The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-11
Governor Stuart to Make
Formal Demand in
Name of State.
LETTER TO BANKER
GOES THIS WEEK
Senator Thornton, Who Confers
With Governor, Thinks Morgan
May Restore Historic Docu-
nent-Suit to Be Entered
in Federal Court If He
Refuses to Comply.

The decision to defer action under
Senator Thorntons bin. authorizing
the institution OF legal proceedings
for the recovery OF Martha Wash
;ngton's viii. which Is now in tho
private collection OF j. Pierpont Nor
gan, has been abandoned and Cover
nor Stuart Will shortly make formal
request for the return OF the document.
This course Was announced last night
by Senator Thornton. who talked the
matter over with the Governor.
Urder the Thornton bin. which was
passed few days after the General
Assembly convened. tho Governor Is
directed 10 request Ar. Morgan 10 re
turn the VIII TO the archives of Fair
fox County, from which IL was stolen
during the War Between the States
III d compliance is not forthcoming
within reasonable length OF time. the
bili provides. the Attorney General Of
Virginia shall bring suit for it's recov-
cry in the Supreme Court OF The United
States
Daughters Wanted To Walt.
shortly after the signature OF Gov
crnor Mann made tho bin law, Senator
Thornton was advised by the Fairfax
County Chapter oi tn. Daughters of
the American Revolution that the ma
desire that nothing be done until OH
GERS Of the organization had made an
attempt 10 secure the return OF the
VIII In less pcrcmptory manner.
With the desire of tho Daughters
thus expressed. Senator Thornton. af-
ter a consultation with Governor Mann
agreed 10 let the matter rest TO await
the result OF the efforts 6f the Daugh-
lr,s' organization II was planned to
secure large number Of signatures
10 "A petition asking for the return of
the document, which wns TO be pre-
or Daughters.
Advices from the Daughters organ
i&ation In Fairfax County. received by
senator Thornton last week, reported
that II would take between two and
three months to secure the required
signatures. and recommended that the
original plan of action be followed
The Senator's correspondent declared
Ii 10 be the general opinion OF the or.
ganization that ii would bc wiser to
follow the plan outlined hy tho bill
than to wait two Or three months and
take the added risk OF delay
Governor IN Act.
III this view Senator Thornton con-
Cured. lie to.k the matter up with
Governor Stuart on Saturday, and the
latter agreed to write TO Mr.. Morgan In
the next few days asking for the re
thought II probable that Mr.. Morgan
VIII accedc 10 the Governors request
and avoid the unpieasantness OF a law
suit.
The Martha Washington will con-
troversy has been much in tho pub
lie eye since December. when the docu-
ment WAS definitely located In Mr.. Nor
gan's collection. Through tho Com
lnonwealths attorney of Fairfax Coun-
~ several demands have been made
for the return Of the will without
avail. To one OF the requests Mr.
MorBan's secretary replied with the
offer OF Photographic reproduction,
ignoring tho demand for the original
The fight for the recovery OF the will
has enlisted the support of the Daugh-
-ters OF the American Revolution and
Virginia patriotic. societies. and has
attracted wide notice. 1t will be
brought to a sharper focus with tho
formal demand of the Governor of Vir-
Einie.