davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-16
Grunt Signature

Faced with this development,
the supporters Of the will then
attempted to recall P. Tecumseh
Sherman, offering to show by him
that the signature Of his father
was genuine. A similar contro-
versy arose as to the signature
Of Gen. Grant and rebuttal efforts
with reference to this were also
refused.
It was the exclusion Of this
evidence by the trial court which
the Supreme Court held to be
fatal. It reversed both courts and
sent the case back for q new
trial.
It never took place. for the
parties compromised their diff
culties. Why? No one knows.
But undoubtedly the compelling
motive was the deposition Of Mrs.
Grant, who was still living. Her
statement was taken on April
IS, 1901, and filed in court July
Q, 1902. The reason for the delay
was not explained. She started by
stating that she was rs years Of
age on February Is. 1901; that
she was the widow of Gen. Grant
and had been since 1885; that
she had married Gen. Grant on
August ~, 184s. and that he had
been President Of the United
States from 1s69-1S77.
She identified the signature Of
the general on the will; said she
knew Joseph Holt. that he used
to come often to see the general
the President"
Then came the critical testi-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-16

mony. On being asked whether
she had ever had occasion to dine
at the house Of Mr.. Holt, she
answered:
once. Never but the once"
She could not fix the time ex-
cept that 1t was during the time
her husband was President. CThe
alleged will was drawn In 1873,
and Grant was President 1862
1879 She could not give the date
but qualified her answer by say
ing it was not the summertime,
that they had q fire in the crate.
Story Of q POrty
Upon being asked who was
present on the occasion when she
dined with Judge Holt, she said:
There we're Gen. and Mrs.
Sherman. Gen. Grant and myself,
Mrs. Ricketts, and Gen. Ricketts,
and Mrs. Throckmorton. and
think two or three others, but I
don't remember who they were.
%. Judge Holt himself was
present?
"A. oh, yes: went in with him.
Judge Holt was present, because
he took me in to dinner.
@. After the dinner, did all Of
the ladies and gentlemen go into
the drawing room or were they
separated?
"A. Well, the ladies went in, as
usual, after dinner. The gentle
men might have gone in with us,
but they left, you know, right
afterwards. and went, I suppose,
to enjoy their cigars.
%. Do you recall where In the
room Mrs. Sherman was sitting
after dinner, when the ladies were
alone in the drawing room and
the gentlemen were smoking or
otherwise engaged In another
room?
"a. She was sitting right by
me, here Cndicating) when-We
were sitting there talking, and had
been for q little while, when Gen.
Sherman appeared at the door.
opened a door off to the left, and
said. Ellen, you are wanted and
she got up and left US and went
with Gen. Sherman into the next
room. She was absent Q little
while. five or ten minutes, when
she returned, and she did not tell
us why she was called. OF course.
I was q little curious because !
wondered If she had been invited
to play cards with the gentle
men. but she came back so soon
I concluded she was not. thought
she had gone in to play cards.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-16

for a current project. q political
and diplomatic history Of Ameri-
cas- relations with Russia. Two
other books-big books-also are
in the works at the Hoover Book
Factory. as one columnist recently
described the former Presidents
large, comfortable apartment and
office in the Waldorf Towers
where he matches his own incred-
ible energy with that Of six full
time researchers.
Avenues OF Relief
Mr.. Hoover has several avenues
Of relief from his astonishingly
heavy work schedule - q break
during the day for q game Of soli-
taire. dinner with friends. canasta
on Sunday night--but clearly the
little books are his favorite escape
valves. So far there have been
two. the latest delightful volume
titled Fishing for Fun and TO
Wash Your Soul"
When the proud author sent an
advance copy TO q close friend
last April he received this reply:
Dear Mr.. President:
II am highly pleased with the
Top Secret book which you sent
me. ] have been reading II with
much pleasure.
II hope everything continues
well with you.
HARRY 8. TRUMAN"
The book has pleased many
others: few can put II down with
out pursuing, as q trout pursues
q mayfly. all It's SO pages TO the
end. The focus Of the book Is fish
ing but is scope Is much broader.
just as the object Of a fishing
trip Is not Just 10 obtain fish
which. as this fisherman points
out, can be got for mere silver at
the market.
Mr.. Hooverss meditations on a
lifetime Of fishing are the obser-
vations Of q philosopher and elder
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-16

