The Jasper news., 1920-02-19

and Testament Of Gen1 George Wash
ington."
Washington began his will thus:
"In the name of God, Amenl !,
George Washington Of Mount Vernon,
citizen 81 the United States and
lately president Of the same, do make.
ordain and declare this Instrument
which is written with my own hand
and every page thereof subscribed
with my name to be my last VIII 4
Testament, reyoking all others"
Just the same, he omitted his sig
nature from the bottom Of page %,
which goes to show that even the
model Of all the ages was human.
Martha Washington's will Is dated
March 4, 1902, and was admitted to
probate by the county court at Fair
fax June 21. 1902. II remained in the
old courthouse until the Civil war.
Union forces occupied Fairfax In 1862
and the will disappeared. For more
than 80 years the Fairfax county au-
thorities could find no trace OF 1t.
Upon the death Of J. Pierpont Nor
gan In 1913 It became known that
the missing will was one Of the most
priced articles Of his great collection
| Of historic documents. Fairfax county
thereupon undertook to regain posses
sion of II.
]. Pierpont Morgan, Jr., declined to
give up the will. He offered, however.
to let Fairfax have Photographic
reproduction, provided Fairfax would
let him have a similar reproduction
of George Washington's will.
This offer was declined. The Vlr-
ginin legislature was then appealed to,
with the result that an act was passed
directing the attorney general Of the
state to bring suit to recover the orig
inaI document. The bill was filed in
the Supreme court.
In the meantime, In correspondence
with the Virginia state authorities, Mr..
Morgan first objected to the manner
In which he had been approached. then
offered to return the will provided II
was placed at Mount Vernon instead
and In a vault to be constructed by
him. This and all other conditions
were refused. Finally, In 1915. when
the case was about to come to trial
Mr.. Morgan capitulated and handed
over the will to the Fairfax county
authorities.
Thereupon the secret of the disap-
pearance and whereabouts Of the will
was cleared up. For, pasted on the
J hy-leaf Of the handsome folder which
the elder Morgan had used to protect
. the will, was found the following sign
ed statement by the woman from
whom he had purchased the document
. IN 1903:
Lieut.. Col. David Thomson. com
mandIng the Eighty-second regiment
, Ohio Volunteer infantry, was, during
J the spring or autumn Of 1862, sta
toned at Fairfax courthouse. Va. Hi
, headquarters were In the courthouse
building. The safes had previous t
/ this been broken open by the Blenk
/ ers, a command OF men noted for thei
reckless vandalism. The papers wer
; on the floor and had been destroyer
: In large quantities (and) used to kin
/ die fires. Ny father. going into tn
office, found his men shoveling tn
4 material from the floor Tor this use
III called them to stop. and. looking owe
them, found the document In question
nJ Just preceding his death. In 1892. h
/. gave the document to me TO be don
u with as / thought proper.
"(signed) MARY ESPY THOMSON,
4 r'2855 Irving avenue. South, Mlnneap'
: lis, Mimi"
!. Martha Washington's win Is a Ion
; one, is written on pages Of foolsca
J. and is remarkably well preserves
4 ANY one who doubts that Marth
. WaRhington was good business won
|. an s7lould read the Will
I AIso, the win has a postscTip
: which shows that the wife OF Il
|, @Father' OF this country was alI
a human