Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-25
By Charles J. Yorbroueh
Stor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

LEESBURG, Va, Aug. 25.-Picture
Mount Vernon's trim gardens choked
with thistle and pokeberry; its
stately rooms scaled, dank and
musty, with the passage of locked
up time. t.-
That was the Oak Hill that met
the eyes Of some 800 persons yester-
day afternoon. when the law un-
locked the gates Of President James
Monroe's history-clad home of the
1820s. That was the great buff
walled mansion designed by Thomas
Jefferson and built by White House
Builder James Hoban.
A legal key unlocked the gate
which Owner Frank c. Littleton had
kept barred during the previous 10
days in an effort to thwart pre-
foreclosure inspection by the public.
Of the 300 visitors, only three iden-
tilted themselves as possible pur-
chaSers.
Open Today, Tomorrow.
The 1,725-acre estate will be open
to public inspection at 2 pm. East
ern Standard Time, today and to-
morrow, and again on Saturday
and September l. The auction, to
satisfy indebtedness placed at about
5000. 900, is scheduled for Septem-
Der 2.
Mr.. Littleton, who until the i'm
mediate prewar days had kept the
house and grounds in show-place
condition, has lived alone in the
vast house for a number of years
Few people have seen the grounds
in the last few years, save for a
glimpse up the weed-cluttered, box
wood-lined driveway.
In a last move to pull the estate
from under the auctioneers' ham.
mer, he has filed petition asking
that the auction be Cancelled and the
estate be resurveyed. Cherishing
the hope of creating Monroe
shrine there, he contends the house
and grounds are not included in the
area to be sold. A hearing on the
petition has been set for Tuesday
at Newport News, Va.
Affidavit Answers Petition.
Mr.. Littleton flied an AFFIDAVIT In
Federal Court at Alexandria today
in answer to a trustees petition fol-
the sale of Oak Hill. He said he
had notified trustees of discrepancies
in the advertised size of the estate
he denied he refused any one access
to the farm, declaring only one OF
about 100 gates leading into the
property had been locked, as it has
been for about 10 years, and he
denied that he had threatened any
one who attempted to view the
estate August IA.
While the crowd made its way
through the first floor rooms in
hushed groups of six, then tried to
wade the weed-tangled gardens, Mr.
Littleton apparently remained in
the small section of the mansion
he has occupied alone for years.
AS the gate closed after the last
visitor at 5 pm, he announced ne
would talk with newsmen. A small,
wiry man of 10 (unsmilingly, he gave
his age as 80, he appeared in a
natty linen suit with knee-length
knickers and talked briefly under one
Of the towering elms near the house.
II am going to write out the in
formation asked by you in a COM
posite answer to all questions. Each
Of you will receive copy. If there
are any incorrect statements, I am
going to take the action / deem fit
ANY violation of this will result
in no information to any Of you
He later declared that the story
he will tell "if you want to use 1t,
can be corroborated by evidence"
You can say that" he said.
Permits Photos Of Interior.
He sternly refused to permit pic
lures OF himself but allowed photo
graphers, accompanied by United
states deputy marshal. to take two
interior views.
He made no attempt 70 conceal