The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-04-24

|yVTHo owns that priceless preci-
nv Gus document. the original
w Of the last will and tesla
ment OF Martha Washington, the
"Mother OF her Country"7 Foolish
Question? or course; Martha Wash
|ington's country owns It. Where Is
THE proper and lawful repository OF
THAT Will? A question not quite so
foolish. but still easily answered:
The County Court OF Fairfax
County. In the Commonwealth or Nir-
ginia, where Martha Washington's
last will and testament was admitted
10 probate. For that Is the law OF
THE land.
Would you expect the sovereign
|Stnte OF Virginia. and the county OF
IFairfax, where Martha Washington
lived and held nearly all OF her
property. To let that law be success
fully defied by receiver OF stolen
goods? To let Martha Washington's
last will and testament remain
permanently In the possession Of n
pnultimiliionaire collector OF precious
documents?
Nouiun YOU tAIftil TIE AAADThEe-
General OF the sovereign State OF
Virginia. upon that rich collectors
Kefusal to restore the priceless relic
20 Its proper legal repository. TO in
woke the aid Of the United States
supreme Court to compel him 10
do soY
Well. that Is exactly what John
sarlaEd Pollard. Attorney General Of
Virginia. has done. This Is the title
pf the suit which he has. fled with
he clerk of the United States SUI
preme Court:
Commonwealth OF Virginia. com
plainant. versus John PierpOnt Nor
gan. defendant"
In his petition 10 the Chief Justice
md the Associate Justices Of the Su-
breme Court 81 the United States At
orney-General Pollard SAYS:
THAT on June II. 1902. the last
win and testament OF Martha Wash
ngton. deceased. the wife of the first
President 81 the United States of
america, dated September .. 1900.
was duly admitted to probate and
record before the County Court OF
Fairfax County. In the Common
wealth OF Virginia. that. in accord.
nee with the terms Of the statute In
UGH cases made and provided said
will and tesla ment was left and re
NAMED in the clerks office OF the
,ounty Court ~ Fairfax County. I'm
he Commonwealth ~ Virginia that
aid Will and testament thereby be
anne and now Is the property Of the
Commonwealth OF Virginia and 4
public record thereof. and n docu
nent belonging 20 the Commonwealth
n Nirginia: that said will and tesla
nent y n chattel which has such
pecial. extraordinary. uncommon
md unique value that 10 cannot b.
eplsced by means 81 money. and II
Of susceptible ~ being compensate,
or ~ any practicable or certain
ncasuTe Of damages. that said las
I'LL and testament Is q imminent q
ltlc under which large and valuabl,
enl nnd personal estate, locate,
Ffthin the Commonwealth ~ Vir
|inia have been disposed Of. tina
aid last will and testament left p
foreeaid In said clerks office. va
h toe possession 81 the Common
seslfi o, Virginia at the time II wa
lcgally nbs;racted ns hcTeinafte
ct forth. that said last will an
testament was wr0ngfuIv and a
erallN uUatriffen from tho posses
ion and control 90 the Common
ealfh OF Virginia and has come int
. possession and under the cpnfro
the said defendant. aud that %
s,iinst your Oratrlx. vino Is the Law
ID owner Of the said LAST viii an
siament. The said defendant has ma
cquired. either o. Itw or On equif,
10Y right. title OF interest in aud I
DC said last Will and testament -"
The pctifiOn further states "tha
ith0uzh the said defendant has bee
uiy requested 30 20 Do. he has faile
nj refused. md stu doth refuse {
efiver 20 your Oratrlv the said docl
lent"
Al least one or these rsfusas IL
rmnrkabie document IN itself r.
bembering that Martha Washinl
bn's viii was purioined from m
rchives - FairfaV County durin
be- Civil War. and remained IN tl
onds % its rurloiner and IFS he
=