Public Law 46–170

An act

to authorize a compromise of the claims of the United States under the will of Joseph L. Lewis.

Whereas, Joseph L. Lewis, deceased, formerly of the city of Hoboken,

Preamble.

Joseph L. Lewis, deceased.

State of New Jersey, by his will dated first October, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, and a codicil thereto, dated fifth June, eighteen hundred and seventy-five, bequeathed certain legacies, amounting in all to about forty thousand dollars, and devised and bequeathed the residue of his estate, real and personal, now estimated to be of the value of one million of dollars and upwards, unto his executors therein named, in trust, to apply the same according to their discretion in reducing part of the national debt of the United States, they personally superintending such application in order to prevent waste by dishonest officials; and

Whereas the said will and codicil are now the subject of contestation in the courts of the State of New Jersey by Frances Grace and Catharine G. Ward claiming as the surviving sisters and John S. Catheart as the nephew of Joseph L. Lewis, in which the government of the United States has been and is represented by legal counsel; and it is further claimed that said bequest is void, and that the testator had no power to dispose of his said property by his said will in derogation of a prior deed of trust: Therefore,

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Approved, June 9, 1880.