The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-27

was frowned down.
The confession OF Limantour's secretary, il re-
liable, leaves NO doubt OF the fraud attempted to be
perpetrated. He says he filed up the papers nine
years alter they bear date in the city Of Mexico at
the instigasion OF bis employer. The grants pur-
neur, the. secretary, left France aud arrived in
Mexico in 1850, and because a clerk in
the employ Of Lmantour. His testimony
is exclusive OF that given before the
Grand Jury by witnesses brought from the city Of
Mexico. 1t was supposed at first considerable
numLer OF persons connected with Limantour in get
ting up these claims would be arrested. bat none
were imprisoned except the chief parsonage in the
attempted fraud. He refused to go OUT on bail,
whether through fear OF violence from fuding It
impossible to procure the required bonds, is dicuG
TO say. Ee remains in prison STILL At first he was
anxious to have speedy trial but afterwards made
application to have it deferred until he could get
witnesses fiom Mexico. Judge McAllisser yester-
day delivered opinion in the case. end took occa-
sion to condemn the unfair course of the press OF tins
city in poisoning the public mind against Imam
tour, and rendering it impossible 10 find unpreiu.
diced Jurors 20 ny the case The Court postponed
the triai nDt next May. Lirnantour If guilty. has
put himself in the hons mouth and in bringing his
secretary 10 this city furnishes The best testimony to
break do VIA bis claims and establish his own orimi-
Dality. 1t il quite apparent from the great exer-
lions OF the United States to ferret out testimony,
that the Covelneft IL dCternncl To prosecute the
case with yigor. The result Of the Gardner IN
Washington some few years since, gvas inst ince
how euergecally the FEDERAL authorities can push
matrer OF Ibis kILQ. Inc late OF OGrCnef 81 the
tine caused a great sensation; and We Wee not
without rumors that Iinanour had attempted self
destruction.
The following is short history OF the origin of
iimantonr's gigantic claims and sketch OF his
In the month of February, 1853, jose Y. Lii
mantour presented petition to the Land Commits
SION 10 nave confirmed TO him two tracts OF land
situate in the county of san Francisco. This claim
covered four leagues of the most valuable land in
the city, including Alcatraz Island, upon which the
government have built the principle fortifcitions 20
protect the harbor and tue Fapalones, upon which
lighthouse has been crested The value OF al! the
property claimed 10y Lmsntour exceeds six million
dollars From pamphler published by his counsel
the following facts concerning his history are col
still claims France as Che country 70 which he owes
allegiance. His early life was passed upon the sea,
engaged in navigation and commerce. IN 1881 he
cane to Vera CRUZ, and for several YEAS after
traded from France to that port. In ls3fshe came
round the aoTo and since then has IN ,le the Pacific
the theatre Of bis enterprises. In October, iSel in
entering this barbor he lost the vessel he COM
rnanded, and was in consequence detained
q whole gear, beng unable to procure a stua-
bio ship TO get away with safely During this tme
lie had an opportunity to become acquainted with
the great adv antages possessed by this barbor and
bsd the ssgaci,y TO perceive that the insignificant
| town OF Yerba Buera was destined to become In
course OF time the great commercial metropolis OF
the Pacific ocean. La lS42, aud while The edventu'
was still here, vessl arrived With several Off
GERS OF the Hucsous Bay Company On board. Among
| the passengers agent of the freuCh govern
ment, sent TO this coast with view OF enightening
| il on the of California and Oregon. From
HIM aud tbe others LiDantoGr got toe impression
that the English were anxious 10 obtain the country
in payn Of TIE debt Then duo them 10y Mexico.
The conversation of the ohcer tdyued on that sub
ject, and they told bin il he could get grant Of
land on The Bay Of San Francisco be would Que day
be 90 rich as prince. These remarks settled deep
in LimaJtouTs mind, aid influenced him, as he has
epresontcc, to make The purchase of the property
q a
wealth. and having procured another YES
sci, he embarked his goods and eiiec's and
ssied down tie coast, ealing at Aonterty and
other ports At his time California was distracted
with political agitssoD. and santa anna, who Was
supreme ruler Of Mexico, sent Gen. Micbeltorrena,
clothed viii iCli powers TO allay The existing ,cord
and more efec.uay 70 unite California to Mexico.
