When “ A Visit From St. Nicholas , ” better known to many as “ ' Twas the Night Before Christmas , ” was first published in New York’sTroy Sentinelon December 23 , 1893 , there was no author bind to it . Even though it became an instant classic , it was n’t until 13 yr later that two men stepped up to exact the work was theirs . Neither of them had substantial trial impression , and the mystery was never truly solved .
On December 18 , 2013 , attorney from big New York firms run into at the Rensselaer County Courthouse in Troy , N.Y. , to get an “ official ” opinion once and for all .
Representing Clement C. Moore , the author who typically gets the deferred payment , was E. Stewart Jones , Jr. , a preeminent litigator in upstate New York . represent underdog Henry Livingston , Jr. , was Troy novelist and lawyer Jack Casey and his daughter Molly , also an attorney .
In this corner: Clement Clarke Moore
After more than a decade of anonymity , prof and poet Clement Clarke Moore come forth to say the verse form he had indite for his children had been submitted to the paper by his housekeeper without his permission . When an anthology of Moore ’s body of work was published in 1844 , the classic composition was in it . There are diachronic memorial tablet honoring Moore in Troy , and most copies of the book bear his name .
In this corner: Henry Livingston, Jr.
The sept of sodbuster Henry Livingston , Jr. , disputed Moore ’s title , saying their Padre had been reciting " A sojourn From St. Nicholas " to them for 15 years before it was published . For the details behind each family ’s claim , check outthis story that in the first place race last year .
The trial was attended by the spirits of both Livingston and Moore — or , at least , actors impersonate them — and a jury made up of volunteers from the interview whose job was to decide who the true poet really was . But after hearing from both sides , " The tribulation ended in a hung jury , to the surprisal of absolutely no one , " report theRegister - Star . Happy Christmas to all , and to all a estimable night !
