The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-01-29
A Lady Falls HeIreSs 10 800, 900
History of Ihe lASe.


From the Davenport Iowa Gazette, Jan. lGl
lady residing in this city has recently
received information that she is one of five
heirs TO "A tract of hand in Texas eleven
leagues in extent. IL lies in Bexar coun-
~, not far from San Antonio, and is Thirty
three miles square. IL is estimated 10 be
worth $50 OOO-how much more is not
known to the interested party here. The
land has long been known as the 'ALedini
eleven league track 1t has "a singular
history-or, rather, the proprietorslip of
il has. When Texas raised the lone star.
in 1888, there was one Mullen who fought
for her Independence, 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 n
township called Medins. Mullen had
some difficulty in getting possession OF
the land-in fact he never could get NIL of
it ON account of numerous squatters, "who
had held their own against every attempt
mnde 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 hay-
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 10
resign on account Of i'll health and the con-
sequent danger of the excitement of q
trial. Shortly afterwards, We believe, he
died. The opponents OF the heirs were
jubilont, and through some ohicanery on
the part of the legislature of Texas were
permitted TO go and occupy a part
of the tract. The war broke out
and put a stop TO proceedings
on the paItoi the heirs 10 reclaim their
land although a ST 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-onc of whom is the lady in this city,
a few months ago the United States Court
made the same decision concerning the
owntrship Of the "elevCn League tract, " that
Judge Watrous made and affirmed the title
which the second generation of Mullen's
heirs hold to the land. And of this the
Davenport lady, who had remained in ig-
norance Of the proceedings, or even her
heirship to theland, has recently been in
ormcd
She put her claim in the hands Of a we'll
known citizen here, who has been granted
"power of attorney" by three of the other
heirs, and is about TO do what he can to
secure the land for his clients. Recent in
formation received by Mr.. A, G.. Fulton
concerning the tract is to the effect that it
is very valuable, as Beaver county has been
filling up very rapidly. Furthermore, the
war dispersed and scattered the old enc
mics of Mullen's heirs. Our Davenport
lady counts her fortune, through this piece
of good luck, ut least 500, 900, though it is
probably a much larger amount. SO much
for being in the "direct line" Of a man who
fought Santa Anna, and helped TO gain lib
erty for Texas. One hundred thousand
dollars is not a bad windhll in times when
1t costs 80 mnch to live.