The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-01-26
An Important Law Suit.

The Harrisonburg SPIRIT Of the Valley of the
21st., mentions an important law suit, to re-
cover valuable property in the corporation
limits of Harrisonburg, which has been insti-
tuted in the Circuit Court of that county
Most OF the property embraced in the contro-
versy was owned by the late NJ Harvey Effin-
ger, of this place, and purchased by him from
Mr.. Phillip Liggett. The claim set up has been
mooted for some years, and we presume there
is much in it. The statement below is that
which we have often heard repeated when
the matter was spoken Of The Spirit says
Our County Surveyor, Edward S. Kemper,
Esq, is now engaged, by order of the Circuit
Court OF Rockingham county, in making
survey and a number of maps of some of the
most valuable properties in the town of Harris
onburg. About the year 1925 there lived in
his place gentleman by the name of Col.
James Hall, who was lawyer by profession.
Col. Hall during his life had accumulated a
considerable amount of property. At his
death, not having any children, he willed his
estate principally to his widow during her life.
At her death said property was to 60 to GER
tain nephews and nicces of Col. Hall. Alter
the death OF Col. Hall, his widow married DIR.
P. B. Dowdall, whom she survived Mrs.
Wythe county, Va. At her death, the heirs
of Col. Hall instituted suit in our courts to re-
cover their property so willed to them by Col
Hall. Part OF the heirs of Col. Hall having
years age disposed of their interest in this
property, another part of said heirs, not hay
ing conveyed by deed their int erests in the
property, now, since the death of the late Mrs
Dowdall, come forward and claim their inter-
est as far as their shares of it go. About
Of hoD 10
ton. The property in dispute embraces some
of the best and most valuable properties in
town. The old title deeds of Col Hall describe
the property as beginning at the southeast
corner of John 81. Pence's brick house. now
owned by VIM. OFT. At that time South
Main street was called Irish street. The claim
Of Halls heirs embraces the house and lot of
DR.. Williams, Gen. J. E. Roller, Judge J. T.
Harris, j. s. Harnsberger, the Seminary build
ing, G. A. Sprinkle, Luther 81. OFT, Samual r.
Sterling, Mrs. Picker, and all the property
between South Main street and German
thence, west Bruce street, to the Spring
Branch, and with the Branch to the southeast
conner of the lanyard property thence to the |
corner Of VIM. Otis house. In addition to |
this property, there is tract of seven acres of
land lying on the west side of German street. |
The street was called in 1925 the Great Road, |
leading out of Harrisonburg to Staunton, and |
fudt - HOW OIuCc StIcct was tlicu tue LlOSt |
southern alley of Harrisonburg. The seven |
acres on the west side of German street EN-. |
brace the dwelling houses of DR.. Nef, Philo |
Bradley, &C.. but does not include the foundry !
buildings of Mr.. Bradley. Fortunately for Mr. |
Bradley, the disputed line passes midway be-
tween his dwelling and the foundry buildings,
and comes in at the south end of his garden,
west of the Warm Springs road. 1t also embra-
ces some buildings south of Mr.. Bradley's
house. The amount of land in the town on
which so many valuable buildings are located !,
embraces over % acres, and Is believed to be
worth ten to twelve thousand dollars, exclu-
sive of the buildings, and including the build
ings, it would probably be worth fl ON forty to
fifty thousand dollars. There is also tract of
land of 100 acres lying southeast of Harrison
burg on the old Port Republic road Eighty
six acres of this tract is now in the occupancy
of Curtis Hile. the remainder being occupied
by Geo. w. Efinger.
Considering the amount of valuable proper
ty in litigation, there being three lawyers
deeply interested in it, this case promises to be
and important one in our courts for number
of years to come.
The late Mrs. Dowdall was sister of DIR.
Harvey Kyle, of Bridgewater. and was well
known in the county. The Hall heirs reside
at Point Pleasant, Va, and are represented TO
be a family of means, and will no doubt make
every effort to recover the property In dis
pute.
: The Hall heirs have retained as their couu.
sci E. s. Conrad, Esq, and Colonel Robert
Johnson.