Anna Dickinson Legal File Correspondence Hart & Price, 1891George H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price Counselors at Law No. 280 Broadway New York May 6, 1891 Dear Miss Dickinson, Why disturb the case in the hands of Howe + Hummell. I am convinced that you cannot do better than to let them try it. I certainly could do no better than I think they will do. Of course, the Pennsylvania matters have not been undertaken by them, no rule of professional ethics forbids me acting for you.You are convinced of my sincere desire to serve you and will I am sure accept my counsel in this regard as good advice and well intended. As you are aware we lawyers are restrained from matters of delicacy in interfering with other lawyers who have been retained in a case and who have not violated their professional duty. Convinced that you will adopt my news, believe me to be (in haste) Sincerely Your [???} [servant??] George H. HartForm No. 1 THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY. 21,000 OFFICES IN AMERICA. CABLE SERVICE TO ALL THE WORLD. This Company TRANSMITS and DELIVERS messages only on conditions limiting its liability, which have been assented to by the sender of the following message. Errors can be guarded against only by repeating the message back to the sending station for comparison, and the Company will not hold itself liable for errors or delays in transmission or delivery of Unrepeated Messages, beyond the amount of tolls paid thereon nor I’m any case where the claim is not presented in writing within sixty days after the message is filed with the Company for transmission. This is an UNREPEATED MESSAGE, and is delivered by request of the sender, under the conditions named above. THOS. T. ECKERT, General Manager. NORVIN GREEN, President. NUMBER 17 SENT BY WD REC'D BY D CHECK 10 Paid RECEIVED at 12.52pm May 16 1891 Dated New York 16 To Miss Anna Dickinson and Dr Seward Pardon delay in responding to your kind letter write today George H. HartGeorge H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price. Counselors at Law, No 280 Broadway, New York May 16th 1891 Dear Miss Dickinson, Your kind note of the 11th was duly received, but my engagements were so complicated that I deferred answering until I could disentangle myself, Please do not think that I have taken too long to do so. First in reference to Mr Hevelin : I shall be ready to visit Philadelphia at the word of command. Nothing would afford me greater gratification than to accept your kind invitation and the hospitality of Dr. Seward, I shall esteem myself fortunate to know him. But I am appalled whenI think of my temerity in venturing to contemplate taking a day of rest. Prometheus transfixed bears the faintest sort of resemblance to the immutable state of motion that holds me fast. Provoked that mythology affords no better metaphor or else I am stupid which I shall never admit of shall in the dull language of ordinary mortals, state that until the end of June, it will be impossible for me to take a single day for recreation. This however does not apply to the trip to Philadelphia which I am under obligation to make when you direct me to go. It will afford me great pleasure to give any advice or information in my power to Mrs Ackley; will she do me the honor to call 2 George H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price, Counselors at Law, No 280 Broadway. New York and see me whenever she is disposed to consult the oracle? I need not add that I shall always be ready to confer with you in respect of your affairs. Please express thanks for me to good Dr Seward and tell him that I shall eagerly avail myself of his kind invitation when I can break loose from my engagements. Kindly make my compliments to Mrs Ackley, and belive me to be, Most truly yours George H. HartGoshen NY. 5. 17. 1891 Dear Mr. Hart, A thousand thanks for saying you are ready to go to Phila. — that is what I desire. — When? I fully appreciate how great a service it will be to take so much time at present, but it is almost like a matter of life and death to me I also greatly desire for that it be taken very may be able to find theMrs A begs [to be?] remembered more, [More a? ??? This in] Meanwhile Kindly, & I am alway & always most truly Sincerely Yours A D [Let it be but begun The end some?? will folow] time now — Mrs. Ackley will come with me to New York prepared to go to Phila & on to Pittston when she knows what she is to do. — Will you [telegraph] please wire Mr. Heverin to say when [you will] we will [all] find him at your convenience & then will you prove yourself [altogether] an angel by telegraphing here what is the understanding? The sooner the better — pleaseGeorge H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price. Counselors at Law, No 280 Broadway, New York May 22, 1891, My dear Miss. Dickinson: I have communicated with Mr. Heverin, and requested him to inform me whether on the receipt of a telegram from me the night before, he could see us in Philadelphia any day next week. As soon as I receive his answer, I will at once inform you, and let you know what day. With kind regards, I am Yours truly George H. Hart.George H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price. Counselors at Law, No 280 Broadway, New York May 26/91 Dear Miss Dickinson: I am just in receipt of a letter from Mr Heverin. I will be at your service on Friday, and ready to go to Philadelphia on that day. Please [do] [gratify] your pleasure. Faithfully yours George H. Hart George H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price. Counselors at Law, No 280 Broadway, New York June 15th 1891. Miss Anna Dickinson Dear Madam Have you received any news from Philadelphia? Mr Heverin has not communicated with me. If you hear from him please let me know Yours very truly Geo. H. Hart [?] [*at Goshen*]Goshen N Y. 8. 