The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-02-07

II 1900 and the following year was
appointed Chief Judge for the Dis
trict of Columbia. Returning to
Maryland. he was appointed Chancel-
Tor in 1906, according to data
printed here in the Maryland His
torical Magazine of June 1918, page
104.
chancellor Kitty derived from an
interesting family. His father.
Capt. John Kitty, was for everal
years engaged with the mercantile
firm in Londen, of Perkins, Buch-
anan & Brown. He sailed as captain
for several years upon one of the
ships. owned by himself and Henry
Darnall to the Patuxent. Captain
Kitty died in 1884, year after the
death Of his wife.
William Kitty was the uncle of
Rear Admiral Augustus Kitty, of the
United States Navy, and the brother
of Captain John Kitty, the Admiral's
father both being members of the
Society of the Cincinnati. John
Kitty, born in England, 1856 was
educated as was his brother Will
liam, at the College of st. Omer,
France. He was secretary of the
Society of the Cincinnati in 1884;
Register of the Land Office, 1906,
and authorof History and Prac-
tice of the Land Office Gland Hold
er's Assistant) which is regarded as
the most comprehensive guide and
exposition on original land titles ex-
tant He was adjutant-General Of
Maryland under Gov. Edward Lloyd.
1901, and died at Annapolis. May
81. 1911.
Chancellor Kitty, died at Annap-
oils, October 10 1921, and was re-
garded as a man of wide culture, and
also musician. Niles Register
states: His death, we believe, have
deprived Maryland of the only per-
son that exactly knew what is the
Constitution of the State
Wrote His Own Will
General Washington, whilst max
ing no criticism of the lawyers of his
day, manifestly had confidence in
his own ability to write his will and
to provide against the consequences
of contest arising, also of avoiding
its construction being submitted to
the courts. for in his will he made
the following provisions against
such cOnting encies. He writes: Re
| ferring to the will, in the cOnstruc-
| ton of which it will readily be per-
ceived that no professional charact-
er has been consulted, or has had any
agency in the draught, and that al
though it has occupied many of my
leisure hours to digest and throw in
| to it's present form, it may notwith-
standing appear crude and incorrect;
but having endeavored to be plain
and explicit in all the dcvises even
| at the expense of proliXity, perhaps
tautology | hope and trust that no
dispute will arise concerning them;
but if, contrary to expectations, the
case should be otherwise from want
of legal expression or the usual
technical terms, or because too much
or too little has been said in any Of
the devises to be consonant with
law, my will and direction expressly
is that all disputes (if any unhappily
should arise) shall be decided by
three impartial and intelligent man
known for their probity and good
understanding Washington then
provides for the method Of selecting
the arbitrator and directs that their
decisions is to all intents and pur-
poses to be as binding on the parties
as if it had been given in the Su-
meme Court of the United States"
This case" concluded Mr.. Shep-
herd. is but one of many cases Of
equal interest to be found in Mary
lands storehouse of Colonial, Reyo-
lutionary and current history-the
Land Ofice-which the present up
to-date system Of indexing now in
course of development at the Land
ONCE is now bringing to light"