The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-02-13

On THIS cover except Inc A<oSe W 50
and Testament of Gen1 George Wash
ington."
Washington began his will thus:
sIn the name of God. Amen! l.
George Washington Of Mount Vernon.
a citizen of the United States and
lately president of the same, do make.
ortlain and declare this Instrument
which Is written with my own hand
and every page thereof subscribed
with my name to be my last VIII =
Testament. revOking all others"
Inst the same. he omitted ha- -se
mature from the bottom OF page o.
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-
lax June n. 1902. 1t remained in the
old courthouse until the Civil war.
IUnBn forces occupied Fairfax In 1867
and the will disappeared. For more
than so years the Fairfax county au-
thorities could find no trace OF It.
Upon the death Of J. Pierpont Nor
gan in 1913 1t became known that
the missing will was one of the most
lprised articles Of his great collection
Of historic documents. Fairfax county
Ithereupon undertook to regain posses
sion Of II.
u J. Pierpont Morgan, Jr., declined to
give up the will. He offered, however.
to let Fairfax have a Photographic
: reproduction. provided Fairfax would
let him have similar reproduction
Of George Washington's will.
: This offer was declined. The Viz
ginia 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
a lnal document. The bill was filed in
e the Supreme court.
: In the meantime, In correspondence
with the Virginia state authorities, Mr..
/ Morgan first objected to the manner
d In which he had been approached, then
r offered to return the will provided II
8 was placed at Mount Vernon instead
n and in a vault to be constructed by
9 him. This and all other conditions
were refused. Finally. In 1915. when
4 the case was about to come to trial
e Mr.. Morgan capitulated and handed
& over the will to the Fairfax county
y. authorities.
Is ThereupOn the secret Of the disap
n pearance and whereabouts Of the will
n. was cleared up. For, pasted on ths
lie hy-leaf of the handsome folder which
Or the elder Morgan had used to protec,
st the will. was found the following sign
20 ed statement by the woman from
Il whom he had purchased the document
er in 1901:
Lieut.. Col David Thomson. com
X handing the Eighty-second regiment
ly Ohio Volunteer infantry, was, during
ne the spring or autumn of 1862, sta
D. toned at Fairfax courthouse, Va. Hi.
of headquarters were in the courthouse
&C. building. The safes had previous Il
it this been broken open by the Blenk
at ers, command of men noted for theil
a reckless vandalism. The papers wer,
re- on the floor and had been destroyed
ST. in large quantities (and) used to kin
all die fires. My father, going into tn,
Office, found his men shoveling tn
IRIS material from the floor for this use
ed called them to stop, and. looking owe
S. them, found the document in question
to Just preceding his death. in 1892. h
IT, gave the document to me to be don
ed. with as thought proper.
IN "(Signed) MARY ESPY THOMSON.
led '2655 Irving avenue. South. Minneapo
al lis, Mimi"
es- Martha Washingtons will is lon
les one, is written on pages of foolsca
an and is remarkably well preserved
sed Any one who doubts that Marth
REQ Washington was Il good business won
i'll an should read the will.
of Also. the will has a pastscrip
Re which shows that the wife Of tn
on Father" of this country was ais
ion human.