The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-15
Bill Directs That Unless
He Returns It Suit Is.
to Be Filed.
SENATE REFUSED
TO ACT AT ONCE
Fairfax County Asserts That
Martha Washington's Will,
Stolen During War, Is Now
in Possession of New
York Banker-Goes
to Committee.

The fight for the recovery or the
will OF Martha Washington, now In the
possession OF John Pierpont Morgan.
of New York, was carried to the Gen
eral Assembly OF Virginia yesterday by
Senator Thornton, of Fairfax County.
who introduced a bill directing the
Attorney C eneral to institute suit In
the Supreme Court of the United States
to effect Its recovery.
| Senator Thornton represents tho dis
trict in which the Washingtons, Mar
| tina and George, spent the greater part
| Of their lives. He made an unsuccess-
full attempt yesterday TO secure a sus-
pension OF the rules in order that the
| bill might be at once placed on Its pas
sage. Senator Walker, OF Northum-
berland. thought that there was no
need for precipitate action, and ask
ed that the bill be sent through the
regular channels. The motion to sus-
pend the rules failed to carry. and tho
bill was referred to the Committee for
Courts OF Justice.
Text OF Thornton Bill.
| The bill follows in full:
Whereas the original last Will OK
Martha Washington, of Mount Vernon,
| the widow of George Washington.
dated September ., 1900. was duly
proven before the County Court Of
Il alTldR county, III lut SlhlS ol ' ~
ginia. on June 81. 1902. and was or
dcred to be recorded therein. and
thereupon was deposited among tho
archives of the County Court Of Fair
fax County, whereby II became pub
lie record and document of the State
of Virginia. and remained thereafter
in it's possession among the archives
of Fairfax County until 1t was stolen
from among the same at some time
during the War Between the States on
q day and by person unknown, and
Whereas, the said document Is Of
| great historic. literary and pecuniary
value, apart from It's value as muni
rnent of title to the large real and per-
sonal estate within the State. of Vir-
ginia disposed OF under its provision.
and should. therefore, be restored to
its legal and proper custody. and
Whereas, it has recently been as
certained that the said original docu
ment SO stolen as aforesaid Is now in
| the custody and control of ono John
Pierpont Morgan, citizen OF the
State of New York, who has declined
TO restore the same to the achives of
the said County of Fairfax. although
he has been informed of the circum-
stance OF its removal thcrefrom, and
has been requested to restore the
same
Nov, therefore. be it enacted by
the General Assembly Of the Common
wealth of Virginia:
First that the Governor OF this
Commonwealth be. and he hereby is,
authorized and directed to cause formal
demand to lie made upon the said j.
Pierpont Morgan for the return of the
said last will and testament of Martha
Washington to tho State of Virginia
Second that in the event tho said
demand be not complied with within Il
reasonable time, the Attorney General
OF this Commonwealth is hereby au-
thorized and directed to institute in
the Supreme Court OF the United States
OF America, and prosecute to a final
conclusion in the name OF the Com
monwealth of Virginia, such suit or
suits at law or in equity against the
said John Pierpont Morgan. his heirs
or assigns. and such other person or
persons, as may bo proper, In order to
inforcc the right of the Commonwealth
or Virginia to the possession and GUS
tody Of said document, and the At
torney-General is hereby authorized to
associate with him In tho prosecution
OF said suit the Commemorative at
torney OF Fairfax County. Virginia, and
such other attorney or attorneys as
the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax
County may request to be associated
with him, provided that the compen-
sation. If any, of such associate attor.
neys. shall be provided for by the said
board of Supervisors of Fairfax
County.
Third, upon the recovery Of the
possession Of the said document 1t
shall be delivered to the clerk of tho
circuit Court OF Fairfax County, Va.
Tor deposit and safekeeping among the
archives OF Fairfax County.
fourth, an emergency existing
making 1t necessary that this act
should become at once effective, 1t
snail be eifective from It's PASSAGE"