Evening star., 1950-07-16

| All VIC A1nIl lCb VI SO4u1IU1d WI
have a peculiar condition, so ia.
as crime and scandal are con
cerned, for here we not only have
our own citizens to keep in the
straight and narrow path. but also
those who come here because it il
the seat Of the Federal Govern
ment and when they get into
trouble Washington people are in
discriminatory credited with all
the improprieties and indiscre-
tions which occur. A part, at
least. belongs to transients and
those domiciled here in a strictly
national official capacity, such. fol-
instance, as the killing of Philip
Barton Key by Dan Sickles. the
Cilley duel, the killing of Repre-
sentative Taulbee by Charles E
Kincaid, the Teapot Dome case
and many others which have hap
pened from time to time, ano
which will no doubt continue tc
happen.
A case which is now almost for
gotten and which involved the
reputation Of so prominent ano
charitable a name as John Peter
Van Ness. was before the courts
during the latter part Of 1846 and
the early part Of 1847.
Mayor Von Ness
John Peter Van Ness was q dis
tinguished- looking man; indeed
besides, he was a man Of much
ability and was greatly admired
by the people of the District OF
Columbia, who made him Mayor
Of Washington in 1880, and con.
tinued him in Office until 1884.
AS businessman he was a sue
cess and early demonstrated thi:
by marrying Marcia Burnes, the
heiress and daughter of the orig.
inal proprietor. David Burnes, or
May 10, 1903, and who was reared
in a modest cottage which stood
on the ground now occupied BY
the Pan American Union Building
Nearby Mr.. Van Ness built 9
mansion house which he first oc.
cupied in May. 1915, and here
were entertained many people oi
note and distinction, the Var
NesseS being in later years assist
ed by Mrs. Van Ness cousin, Anr
Gertrude Wight, whose father
was the brother Of Mrs. David
Burns.
AS to Ann Gertrude Wight, OF
Sister Gertrude, a name by which
she was well known, much has
been written. At an early date
she entered the Convent of the
Sisters of the Visitation in George.
town to become a nun, and she
became SISTER Gertrude" Ap.
parently happy and contended fol
many years, in the spring of 1881
she left the institution in the garl
Of one of the students and mad,
her way to the Van Ness mansion
For awhile she lived with Nine
1turbide as a daughter and gov.
erness. She never divulged he
reason for changing her mind anc
leaving the convent, and appar,
emily no one but herself evel
knew.
The Widow Conner
Mrs. Van Ness died in 1882 anc
shortly thereafter there came into
the life of Gen. Van Ness a Mrs
Connor, a widow, in whom hi
took such great interest that we
are told he let her live in the fine
house he owned in Reservation B
which was probably located or
Missouri avenue between Four.
and-a-half and Sixth streets
without charge, though the neigh.
bors wagged their tongue rapid.
and freely.
Time rolled on and condition
remained the same. until on,
blustery day in March, 1846-thl
9th to be exact-the Nationa
Intelligencer printed the following
death notice:
Died on Saturday afternoon,
the 7th instant. at half-past 6
O'Clock. Gen. John P. Van Ness,
in the 77th year of his age.
His funeral will take place
at his residence on Tuesday (to-
morrow afternoon, at 4 o'clock,
which his friends and acquaint-
ances, and the citizens gener-
ally, are invited to attend, with
out further notice."
CIoimed Dover Interest
Hardly had Gen. Van Ness beer
inferred in the tomb, which ther
stood on H street between Ninth
and Tenth streets, before trouble
started over the disposition of hi.
estate. Mrs. Connor, otherwise
known as Mrs. Mary A. w. c. Var
Ness, put in claim for her dover
interest. claiming to be the lawful
|Th0ee Woro +hl