The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-16

VI
Of any "distraint" on their properties
or bodies, it may be concluded that
they paid the tax.
Custodian OF washinsto ton Relics.
There is a proud gentleman in Fair
fax county who guards these and other
relics Of Washington's time with a fine
priestly solicitude. lie is Frederick
Wilmer Richardson, clerk OF the court
and custodian OF Fairfax court house.
He too Is in keeping with the historic
tradition that is stamped on Fairfax
county, for he has been clerk of the
court for forty years, and before that
served for seven years rs assistant to
his father. Ferdinand Dawson Rich
ardson, who in turn was clerk FOR fifty
four years. :
| During all those ninety-four years.
says Mr.. Richardson with undisguised
qualification Fairfax court house
never has been opened on a Sunday, no
matter how high was the station OF the
curious visitor who made the short
trip from Washington to see the ia
nous records. Even a Vice President
OF the United States had to turn home
again without seeing the relics. He
got a good chicken dinner, but he did
not get into the court house. And the
clerk permits IL to be understood that
so long as Richardson is on guard
there SO it will remain.
In vault burglar proof and fire.
proof are the prize possessions of the
county, the Wills OF George and Martha
I Washington. Gen. Washington's will,
admitted TO probate January 20, 1900
consists Of forty pages.
Martha Washington's will, dated
March 20, 1902, consists of only three
or four pages, and the burglar proof
vault has an especial significance in its
case, for II is less than three years
since it was finally recovered by the
county after having been missing
since the civil war.
1t was stolen from the court house
during that conflict and finally came
into the possession OF ]. Plerpont Nor
gan.
Recovery, state Affair.
The Fairfax county funds not being
sufficient for litigation, the Virginia
Legislature passed the following act
making the expenses a State charge:
An ACT to authorize the institution
or proper proceedings in the name of
the Commonwealth OF Virginia 10 en-
force the return TO IL OF the original
will OF Martha Washington.
Approved January 30, 1914.
| Whereas the original last will OF
Martha Washington OF Mount Vernon,
tho widow of George Washington,
dated September second. eighteen hun
dred, was duly proven before the
county court of Fairfax County in the
State OF Virginia on June twenty
irst, eighteen hundred and two. and
was ordered to lie recorded therein,
and thereupon was deposited among
the archives OF the County Court OF
Fairfax County whereby II became a
public record and document OF the
State OF Virginia and remained there
after In its possession among the
archives OF Fairfax County until II
was stolen from among the Same at
some time during the war between the
States on a day and by a person un-
known; and
Whereas the said document is OF
great historic. literary and pecuniary
value apart from it's value as n NUM-
ment OF utls'N the large real and-Elsssu
x sonal estate within the State OF Elr-
ginia disposed OF under the provisions
and should therefore be restored to its
legal and proper custody; and
Whereas II has been recently ascer-
tanned that the said original document
J so stolen as aforesaid Is now in the
custody and control OF one John Pier
pont Morgan, citizen OF the State
OF New York, who has declined to re-
store the same to the archives OF the
said county of Fairfax although he
has been informed OF the circum-
stances OF its removal therefrom and
has been requested to restore the
same now, therefore.
/. Be IL enacted by the General As
sembly OF Virginia, that the Governor
OF this Commonwealth be, and he
! hereby IN authorized and directed to
cause formal demand to be made on
the said John Pierpont Morgan for
, the return OF the said last will and
testament OF Martha Washington to
the state of Virginia
., That in event the said demand
A he not complied with within reason
able time, the attorney general Of this
Commonwealth is hereby authorized
I TO institute in the Supreme Court OF
the United States of America and
, prosecute TO rnal conclusion, in the
name OF the Commonwealth OF Nir-
ginia, such suit or suits at W or in
equity against the said John pierpout
= Morgan, hts heirs or assigns, and such
. other person or persons s'Ray be
r proper. In order to enforce the RICH:
OF the commonwealth OF Virginia to
the possession and custody of said
a., document and the attorney general
Is hereby authorized TO associate with
him in the proseeuliaJ OF said sui the