little official business with him
despite the fact that he was In
the same office; that he visited
once or twice at his house and
that from the period 1865 to
1873. he had met him quite often
socially ct the residence Of Mrs.
Throckmorton. ST., the grand
mother Of Miss Throckmorton,
but that he had not seen Mrs.
Throckmorton more than four or
five times during the 10-year
period previous to the receipt Of
the will ct the office Of the Reg
lister: that upon learning by tele-
phone Of its existence from Nc
Gill he was so completely In the
dark as to the whereabouts Of
Miss Throckmorton he had to
consult the city directory. He fl
nally got In touch with her. hav-
ing got her address from her
father. The last time he saw
Holt. he said, was in the spring
Of 1894, shortly before his death.
Elizabeth Hynes testified that
she had corresponded with Holt
for 40 years, and that 1t was her
opinion that both the body Of
the instrument and the sigma
ture were in his handwriting.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-16
BY MATTHEW +. MCGUIRE
Chief Judge, q. s. District Court

BY MATTHEW +. MCGUIRE
Chief Judge, q. s. District Court
Washington on August "a, 1895,
was only 80 degrees, but 1t was
humid. There was not much do
ing at home or abroad and very
little at all was being done in
the capital city. Court business
shared the common doldrums.
Some time In the late after
noon Of that day an envelope
was dropped in a letterbox. 1t
bore the postmark washington,
d. c., August "a, 6 pm. 1895 L."
(the 81" indicating 1t had been
dropped into q box in the north
west section Of the city, and 1t
was a letter long remembered
here.
1t was addressed to the "Regis-
ter Of Wills attached to the
Court" When 1t was opened the
next day by an Assistant Register
of Wills, q parsonage who bore
the rather unusual name Of ].
Nota McGill, he found a paper
which appeared to be a will,
signed by one ~. Holt" and dated
February 7, 1873. 1t contained
nothing else. McGill examined the
paper carefully. It became clear
an effort had been made both to
tear and to burn it. It was
signed and sealed, but there was
no seal attached. The Register
saw that 1t was torn nearly in
two across the sheet between the
signature Of the maker and that
Of the first witness. The burning
appeared near the top, but the
main part was intact and legible.
The Prominent Principal
Who was ~. Holt?" The Regis
ter needed no one to tell him.
He was Joseph Holt, a former
Postmaster General of the United
States and Attorney General in
the dying days of the Buchanan
Administration, and the later
Judge Advocate in the trial Of
the "conspirators" in the assas-
sination Of Abraham Lincoln.
The estate Of Mr.. Holt was in
the process Of administration as
it was believed he had left no
will. He had died at 81 on Au-
gust /, 1894. leaving close to
$3.50, 000-about 100000 Of which
consisted Of Washington real es-
tate. He left no relatives other
than nieces and nephews living
in Indiana, Kentucky and the
District Of Columbia. He had
married twice. but both wives had
died before he did by some years,
and he had no children. Immedi-
ately after his death, two Of his
nephews went to his late resi-
dence on Pennsylvania avenue
just east Of the Capitol to search
for a will, but none was found.
They did, however. burn and de-
stroy a large number Of miscel-
laneous letters and papers. all of
no seeming Importance. Finding
no viii and joining with another
nephew, they had filed q petition
stating the fact that he had died
without q will, and asking for
the appointment Of an admin
istrator. This was allowed by the
court and q local bank was named
to function In that capacity. This
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-16
Fish and Politicians

