May 31 Monday — Sam and Albert Bigelow Paine went to New York City and made a startling discovery:
We went down the next morning, Monday, & while I loafed in the Hotel Grosvenor, Paine went to the banks. Sure enough, in the Liberty National he found a power of attorney! A stately one, a liberal one, an all-comprehensive one! By it I transferred all my belongings, down to my last shirt, to the Ashcrofts, to do as they pleased with.
So this was what they had had up their sleeve all the time! This was why Ashcroft could say to Lounsbury about the road-mending, ‘Go ahead if you want to take the risk!” This was why Miss Lyon was able to say to the servants, “I am the only person in authority in this house, my word is law, & the only law, & I want you to understand it!” This was why Ashcroft could summon the servants on the 31st of March & say to them, “You better resign at once & save your faces, for you are all going to be discharged.”
Ashcroft had had this fraudulent document placed on record in New York, just as if it had been a deed. To his he had added another unusual precaution: he had had Nickerson’s authority as a notary certified in the Fairfield county clerk’s office, & the certification recorded. Nickerson’s seal wasn’t enough for him!
‘This swindling paper had been in force ever since November 14, 1908—about six & a half months—& I had never suspected it [MTP: L-A MS XVIII]. Note: see Nov. 14, 1908 entry. In XIX of the MS Clemens states that both John Stanchfield and Charles E. Lark, his attorneys, felt the signature on the power of attorney was Clemens’.
Amelia Dunne Hookway wrote from Howland School, Chicago: She was sending under separate cover pictures of their play of P&P promised last October and explained that the photographer had disappeared with the plates due to a hay fever condition [MTP].
J.B. Learmart wrote from Montreal, Canada to Sam. “I duly rec'd your recent book ‘Is Shakespeare Dead[?]’ with your autograph and the practical motto—'Let us Save the tomorrow’s for work.’ Learmart was very happy and delighted. He took the liberty of sending a book, Across the Sub-arctics of Canada by Jos. W. Tyrrell [MTP]. Note: not in Gribben,