18. 91 Dear Mr. Hart, No, I did not hear from Mr. Heverin, save in regard to a disagreeable matter not connected with Pittston, of which you are expected to know anon. He wishes you to [put?] settle a reckoning for him, as he is too much in the matter to do so himself. — also, hewishes you to write for Mrs. Ackley a letter to carry to Pittston whither she desires frequently to go, to gather up the rest of my possessions. He has put himself in communication with some one as Pittston who has told or is to tell him divers essentials in regard to people & property there. & he said to Mrs. Ackley, when she saw him a few days [since, struck through] ago, something in regard to where the suit was to be brought— (away from Phila.) that may be right. if I understood. [But] [seems] not right according to the half light call on it by second lettering. All this is as Hebrew to you? It will be made plainer by Falk, & that is why I keep this much & no more. — Mrs. Ackley wishes to know if you can & will come here Saturday evening next? Sunday morning? (a train leaves a little after9 a.m o'clock,) — to stay the night, the day the two nights — what suits your pleasure. — She would like to know so as to have place for you, & to meet you. — & says, with her sincere regards, "tell him we will expect him." Always faithfully Anna Dickinsoncopy Phila June 22 1891 Geo. H. Hart Esq. Dear Sir;-- I have been away since the receipt of your letter of the 15 inst. None of the parties against whom we contemplated commencing suit have been in Phila - I find upon examination that Pittston is not in the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of U.S. for this District. Pittston is in the Western District, & consequently our writ will have to issue from Pittsburg, Williamsport, or Scranton. We can select either place. We will have to determine after a consultation which place to issue our writ from. I have no hope of them coming to Philadelphia, so that we can obtain a service upon them here Yours Truly J. H. HeverinGeorge H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price. Counselors at Law, No 280 Broadway, New York June 23rd 1891. My dear Miss Dicksinon I enclose a letter just received from Mr. Heverin. It is well that you are a citizen of New York State so that the action may be brought in the United States Court; as I suggested to you before, and in which opinion you will see, Mr. Heverin agrees with me. Please return Mr. Heverin's letter. Yours very truly, George H. Hart c.George H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price, Counselors at Law. No. 280 Broadway, New York June 20/91 Dear Miss Dickinson: Yours of the 2[8]5th is before me. You ask for an answer to yours of the [1]28th.?! Did you not state in it that you intended to impart to me something concerning which you hinted mysteriously? I have been awaiting the information and therefore did not answer. But in reviewing the letter I find that there are some matters that called for immediatereply especially in reference to dear Mr. Ackley whose kind invitation to me I seemed to have ignored. Please convey to her my thanks and apologies both. If it had been possible for me to have accepted the invitation, I should have deemed myself as fortunate. But I am only a slave, and cannot dispose of my own time at will. But I presume and do myself the pleasure early in July if my company will then be acceptable. I enclose herewith a letter for Mrs. A to carry to Pittston. I presume that it fits the care suggested in your letter. Hoping that the sun spares your retreat and that you and Mrs. Ackby are happy I remain yours faithfully George H. Hart P.S. Please remember me kindly to Dr. Seward. GHH Goshun NY 6.28.91 My dear Mr. Hart, Did you receive my letter of June 18th? If so what of it? Yours very truly, Anna E. Dickinsoncopy Goshen N. Y. June 28 1891 My dear Mr Hart the matter of which I (June) wrote you on the 18th saying I would amplify on telling you, was in reference to the "Continental" Hotel, Philadelphia = Mr. Heverin expressedto me. Ackley the desire that you rather than he should attend to it. [as he felt him] As you hear from him he may have explained this affair to you. if he has not & you do not come to Goshen within a few days I will see you at your office & tell you all I know concerning it, & What he wishes done Meanwhile, - with regards from Dr Seward & Mrs Ackley [know me] I am yours very truly Anna E Dickinson [as requested] [Enclo??] I return as requested Mr Herrins letter to you of June 22nd [??] [as} [requested] [requested].Goehen Orange Co. New York 7.9.1891 Dear Hart, I have nothing of moment to send, but wanted to say "good day" to you. How are you? Where are you? Your envelope still has on its corner "Home & Society." Do you still have it in hand? Since you intend to look after church seemed to me like Paradise. - - In your other doings are you, by chance, to make any Chautauqua Assembly speeches? - They [seem] appear to do a "general feature" this summer And if you are will they bring you this way? — Do you know Stayton? & us he still in Chicago or has he transferred his office (xlove to "the dearest girl'. When you write} & know me from the first yours A D x x bodily to New York. He wrote me in the winter about the C.A. lectures x x I am meditating going to St Clair Springs (Michigan) If I do will I find you in Chicago if I prowl*] & has not since been heard from. And do you know if there is any other "Lyceum Bureau Man" in Chicago? = I am turning over in my mind a speech about Sumner. What do you think [about] of it - or is not this sort of thing in four line of knowledge. I am meditating too, a talk about Lafayette. - which of these ?o, say [*you, will be the taking. - put on your wisdom cap for me. I am to make "Jeanne D'Arc" here presently so have speeches in mind. — Will you write me when you can - 'Tis happiness to hear from you. & will you send my & other matters I have wondered if the Ed. department of life would be be left behind? =Whereabouts in Colorado has Edith gone? I have acquaintances at divers places in that small State & would like to ask about some of them if haply she be near them. You say she is not well. I hope Colorado air will cure her. I think so well of it as to make me believe it can cure everything but Death ! It= I am meditating going to St Clair springs. (Michigan) If so will I find you in Chicago if I prowl further Westward? Also, the beings of whom I specially wished to know in Colorado are Mr. & Mrs. Edwin [Nettuleton?] (the engineer) & Wm. Byers of the "News." Do you know aught of them? — I love you always A.D.George H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price. Counselors at Law, No 280 Broadway, New York July 30, 1891 My dear Miss. Dickinson: You have not written me as suggested with regard to Philadelphia matters. I trust that your health is improved. Yours Sincerely, George H. Hart C.Goshen N. Y. 8.4.91 To Mr. Geo. H Harh Dear Mr Hart:__ I wish very much that I could have talked with you for while I was in New York a week ago. or that I could see you tomorrow instead of sending this [seems?] — However! —Mrs. Ackley I suppose told you of her Pittston experience & of what she brought home with her.-- Did she explain to you certain matters, [of] as thus: the carpets, [the] the floors of Eggleston's house parlor and stairway (a green & crimson & a green with crimson border body Brussel's) are [one of] mine, of 3 value by reason of associations, & I suppose also of value as a legal list. I want them. = [I do not know if my pictures & books have been sent since I have not opened the boxes not in] = I want a Family Bible with its records. =A copy of a family record, or pedigree, whichhas been gathered from Mother, Maryland, Delaware &c other sources. Susan Dickinson will know what is indicated. = a silver medal of colored troops-- among her possessions. My property. = The large rocking 5 chair that stood in the sitting room. = Any books of mine that have been retained, & anything else that in future I may find missing. = The letters of the campaign of 1872 The letters of James Redpath, Whitelaw Reid & every other letter [or]& paper belonging to written by meor to me that was in the house at Pittston. = The list made by Susan Dickinson give "letters packed in box of bric-a-brac." These [indicated] specific & others are not among them Either she has put a mass of these in some other place, or she has not sent them. [since] If they 7 are [elsew] here in this [mass] lot of boxes furniture &c she is to [indicate] say where as it is not necessary to unpack all this stuff. If she has not sent them she is to do so, or stand the consequence. [to the last issue] ==What else?-- Mrs Ackley told youof the miserable business at the Continental. So there is no need to amplify on that? [best c??p???]? = I am to speak here on the 13th for the sons of Veterans Murray Post - "Joan of Arc" & all here send you a most 2 hearty invite to come & hear & spend the night at this hospitable mansion. Maybe, you will =You will readily bring Mrs. [MacGivery] with you too? understand that (& I beg of you to [?????] important as my letters them at once.) & some other matters are, I am doubly anxious to know. what has been done by yourself & Col Heverin in regard to the major mattersat stake. It seems to me [my mind] [high] time the thumb screws were put upon that jail gang at Pittston & Danville [? i? the trials to be at Pittston or what if it be done? Williamsport or Scranton?] = I intend to be in New York, with or without Mrs A in a few days & will tell you [one] of her 11 "find", at P.— Apparently she discovered no one but Mr Thompson & Susan D who would [even hint] say they thought "Miss Anna Dickinson "off"--tho' she did [find] hear Susan say "she is as crazy as she ever was" (true enough)& discovered that Eggleston had [had] attempted & failed to [my jewels in hand] pawn my jewels on which she told him "the only wonder was you were not locked up for the attempt." = Thanks for the inquiry. I am nearly recovered from "the heat & the fruit" [& with] tho' not 13 absolutely well & with sincere regards from Seward Mrs Ackley & I am always [most thfully] yours [yours truly] [yours] Anna E Dickinson = I think you know that the servant woman Martha has recently married one John Brown, & thatTheir small house has been chiefly furnished by my household stuff. - [Would] Might it not be a way of getting at some truth [from her] to take [this away], or to threaten to take this away from her? AD.George H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price. Counselors at Law, No 280 Broadway, New York