Fish and Politicians
mo political aspirant can quail
ify for election unless he demon
strates he Is q fisherman" writes
Mr.. Hoover. "there being rs mil
lion persons who pay annually for
q license TO fish"
He explains that there are two
kinds Of fish. plain species which
are the recreation OF the common
man." and rare species sought by
the aristocracy Of fishermen"
The latter. writes Mr.. Hoover.
require more equipment and
more lamentations than merely
splitting on the bait. Politically
speaking, these fish can be ig-
nored :"
"A few years ago." he writes. "a
press photograph showed my
friend. the late Senator Taft,
awkwardly holding q common
fish. IL was taken from many an
giles for all the common men to
see. knew without other evidence
that he was q candidate" Some
years later he says he saw a pic
ture OF Gen. Eisenhower ''gingerly
holding three very common fish.
The augury was positive"
Mr.. Hoover also comments that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-16

Of the rest Of us knew. She
looked quite conscious Of having
heard news or something and, Of
course, when I was going home I
asked the general what Mrs. Sher-
man was called into the other
room for. and he didn't tell me.
@. Mrs. Grant, do you recall
where Judge Hollis house was?
"a. 1t was up Pennsylvania ave-
nue. we drove, up on Capitol Hill,
I think; UP near the Capitol or
beyond it."
On cross examination she
stated that the dinner party con-
sisted Of 10 or IL, that 1t was
not a large dinner, that Judge
Holt sat at the head Of the ia
BILE and that she sat on his right.
Her Memory Refreshed
In response to further question:
ing. she said:
when / read the account Of
this will being found, and there
was question about 1t, ! said,
to my family: Why Of course that
Is all right. / remember / was
there one night with Gen. Sher-
man and Mrs. Sherman, and Gen.
Grant, at q dinner, the only time
I was ever there, and that Mrs.
Sherman was called out Of the
room and came back again, and
I remarked that was very anx-
ious to know what she had gone
out for, for I thought they were
going to have q rubber Of cards,
and felt q little offended to-
think had not been called
And said Mrs. Sherman vent
out and came back looking very
conscious. as If she knew some
thing, as If something had hap-l
pened or been told to her. orr
something; and then when wei
CdAlC uOAliCp ohlo W NY AAunDdAlusI
What was Mrs. Sherman called
out of the room for?'
HE said. do you remember that
little thing Of Know one womanl
by these presents?' That was q
little thing he used to tease me
about when I would ask something
he did not want to tell me. He
would say, you know, that II he
told 1t to one woman she would
tell 1t to everybody.
I'VE were coming down the Ave
nue. as we started home, and =
said:
"'Ulys, what did they want with
Mrs. Sherman In the other room2'|
And he looked at me and
laughed and said:
"'Do you remember about know
one woman by all these presents?'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-16

statesman as well as an angler.
and are set down in prose that
ripples like q mountain stream.
The book contains carefully Sc
lected portions of unpublished
speeches which Mr.. Hoover made
over the years to select audiences
of fellow fishermen. and snatches
Of several articles he has written.
Gathered together. mulled over,
revised and edited in the still Of
night. they cast q sharp reflection
Of the Hoover personality. You
can imagine the mischievous
twinkle in his steel blue eyes as
he assembled parts Of 1t, espe-
cially the section on fishing
Presidents and candidates"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-16
Dislike Is Charged

There was some evidence that
Holt had taken Q violent dislike
to Miss Throckmorton's father.
an Army officer who had got into
some difficulty In the Army, and
that at q reception given by
President Arthur he had refused
to shake hands with him. This
was offered by the contestants In
support Of their contention that
the paper was o forgery.
The case went to the Jury,
which found that the paper was
not executed by Holt as his last
will and testament. Since there
was no evidence supporting the
claim Of fraud and undue in
fluence, the Jury was directed by
the court to return Q negative
answer to these questions, which
1t did.
On appeal, the Judgment Of the
District court was affirmed. But
that did not end 1t, for 1t was
then appealed, Is could be done
in those days land theoretically,
today to the Supreme Court Of
the United States.
It will be remembered that dur
ing the hearing p. Tecumseh
Sherman, the son Of General
Sherman, was called by those
who offered the will for probate
for the purpose Of establishing
the signature Of his mother, and
that he testified IN his opinion
1t was her signature. He did not
testify to. however. nor was he
asked any questions as to the
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10
Older Folk
Entitled to
Tax Break

