The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-07-25
Tae DecisiOa in the Great
Goal Land Suit.

M1uch Chunk, Pa, July 22-The
great $40, 100000 coal land lawsuit of
Turnbull agt. Pardee and others, which
has been pending in this State for two
years, and which occupied the lawyers
twenty years before it was in position
to warrant hearing, has been decided
in favor of the defendants, under che
provisions Of the Pennsylvania law
covering the gaining of title to land by
treasurer's deed. ...
The question at stake was the title to
several thousand acres of coal land in
lower Luzerne county, in possession of
the defendants, and claimed by James
Turnbull, as the heir of Alexander
Turnbull and James Turnbull, Sr. The
land is in the heart of the coal fields,
and was the property of the Turnbulls,
once an influential Philadelphia family,
long before 1t was known that it conceal
ed untold wealth. The last of the Turn
bull family in whom the title vested
was James, the father of the claimant.
Unconscious of its value he neglected
to keep the taxes paid, and it was sold
at treasurer's sale, as provided by the
State statute. 1t subsequently went to
AriO Pardee, Asa Packer, and other
capitalists Turnbull. the elder, died in
Philadelphia before coal was discovered
on his tract. He left divorced wife
and claimant, then child. Some time
nftnr nf hig 60
Turnbull went to sea. His mother, be-
Ing woman of more than ordinary
activity, in 1862 began to inquire about
the land her husband had owned, and
concluded that her son was the rightful
owner. She found friend in O. II.
Wheeler of Mauch Chunk, who shared
her confidence in the Just claim of heI
son. Wheeler recommended an eject
ment suit: but it was first necessary tc
lind the missing heir. 1t was twenty
years before he gained any clue to Turn
bull, and then heard of him by acciden
at Mazatlan, Mexico. lie was summon
ed to his native land, arriving in Phila
delphia early in 1872.
His career had been one of DANCE
and hardship. On his first voyage h,
"h' w lll tlSuJ OJllHIS
flOated nine days in an open boat on tn
ocean. The boat was picked up at Sc,
near the island of st. Thomas. Ever,
inmate was dead except Turnbull. Whei
he recovered from the effects of thi
voyage he went to Central America
and subsequently,in 1949, to California
where the gold fever was at its height
Remaining there year or two, he sue
ceeded in saving considerable money
working in the mines, and adhering {
an early formed resolution to abstai
always from strong drink and CANT
ling. From California he went to Mex
leo, engaging in the construction of
canal at Mazatlan. While there he wa
robbed several times, and was once le
for dead by gang of natives who ma
assaulted him, with 10 daggers stick
ing in his body. On his way from Cal
fOrnia to Mexico he was blown up by
steamboat explosion, being one of
very few who were saved out of Il
hundreds on board. He was sever
times shipwTecked, but lived to sumouI
all the periIs about him, and to answt
the summons to return home.
Since his arrival in this country
has worked faithfully in the prosecute
of his claim. He takes his great defe
phiioSophieally. and if he does not ca
ry IT to higher tribunals, will doubtle
again seek new adventuresl- EX.