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

II
The Washington sword bought BY Mr.,
]. Plerpont Morgan for preservation al
Mount Vernon, where II now hangs, II
the object OF controversy In suit insti.
tuted In Baltimore yesterday. The suit
was brought By Trspier 8. Lewis and
Mrs. Grace Lee Martin, wife OF Ospt.
Amos II. Martin, against Miss Virgins
Tsyloe Lewis, Henry Howell Lewis,
Lawrence Tsyloe Lewis, the Mercantile
Trust aud Deposit Company and Miss
Lewis as the Administrative Of the estate
OF her brother, Capt. Henry Howell
Lewis, ST., through William Cotton,
attorney. All the persons named %
parties to the suit are descendants and
heirs OF Msjor George W. Lewis, of Viz.
gInia, side-de-csmp Of Gsnersl Wishing.
ton, to whom the sword, In 1t, scabbard,
was presented by Washington. General
Washington wore the sword during the
cam paigDs OF the revolutionary war and
gave 1t to Msjor Lewis shortly after the
independence Of the United States Wsi
established and General Washington hsc
retired from tue presidency. 10 brIDg
Ing the suit Mr.. Trapler 8. Lewis and
Mrs. Martin are endssvorlng to recover
The shares alleged to be due them OF The
s5, 900 paid BY Mr.. Morgan for tbs
sword. Mr.. Lewis claims 10 be entitled
to oue-ibird and MIS-. 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, Westmorelspd
county. II was given by the later to
bis brother, Ospt, Henry Howell LswIs,
who served Ia the United States anC
OoGtsderate navies, and who kept 1t al
q treasured heirloom uotl his death IL
B ,ltImore on March II, 1898. Captain
Lewis was survived by three ohildIen
who were bis only helrs.at.law, his wife
having pre- deceased him. These child
rem are Miss Virginia TaylOe Lewis and
TrspIer IL. Lewis, named 10 the suit,
and Henry G. Lewis, who died q Wild
over September II, 1902, leaving hIs
children, Henry Howell Lewis, it,,
Mrs. Martin and Lawrence Tsyloe
LswIs, a minor, also parties to the ,u t
Miss LswiS was appointed sdministrat-
rIx OF the estate OF hGr bther, Captain
Lewis, tu., 1t Ia alleged, she did not
meU tion the sword In the inventory OF
his estate. Although the sword 10 right
fully psrt OF the estate Of Captain
Lewis and belonged to his descendants
1t Is alleged that Miss Lewis and Hsury
Howell Lewis, j., have ullsWiully
sold II to Mr.. Morgan for So, 900 After
deducIipg expenses of about $500, 1t 10
asserted, the remaining a, 500 OF the
purchase price was placed with the Mer'
cant lie Trust and Deposit Company t.
be invested. The income from this SUN,
1t Is stated, Is TO be paid to Miss Lewis
for life, and 1t Ia then 10 be turned over
to her nephew, Henry Howell Lewis, ir.
At the time OF the sale the bill states
Mn. Martin was with her husband,
Captain MARTIN, In the Philippine Is.
II lhhuo, Wucic NC WINS etabiObou ~ hth-
tsry post. She knew nothing OF the
transaction untll she recently came
to Baltimore with her husband to vislt
relatives. Neither she nor her uncle,
Trapier 9. Lewis, It Is stated, approved
OF the sale.
Mas Lewis, It Ia sistsd, Ia about 20
years old, and Henry Howell Lewis, IT,,
has declared bis intenlion OF dIsposing of
the money or securities upon her death
for bis exclu,ive benefit. II the sale OF
the sHoFd Is treated as an accomplished
fact, II ia asserted, TrSpIer s. Lewis is
entitled TO one-lhird and Mrs. Martin to
one.nlnth OF the proceeds.
The court Is asked 10 require the Mer.
camille Trust and Deposit Oompsny 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 Lewis it,, from receiving aoy Of
the money.
The board OF regents Of Mount Yer
non will fight with every resource OF the
law II So attempt Is made t. take the
battle sword of Wash ingtou from Mount
Vernon BY those who yesterday entered
suit 10 Baltimore for Its possession.