Older Montgomery County
residents are reminded of the
qualifications for a tax credit,
for the 1864 levy, to owners of
residential property whose age
is IS years or older.
The resolution, adopted by the
Montgomery County Council,
states that applicants must have
owned residential property in
the county, and have been a res
ident here for the la st five
years. Also, total income which
includes Social Security, gifts,
contributions, sale of real and
personal property, must not ex-
coed $500.
The Department of Informa-
ton and Economic Development
also reminds residents that an
application must be filed each
year, and that the exemptions
are not automatic. In the event
a citizen does not receive an APP
plication form before Oct. IS he
must contact the Office of Sup
ervisor of Assessments immedi-
ately. Ne consideration can be
given to applications filed after
Dec. 10.
Application forms are avail
able from the Assessment Of
flee, Room 416, County Office
Building, Rockville.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10

OOIlNlOLCO.
This as well as other antiquat-
ed laws, will be eliminated Nov.
Is when more up-to-date revi-
sions go into effect, providing
there is no large scale opposi-
ton.
But don't breathe too easy fell
lows, there are newer laws
which will take care of you!
In order to keep up with a
changing world, the Glen Echo
Town Council, headed by Mayor
David w. Fessenden, have made
public, revisions which will elm
mate such archaic laws and
language as, "the Council shall
provide for rigid enforce
ment of the Sabbath law by pre-.
venting all bodily labor on the
Sabbath day, except acts of ne.
ceSsity and charity. :" and, a..
(they have the power to issue
licenses or permits to all timer
ant persons who dispense med
icine or medical advice. -" and
also, a.. (those) who cry sales
upon the public streets"
Some of the more important
changes the new charter calls
for is a reduction in the terms
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10
Randolph Rd.
Intersection
Due Change

Realignment of the intersec.
ton of Parklawn Drive and
Randolph Road in Rockville has
been approved by the County
Council over protests of bust.
nessmen affected.
Contrary to published re-
port, department of public
works officials said the Council
had not vetoed the project but
approved it, over substantial
protest at a public hearing last
month.
AS revised, the interchange
departs from normal right.
angle design to provide a curv.
ed through lane at south.
west corner for traffic proceed
ing south to the Nicholson Lane
railroad overpass.
A one-way traffic pattern is
created beyond the interchange
to the north and west-a situa-
ton which drew protest from
the operators of service sta
ton and a chain grocery store
at Parklawn and Randolph, who
said they would lose customers
in the revision.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10
Parking Lot
Plan Is Eyed

A small piece of property
facing First Ave. at midblock on
Fenwick Lane in the Silver
Spring business district will be-
come a parking lot under a
proposal before the County
Council.
The Council this week took
under advisement a request
from Public Works Director j.
c. Kordella that the land, owned
by Hattie F. Hurley, be ac-
quired for both ground-level
parking and as access to a park
ing garage recommended by
Wilbur Smith Associates on an
existing lot on Cameron st. be.
tween Georgia and Second AYES.
Funds for the new facility's
construction will come from the
special parking lot district tax
levied on Silver Spring business
properties.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10

of the mayor and councilmen
from four to two years.
Elections will be held in May
of every odd year for two coun.
ciImen or the mayor and two
cOuncilmen. Vacancies for more
than two years will be filled by
special election; less than two
years by appointment.
The mayor will also have a
veto power which he didn't pos
sess under the old charter.
Also introduced is a new sys-
tenn of voter qualifications. In
order to be eligible to vote,
townsfolk must now only have
to reside in the town for one
year. Previously they also had
to hold title to real property.
The town will have its own
registry, and three-man Board
of Supervisors of Elections will
be responsible for registration,
nominations and elections.
Mayor Fessenden reported
that he anticipates no large
scale opposition to the revisions.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10
Festive UCF Luncheon
Home Rule
Hearing Set

