Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-30
MORGAN TO RETURN
LONG-L OS I WILL
Financier Agrees to Restore to
Virginia Last Testament Of
Martha Washington.
ENDS SENSATIONAL FIGHT
State Had Instituted Suit in Su-
preme Court to Force Re
turn of Relic.
NDs SENSATIONAL FIGHT

The Martha Washington will is
again in the possession of the Common
wealth of Virginia. The fight through
the courts for it's recovery has been
brought TO an abrupt termination. J.
=. Morgan. of New York multimillion-
airc and connoisseur. in whose priceless
collection the document was discovered
after many years OF quest, has done the
magnanimous thing and surrendered it
to the State.
1t was made known yesterday that
Mr.. Morgan. appreciating the scnti-
mental value attached TO the VIII by
Nirginians has sent the treasured relic
to Justice James Keith. president Of
the Virginia Supreme Court OF Appeals,
to he disposed of by Justice Keith in
a manner TO be determined.
ATTORNEY-GENER SAYS
STATEMENT Is INCORRECT
Notwithstanding the fact that the
foregoing information was said by
principals Immediately concerned in
the negotiations with Mr.. Morgan TO
he essentially correct, Attorney Cen
this statement of the situation his ap-
proval.
The statement that the will has
been turned over 10 Judge Keith is in
correct" said Mr.. Pollard. Neither is
the statement correct that 1 have been
Instructed TO drop the proceedings
against Mr.. Morgan in the Supreme
Court.
rs it not true that If Mr. Morgan
has not already turned over the docu-
mcnt to Virginia he has agreed TO sur
render it, the Attorney-General was
asked.
II cannot answe. that question with
out going into an explanation which
would involve matters which ] am no,
at liberty just now to discuss" replied
Mr.. Pollard
AUTliORITATIVELY STATED
THAT FIGHT Is At END
In spite of the doubt implied in Mr.
Pollard's statement. il is understood
from reliable sources that the long
night for the return of the Martha
Washington VIII is ut end. afr. Pol
iard's reluctance to approve unqunli.
hedly statement to this effect, II was
pointed out. may be due to details OF
the transfer which still remain to Inc
adjusted
The Martha Washington will was alb
Stracted from the records of Fairfax
Count. whore it had been filed. by =
Union soldigr. who visited the court
house during the war while his com
pany was passing through the county.
The identity Of the soldier has never
been established. The will passed
through many hands before il was
picked UP by Mr. Morgan. who is said
!, TO have paid a large sum for tho docu-
mcnt.
FIGHT For RECOVERY
BEGUN IN FAIRFAX
The fight Tor the recovery of the
VIII was inaugurated by the Common
wealth's attorney of Fairfax County
shortly after the discovery OF its
whereabouts. He endeavored to per-
Suade Mr. Morgan to restore it to the
archives of tho county, where the will
of George Washington is on file. Mr..
Morgan declined to grant the countv's
request but offered to supply n photo
graph of the original document This
proposal was rejected
The controversy was tben brought TO
the attention OF the General Assembly
through resolution introduced by
Senator r. z. Thornton of Fairfax.
This resolution directed the Governor
10 make demand on Mr.. Morgan for
the return of the stolen document, and
provided that, in the event that the
hnancicr should refuse to honor the
demand. the Attorney General should
begin proceedings in the United States
supreme Court to recover it,
OFFERED TO PLACE
WILL. IN WASHINGTON
Acting upon the resolution, Governor
Stuart opened negotiations with Mfr.
Morgan. who. after asserting his con-
viction that the document was legally
his property to do with as he chose.
expressed his Willingness to transfer
the will from his collection to any
public building in Washington that
the State of Virginia might designate.
to be placed on pubic exhibition there,
and intrusted to the custody of the
United States government. This pro-
posal was rejected and the proceedings
against Mr.. Morgan were begun in the
United States Supreme Court by the
Attorney General
Ii is understood that the repository
for the Will is yet to be selected
Three places have been suggested and
considered. One is Mount Vernon,
home OF the WashinEtons: another the
Fairfax County Courthouse. which has
an adequate freproOf vault, and the
third the State Library Building in
Richmond.
In the event that Mount Vernon is
chosen, ii will he necessary to con-
struc1 Il freproof vault in the historic
old building there. and II will become n
part OF the archives under the care of
the Board of Regents.
AMERICAN SHIP BURNED