The Washington times., 1922-11-05
COURT AWARDS
'SPOOK ESTATE
To CATHOLICS
End of Long-Drawn-out Legal
Battle Recalls Legend OF
Chostly Franks.
SPooKY SHEARS SNAPPED
Wizards Clip Pioneers Told
Strange Stories Of Scissors
WELDING Spirits.
BY G. c. McKOWN.


4.-For the first time in more than
a century mass was said at wiz
ards Clip, near the town OF Mid
dleway, this county, on Thursday
of this week, All Souls Day.
The celebration, conducted by
Bishop Denis j. O'Connell, OF
Richmond, came somewhat in COM
memoration of the recent firm as
signment by the Court to the
Diocese of Richmond of the tract
of land which was left to the
church by the will of Adam Lev
ingstone in a will drawn up by
him on February 2l, 1902. The
decision ended a 100-year legal
battle. 1t also revived a most
interesting and persistent story OF
the activities of spirits about the
estate and particularly the house
which has been the subject OF
speculation among both Catholics
and Protestants in this section and
as a matter of fact, has over
much wider field.
Spoolls Quiet Recently.
While the activities of spooks on
the estate more than one hundred
wears ago seems well authenticated
by oral and some written local MIS-
tory, there have been no reports that
the spirits took a hand In the recent
controversy which ended when ute
TO the land was perfected for the pres
ent owners last May. This occurred
when Judge J. NJ. Woods, here. con-
strued the will Of Adam Livingstone
and his wife. Mary, to mean that the
land should be the property OF the
Catholic church.
1t was Adam Livingstone, back
in the eighteenth century, VINO iirst
reported the appearance OF the
Spooks on the estate, which then
was his homestead and 1t was his
firm belief in their activities as pun
ishment for his mistreatment OF
dying Catholic that converted MN
from a bigot to a Catholic and caused
him to draw up the will that was III
dispute. In this will he named u
board of trustees and 1t was Dr. T.
w. MinChini. one Of whose ances
tors was an original trustee and also
figured prominently in the events
leading to Levingstones conversion
who contested the possession or the
property by the Catholic church ana
was the defendant in the suit re-
Gently decided.
History Of Suit.
DR.. Minghini had declined to
acknowledge any fiduciary relation.
ship with the Catholic church anu
had laid claim TO the title as MS
own by right of inheritance from
his father. the late Joseph l.. Ming
hini, who died in 1919. To destroy
this claim and to have new trus-
tees. all Catholics. named for the
estate. the Bishop O'Connell, In his
own right and for the church. the
Rev, J, A. Curran. rector or the
pariSh at Harpers Ferry, this county
William Butler and Samuel Hodges,
OF this dioce Sc, for themselves ana
tor all other members OF the CON
.,rcration. instituted suit and these
same litigants We're eventually nam
rd the trustees in 1922 for the tract
after the court had divested Dr.
Minghini of his connection and dis
missed his interest.
The suit was brought against Dr.
Ninghini. trustee In his own right.
the unknown heirs of Richard Nc
sherry and their unknown heirs. the
unknown heirs of Clement Pierce
and their unknown heirs. the un.
known heirs Of Joseph Minghini and
their unknown heirs, the unknown
heirs of Adam Livingstone and their
unknown heirs. None but DIR. Ming.
hini arose to defend his interest and
30 far as known there are no other
heirs. McSherry, Minghini and
Pierce were the originally named
trustees in the will Of Adam Leving-
stone which is dated February Il,
1902
The claim was made that the will $
terms were not carried out, In that
A. - m a
the tract, that the land was rented.
but the proceeds not properly used.
II is alleged that few graves were
put on the land but that the tomb.
stones were allowed to fall into bad
shape, and that the house and other
buildings, through lack of attention,
fell TO pieces. Bishop O'Connell, in
his petition for new trustees. declared
the petitioners wanted to carry out
the terms of the original deed and
use the land for religious purposes.
the residence for ministerial pur.
poses, and erect on the land a church
or chapel for religious purposes,
The suit attracted considerable at.
tention throughout this section by
reason of the interest which 1t had
for the Catholic church and because
of the reputation of the land itself,
both as regards its visitation by
spirits and its natural beauty.
Here's the Legend.
An account of the tale OF mystery
about Wizards Clip, prepared by
the Rev. John A. Curran. pastor OF
ST. Peters Church, Harpers Ferry
after Independent investigation, has
been issued as follows:
adam Livingston moved from
Lancaster, Pa, in 1890 and purchas
eds house and lot Of seventy acres
not far from Charles Town. One
night In 1894, a stranger was receiv'
ed as a boarder at the Livingston
home. The boarder became Ill. He
summoned Livingston to his bedside,
said that he was dying and begged
his host to get him Catholic
priest. The stranger said he wanted
to receive the last rites OF the
Catholic Church. Livingston, a bigot
refused. lie told the stranger he
knew Of no priest in the neighbor'
hood, and that II he did know one
ne never would allow him to pass
over the Threshold of his door. The