points
Are Easy to Follow
Fortunately for those who viii follow
the course of this absorbing trial, the
legal points are such as a Iayman can
readily understand The HamersIey WIN
vas challenged in the courts more than
twenty years ago. but then the charge
was that undue influence had been
brought 70 bear on the DYING louis
Hsmerslgv- This time It viii be chaI-
lenged on the ground that It arrests
beyond the life Of two persons then in
being, the right and power Of disposing
OF property, which Is contrary TO the
laws OF New York state Such cases
are rare IN any court.
This IS the only legal point which II
Is necessary 70 keep IN mind. and its
application vii develop as the story
proceeds
Since every phase OF this remarkable
story abounds IN interest we VIII lose
nothing II we pursue a chronological
course as Tar Is possible, and when we
go back to the beginning ve find that
Sir John Mason was the Governor OF
Portsmouth, in England, in the reign OF
King Charles L His son John came to
this country. and gave Portsmouth, in
New Hampshire, its name He arrived
IN 1879 and settled on a great deal Of
land along the St Lawrence, the 1Ierri-
mac. and the Kennebec rivers From
him was descended the fifth John Ma
son, who becs me one Of the largest
f7nanciers New York has ever known.
He was the founder Of the Chemical
National Park, and IL was from that
source. that a large portion Of his for
tune was derived He applied himself
10 mOney-makinE too riE1dly for his
health, apparently 50 the doctors ac-
vised him 10 get a little suburban farm,
just far enough for MIN TO enjoy a
= I'D
every day. He bought his farm on Man
haitian Island, and II extended from
about where EFifuerh street and Fifth
avenue now lnterSect 10 Sl2ly-slNJn
street and Fifth avenue and then east
ward nearly 10 the river.
Many Mansions
On Site OF the Farm
On the site Of this farm stand many
Of the costIiest residences and hotels
IN the city, 50 II Is not difficult to IN
derstand that John Mason would have
become wealthy from real estate-OT at
least his heirs would have been-even
II he had not made one fortune IN the
banking business
In the meantime another large fortune
was accommodating IN another family II
was back IN I7S4 that Andrew Hamers-
lev established a dry goods and iron
uuOnzerv store in Hanover square, II
New York
HIS millions multiplied apace. His
town house at q Greenwich street was
in one Of the most fashionable thor
aughfares Of the city al that time The
story goes that he was the first man
in the city 20 have a goodman and
footman IN livery and TO embiazon
coat OF arms-au Of which was very
offensive 10 the patriotic Americans
Of that tine, and in the early thirties
his blazonry caused q riot in the streets
The son and heir Of the elder Hamers-
lev was Andrew Gordon Hamersley, and
in course OF time he was married TO
Sarah Mason. one OF the eight children
Of the John Mason whose Chemical
National Bank and Fifth avenue farm
brought him two fortunes
OF this union was born Louis Care
HamersIey. His mother, by the death
Of her father, inherited a great portion
Of the Mason estate, consisting largely
of Fifth avenue property, II Is said and
in addition she inherited much Of the
fortune left by Joshua Jones, 9 nephew
Of John Mason. who had been aSSO-
Ciated with his uncle In his financial
affairs So she had a large fortune 10
transmit when her death came, and It
an went 10 her husband, the father Of
Louis G. Hamersley-