The Maryland Legislative
Council will hold a public hear.
ing next Wednesday on the
adequacy of local government
in Maryland" with special en-
phasis on changes or improve
ments proposed in the charter
form of home-rule.
County Council President
John A. Floyd and County Man.
ager Mason A. Butcher are ex-
pected to attend the session, set
for 2 pm. in Room 801 in the
State Office Building, Annapolis.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10
Lawyers Note

The National Lawyers Club
has announced the opening of a
Lawyers Saturday Forum for
the lawyers of Washington,
Maryland and Virginia Bars at
the clubs meeting rooms on the
third floor of the Federal Bar
Building, 1915 H ST., NV. The
first forum will take place Oct
5. Reservations may be made
by calling the National Law
yers Club, 638.32OO.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10
Glen Echo Charter
Is Being Revised

Glen Echo wife-beaters probably don't know it, but
there's law in the towns charter which states that they
liable to 20 days hard work the towns streets if
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10
County Hits
Is Per Cent
OF UCF Coal

Montgomery County Unit
ed GiverS Fund volunteers
reported they had collected
Is per cent of the SITS, 600
county goal Tuesday at a
luncheon held for them at
the Washingtonian Country
Club, Gaithersburg.
Frank Wall, general campaign
chairman for the county,
reported that "this was UMPIRE
cedented. At this time of the
year." he noted, I'VE had col
lected only $7,O64 or 3.5 per cent
of the goal"
The luncheon, attended by 200
UGF workers and county Off
Gals, served as an opportunity
for a first report meeting since
the campaign started October l.
There are 1900 volunteers in
the county.
Thomas B. Finan, Attorney
General Of Maryland, the main
speaker of the afternoon, noted
that, "the UGF shows what can
be done by people who rely
upon themselves and not on the
state or national government"
UGF consists of 143 health
and welfare agencies in the
Washington area, 38 of which
serve Montgomery County resi-
dents.
The DC. area goal for the
campaign to end in six weeks
is IS. 200 000.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10
Allen Resigns

George E. Allen, former Chief
of Research and Special Studies
for the Maryland-National Capt..
tai Park and Planning Commits.
sion in Silver Spring has accept.
ed a position with Harland
Bartholomew and Associates,
planners, engineers, landscape
architects and architects in
Memphis, Tenn.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10
Miller Heads
County Firemen

The Montgomery County Vol
unteer Firemen's Association
held their annual convention
last weekend in Kensington.
Newly elected officers are
Harry Miller of Glen Echo, pres
ident; Delma Dutch" Birgfeld
of Cabin John, vice president;
Joseph Serrin of Glen Echo, Sec
rotary, and Bernard Gladhill of
Damascus, treasurer.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10

Wells, go, chairman; Robert E.
Ray, 80, vice chairman; Mary
E. Morley, 1343, chairman; Rob-
ert Johnson, 80, chairman;
Ruth Cohen, 1886, vice chair
man; Louis H. Cohen, 1877,
chairman; Selma E. Carroll,
1910, chairman; Betty Heckard,
4-6, chairman, and Margaret
Gimmel, 7-16, chairman.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10

BEAUTIFUL and spacious! All-new room in
"a Rambler American plenty for {
adults. Longer wheelbase; same easy han.
ding and famed Rambler economy.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-10-10

ExTRA-vALUE FEA-
TUREs in every 1864
Ram bier: curved
glass side windows;
Ceramic -Armored
exhaust system; coil
springs in all seats.
front and rear; full
Ia" wheels; Double
Safety brakes; and
many, many more.