Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-02-03
A Lady Falls HeIress to 500, 600
History of the Case.
From the Davenport tIowa) Gazett

| From the Davenport iowa Gazette, Jan. l6.
A lady residing in this city has recently
received information that she is one of five
heirs to q tract of land in Texas eleven
leagues in extent. II lies in Bexar coun-
ty, not far from San Antonio and is thirty
three miles square. 1t is estimated to be
worth 80, 000-how much more is not
known " the interested party here. The
land has long been known as the "Medini
eleven league track" 1t has singular
histoTy-or, rather the proprietorship of
it has. When Texas raised the lone star,
in 1888, there was one Mullen who fought
for herindependence, and with Houston and
others rendered the State essential service.
In attestation Of its gratitude for indepen-
dent government, the State gave Mullen
eleven leagues of the land, including a
township called Medins. Mullen had
some difficulty in getting possession OF
the land-in fact he never could get all of
it on account of numerous squatters, "who
had held their own" against every attempt
made to eject them. Fourteen years ago,
or thereabouts Mullen died, leaving but
two heirs. Immediately the legal right of
the heirs was contested, and suit was
brought in the U. s. District Court for
the District of Texas, for the purpose of
wrestling the title of the land from them
Judge Watrous prsided over the Court
The decision was in favor Of Mullen's
heirs. Then Watrous was accused Of hav-
ing been bribed. Charges were preferred
against him by the Congress of the United
States, and articles Of impeachment were
prepared, but the trial never came off,
For some reason Watrous was permitted TO
resign on account of i'll health and the con-
sequent danger of the excitement of O
trial. Shortly afterwards, we believe he
died. The opponents Of the heirs were
jubilant, and through some chicanery on
the part of the legislature of Texas were
permitted to 60 and occupy a part
of the tract The war broke out
and put stop to proceedings
on the part Of the heirs TO reclaim their
land althougha si has been entered in
the United States Court. This found its
way into the Supreme Court OF the United
States about the time the rebellion ended.
when the two heirs died, leaving FIVE chill
dren--one Of whom ia the lady in this city
few months ago the United States Court
made the same decision concerning the
ownership Of the "eleven league tract" that
Judge Watrous made and affirm ed the title
which the second generation of Mullen'a
heirs hold to the land. And of this the
Davenport lady, who had remained in ig-
norance Of the proceedings, or even her
heirship 10 the land, has recently been in.
ormed
She put her claim in the hands Of well.
known citizen here, who has been granted
'power ofattorney" by three Of the other
heirs and is about TO do what he can 10
secure the land for his clients. Recent in.
formation received by Mr.. A. G. Fulton
concerning the tract IL TO the effect that il
is very valuable, as Beaver county has been
filling up very rapidly. Furthermore, the
war dispersed and scattered the old enc.
mics Of Mullens heirs Our Davenport
lady counts her fortune, through this piece
Of good luck, at least 800; 900, though it ia
probably much larger amount So much
for being in the direct line" Of man who
fought Santa Anna, and helped TO gain lib
erty for Texas. One hundred thousand
dollars is not bad windfall in times when
II costs 80 mnch to live.