Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-09-18
SUIT FOR FORTY MILLIONS.

Courts OF Pennsylvania one CT the most
important lawsuits on record. 1t was
instituted by o. H. Wheeler, a lawyer of
Mauch Chunk, Pa. II is for the recov.
cry of 1000 acres OF valuable coal lands
in Luzerne county Pennsylvania, said to
be worth S40,000,00C. The history of the
proprietorship of the land is full Of ro-
nance.
Some forty years ago there died in a
hospital in Philadelphia man named
James Turnbull. He had been a man Of
means, and was one OF the first to invest
in land in this region when the discovery
Of anthracite coal was tardly followed by
mine Developments. He purchased the
tract OF 4 900 acres in LuZerne county.
Bad speculations subsequently led him
into dissipation, and he died RS stated, |
declaring that he still had q title to the /
coal land in Luzerne, although Others |
claimed it by virtue of tax purchase,
DIVORCE.
A short time before his death his wife |
was divorced from him, and given charge |
of their only child, a son, also named |
James. He lived with bis mother in |
Philadelphia about ten years after his |
fathers death. then, at the age Of sixteen. |
went to sea.
In 1852, the divorced widow, being in
destitute circumstances. and believing
that her son, if living--for she had not
heard of him for years-was the real
owner Of the coal lands in Luzerne
county which her late husband had neg
lected, came TO Mauch Chunk and called
on o. II. Wheeler. He had formerly
been friend OF her husbands, the two
having had, years before, real estate
transactions together. To him she stated
the case of the ownership Of the land,
and exhibited certain papers in her pos.
session that once belonged TO Turnbull.
Wheeler examined the papers and
searched the record. The result con-
WINGED him that young Turnbull had.
through his father, perfect title to the
property. He ut once set about to find,
If possible, the whereabouts of the wan
dering heir. Advertisements were in
serted in the journals of all countries and
in all languages. Letters were written
to every point where it was at all proba-
BILE that James might be, but without
avail. Not word could be obtained that
gave any clue to his whereabouts. The
land meanwhile had fallen into the hands
of Asa Packer. the Pardees, and other
famous and powerful capitalists, who
still hold them.
THE son HEARD FROM.
One day, in the Fall 1871, James Turn
bulls mother received letter posted in
the City of Mexico. 1t proved to be from
her son. He was living at Mazatlan, on
the western coast of Mexico, and would,
in all probability. be home in another
year. Thus, after Il ceaseless effort OF
twenty years, the lawyer and tho mother
we're at last rewarded with news OF the
lost son.
Mr.. Wheeler employed man to go to
Mazatlan and bring James to Pennsyl-
vania. This was done. and about a year
ago Turnbull landed in Philadelphia.
His career had been one of peril, hard
ship and adventure. The vessel he left
Philad elphia in was shipwrecked, and he
and eight others of the crew were the only
ones saved. When the boat which they
succeeded in launching was picked upnear
the Island of St. Thomas, after floating
nine days on the ocean, Turnbull was the
only living occupant. He was laid mp
three months in st. Thomas before he
recovered from the effect OF the fearful
voyage after the wreck, and then en-
barked on British trader. Subsequent
ly he went to Central America. He
worked on the Isthmus Of Panama unit
the stories OF the discovery of gold ir
California reached that section, when
with hundreds Of others, he FASTENED tt
the spot.
He was Forty-niner and made seyera
fortunes, which In turn he lost at th'
gaming table. He tired Of the wreckless
lawless life Of the mines in two years
and went to Mexico. and subsequent.
to Texas, where he made money IN cap
turing cattle for spectators in New Yorl
and Philadelphia. The natives becoming
too hostile, he had to flee the plains. H
started to return to Mexico. On the wa.
TO Ma2atlan he was
BLOWN UP
BY the explosion of the steamer he wa
on. Hundreds perished, but he wa
again providentially saved. He finall
reached Mazatlan, where he went to wor
on canal that was being dug. He wa
placed over gang OF natives, and kept
ranch where they obtained their supplies
This was broken open several times an
robbed. One night he was attacked b
party of Mexican soldiers, and left fc
dead, with twelve dagger wounds in hi
person. Recovering from these, he agai
became wanderer. He spent q yea
among the silver mines of Peru, gettin
possession OF piece of land said to col
tain silver deposits. Failing to fin
them. he disposed of the property for
song In less than month a rich vel
Of silver was opened upon it.
He then went to Chill and worked III
der Harry Meiggs, the great South Anne
lean railroad prince. BY sub-contra'
under Meiggs be made several thousan
dollars, and had he possessed a less ro
ing disposition could have remained,
Chill and accumulated handsome TO
tune. Completing his contract, he wei
to Brazil and endeavored to get himse
appointed as an overseer In the diamor
mines and failed. After rowing throus
South America for several years, leadil
q life OF the widest adventure, he aga
visited the western shore OF Mexico, al
then determined to return home.
wrote his mother, not knowing wheth
she was dead or alive.
When the agent arrived from Ameri
Turnbull had changed his mind as to !
turning home. and would soon have be-
on his way to tie diamond fields
South Africa.
To cap the climax OF his eventful Iii
the boat which was conveying him TO I
steamer, which was to bear him to Ph
adelphia capsized, and he barely escap
with his life, losing many valuables
THE SUIT.
Upon the arrival Of Turnbull in Il
country arrangements were at once p
fected for commencing the proceeding
The funds for conducting the suit I
furnished by stock company at "
ture. II it is successful the memb
will he richly rewarded; il not, they i
all.
Some OF the most prominent men
Pennsylvania are interested in the ca
and it will be prosecuted to the full
extent. Eminent lawyers have been
gagged ON both sides. 1t came up at
last session Of the United States Dist