A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

2. M'.Curius, is known only through a lawsuit which he had with M. Coponius about an inheritance, shortly before B. C. 91. A Roman citizen, who was anticipating his wife's confinement, made a will to this effect, that if the child should be a son and die before the age of maturity, M'. Curious should succeed to his property. Soon after, the testator died, and his wife did not give birth to a son. M. Coponius, who was the next of kin to the deceased, now came forward, and, appealing to the letter of the will, claimed the property which had been left. Q. Mucius Scaevola undertook to plead the cause of Coponius, and L. Licinius Crassus spoke for Curius. Crassus succeeded in gaining the inheritance for his client. This trial (Curiana causa), which attracted great attention at the time, on account of the two eminent men who conducted it, is often mentioned by Cicero. (De Orat. 1.39, 56, 57, 2.6, 32, 54, Brut. 39, 52, 53, 73, 88, pro Caecin. 18, Topic. 10.)