Aug. [?]th 1891, Dear Miss Dickenson :- I am in receipt of yours of the 4th and had the matter that you spoke of welled drummed into me by your [achites] who gave me the details as well as summary statement of the condition of the affairs in Phila. I have communicated with Mr. Heverin and told him you are impatient & enquiring of him whether he had instituted proceedings in the Pittsburgh M. S. Courts. As you know the Courts now have vacationI refer to the higher Courts such as is necessary in which to bring your action Of course you will realize the delicacy of my situation. By the way,- Miss Ackerly suggested the name of Mr. McLane practicing in the neighborhood of Princeton, who she informed me volunteered his services. And she aslo suggested, that from some remark of Mr. Heverin, thought it wise to of Mr. McLane's kind offer. If you are of thee same opinion I could communicate with McLane accepting his services and on receipt of his reply to request me to communicate with him [2, encircled] George H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price. Counselors at Law, No 280 Broadway, New York I am exceedingly anxious to offer all the services that my Poor abilities permit and what I lack in aility am willing to make up in alacrity. If you are not fortunate in having the greatest of lawyers you should congratulate yourself in employing in your service the best of men. How is that for anti'climax? I am glad to learn that you recovered your health; and that we will once more be regaled with an address from Anna Dickinson. The topic Joan d'Arc insteadof Anna Dickinson. Both are suggestive and interesting things, but under ordinary circumstances I think the audience prefer to hear Joan d'Arc give an address subject Anna Dickinson & vice versa, than to hear Joan d'Arc tell in strains of lurid indignation how the vile and cowardly English apply the torch to his sacred person. I wish I could have the pleasure & edification of listening to your address which all the world will agree in advance must be a fine literary & eloquent effort. But on xxxxxx — xxxx ad infinitum I belong to eternity not to time ergo I have no time but plenty of Eternity. George H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price. Counselors at Law, No 280 Broadway, New York Now to solid business. I would suggest that you and Miss Ackly make a detailed list or inventory of the articles that have been purloined, the name of the incendiary. I think that is a good word and sounds nice. It is certainly high toned and I do like to be sweet if not mellifluous and high toned or more practically stated, please make out a separate list of the articles in the possession of each individual & what you cannot enumerate we will endeavor to compel those individuals toremember and these will be sent on to your attorney in Pa. as a basis for his action. If you will give me full particulars I will make a formal demand on the parties holding same for me an immediate return warning them that a failure to comply will result in an appeal made to them in the voice of the law. Do give my particular regards to dear Mrs. Ackly, her husband and Dr. Seward and tell them I have been invited to their in deed, hospitable and beneficent home and I regard myself as one of the household, whose vacant room awaits me, but you will remember my reference to George H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price. Counselors at Law, No 280 Broadway, New York time and even while I write the referee calls time and I must close. Always Yours Sincerely Geo. H. HartForm No. 1 THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY This Company TRANSMITS and DELIVERS messages only on conditions limiting its liability, which have been assented to by the sender of the following message. Errors can be guarded against only by repeating a message back to the sending station for comparison, and the Company will not hold itself liable for errors or delays in transmission or delivery of Unrepeated Messages, beyond the amount of tolls paid thereon, nor in any case where the claim is not presented in writing within sixty days after the message is filed with the Company for transmission. This is an UNREPEATED MESSAGE, and is delivered by request of the sender, under the conditions named above. THOS. T. ECKERT, General Manager. NORVIN GREEN, President. NUMBER 39 SENT BY Lx REC'D BY F CHECK 15 Paid RECEIVED at 332pm Aug 13 1891 Dated Morrisville NY 13 To Anna E Dickinson Goshen NY Be not faint or discouraged the road to fame is not a swift high way Milt HartGeorge H. Hart Edmund E. Price Hart & Price Counselors at Law No. 280 Broadway New York Aug 14/91 Dear Miss. Dickinson: I enclose letter just received from Mr Heverin. He labors under a mistake, I wrote to him to have a friend of his, an attorney of the Pittsburg bar to bring suit in reply to his letter informing me that he suggested so doing as he was not a member of that bar. Please return letter when you answerDo you or your friends know a lawyer in Pittsburgh who will act for you, merely to Give papers & appear as attorney of record? If not perhaps it will be best to have him select as he suggests. yours truly George H. Hall George H. Hall Edmund E. Price Hart & Price, Counselors at Law, No 280 Broadway New York August 24th 1891 Miss Anna Dickinson Dear Miss. I have not yet received any answer to my last letter I would urge you to press matters just now as the Court vacations are approaching to an end Yours truly Geo. H. Hart S