Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 09.pdf/79

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Adams, doctor of laws. He was very proud sand seven hundred dollars toa friend. Later of this distinction, which was given to him he wrote a will atSoleur, in Switzerland, which as a graduate of Harvard College, where all seems to have been the result of his friend the men of the Adams family have attended ship for a certain family with which he came for generations. It was like a sword through frequently in contact, and from whom he re the plates of his armor when Jackson, his ceived many assurances of regard. This in arch enemy, visited the hallowed precincts strument was written in French, and an ex of old Cambridge and received this honored act copy in that language is on file in the registrar's office. There was much difficulty degree from the college authorities. The briefest of all the presidential wills in in establishing the legality of this document, the vaults of the District of Columbia is that as the laws of France differ from ours on of James Monroe. He had but little to give, those matters. When the instrument was executed Kosciusko was a legal resident of and he gave it without the use of any un Berville. This last will gave five thousand necessary language. It contains but one hun dollars to his executor, a Frenchman, and dred and sixty words. He gave six thou sand dollars to each of his two daughters, sixty thousand francs each to the two lovely Elizabeth and Maria, and the works on which daughters of Pierre Joseph Zclbeur. he was engaged at the time of his death to The will of Dolly P. Madison, President his son-in-law. The will was made in New Madison's wife, who reigned as Washington's York and had one witness who resided there, first social queen, is stored away with the and one whose home was in Washington. documents for the year 1849. Dr. M. J. One of the most remarkable testaments Griffith, the deputy registrar, said that she that one finds stored away in the dusty must have been very sick when she signed archives is that of Thaddeus Kosciusko, the it, for her signature is very feeble. She had Polish patriot. His original will, which was twenty thousand dollars to give away, the executed when he sailed from America at amount which Congress had appropriated for the close of the revolution, is deposited here. . the purchase of her husband's papers. OneIt is a very brief document and shows how half of this she gave to her son, John Payne thoroughly he was imbued with the love of Todd, by her former husband, and the other freedom. It names Thomas Jefferson as ex half to her adopted daughter. This sum ecutor, and directs that all his property in stood invested at the time of her death in America should be sold at his death and the the name of James Buchanan, who afterward proceeds applied to the purchase and the became President of the United States. liberation of slaves in his name. He also The last will and testament of Chief-Jus wished that they should be given instruction tice Salmon P. Chase is a bright and shin in the trades and otherwise, and in the man- ing example of the saying that lawyers make n-er to properly conduct themselves as moral poor wills for themselves. His will is brief and upright citizens. and to the point, but it was defective because There was a proviso in this document that it devised certain real estate in the District all this should be done unless he should of Columbia and had but two witnesses. The make other disposition of his property be law demands that there shall be three wit fore his death. As a matter of fact he did nesses. He had followed according to the make two other wills, and his will which he Ohio law, which requires but two witnesses. left in America at his sailing away for Europe This called forth the remark from the most in 1/98 became the subject of a hot legal celebrated wit before the District bar at the contest. In 1806 he made a codicil to this time, that there was a high law, a higher law, in Paris by which he bequeathed three thou and an O-high-o law.