The former bad IN fac, IN 1887, for snor: time
sumed the attitude al en- independent State, with
Juan AhaaJo at ts Lea. hicheltorrena had
under his cor nard four or I've huLd.ed men. out
arriving AZ San an. clos be found himself des.i-
tate OF provisions, monty, and munitions OF war;
The treasury W the yapthef country was empty, aud
while tbos ceiased fcm want OF means, md unable
tn proceed 10 sce scsoe of bis duties, Lima o!our
lived With b. ves.e, at San Pedro, aoout twenty
n,lss iIoir Lo Ans clos. This about the be gu
ming OF 'he scar 1876 The General immediately
ePcEta eorlssvftesptc with Lman'our for
n s k sasros s: ING after lsan i'd Is on
1sss6 sbss drip asIptst<Isssble amount 0, money.
Niulkltsxrrx, xssst9)atHxdt for ussns to move, aud
"a q dvstfta.e rsg6ktrn, offered 70 Limsnfcur the
u,onopiy OF Tie gsvrntnent c0ut acts for articles
required in California, or, II he preferred lands,
McheorgeDs would give him such as be might Sc
l,tt that were Tot alfeady occupied, having full
power to make grants OF vacant isnds Two days
alter the date OF tue last letter bet them, Lman
torr presented petition for the lanos, which be
claims On account OF advancing the sum OF four
thousand dollars 20 Gen. MichelIorena On paying
The money over to he letter Tmantour received the
grants Of land, and thrs beesmc owner OF the most
valuable part Of this city,
When the case Sas b. fore the Land Commission,
the foregoing letters were put IN evidence ana 40
attempt WIS made 10 iinpesch taeir geIuineness.
contract u,ade Wy Lmsntour With Miaheltorrens,
whereby, in consideration Of msIey and goods fur
Lished Tor Tie Of the troops by the former, TIE
Supreme Provincial government granted him the
lands embracing the four leagues prayed for IN his
petition. THIS document was sigucd by Bocauegia,
the Mexican Minister for Foreign Affiir,
who approved of 'hc grant, and who he now
insists IL material witucss for his Defence
All the signatures were proved 10 be IN
the proper Handwriting Of he different officials with
whom Liza .Our bad cor. ,spoadence, and wpo made
The grants iLeIe Vas Considerable testimony he
fore the Commission 70 show the papers were
forged, and that LinG,tour had made olcrs " pro
perry 10 witnesses 10 aid bin by tn r testimony.
The Board, however, decided toat the weight OF
proof was immersey In favor of the claimant, ans
accordingly confirmed his title. icw evenings
since lec;uIc delivered TO show the fraudulent
character OF Lnsntouls documents, By person
ram.d Ia R.intee, VII, was secrctlry TO Commo-
core Jone, CURING Toe year ny, or ,tls coas- 1e
stated that ire vessel ooulmsd ~ by Limsoiolr
not Of San Pedro any tine in LAS, "a 10 appeared
from the leg kept by the ships OF the Pacific squad
rob, and tnst The refOre the story VI wishing Los
| Angeles was untrue.
there can be NJ donbt Of the injurious eject hese
conflicting titles relative 20 lands, have nad on the
prosperity OF California. Our courts have been
| bur'bened with suits to test the rights OF
| htganis- This has cen the case especially
| in San Francisco. Blood has, on different oc-
cssions, teen she'd ana these monster claims have
enyelopcd the city as with cloud, rendering y i'm
| poesib 10 &c any End 10 tie intemnabe Difficult
ties relative 10 lands u Is said the Msxicap Off
Gals long after the cession OF California 10 the
United Staes signed giants of land t. adventnrers
who come here and the strength Of these frxudu.
lent documents insisted on obtaining lands that
other parties have paid for and were in occupancy
OF for YEAR. Others state IL was n practice for