The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-10-30
Judge Mclaughlin Decides the Cele-
hratad Hall-CaSe.
Harrisonburg People.

In 1880, Col. Hall wholly in the house
now occupied hy GEN Roller died, having
FIRST made his Will.
By the "a. clause Of his will, he gave tt
his Wife Caroline for her life, all the
land beginning with corner Of VIM. OFT
lHoperfY on Main Street, running back tC
Black Run, with that to Bruce street
and all Of the land lying between Main
and t,traan s. reefs South of Bruce street
which was called the II acre tract, the
ldild lately owned by IN b. Trick West Of
German street, containing about =
acres and u farm now owned by Curtis
Hill n4aT town, OF about SIS acres. At the
conclusion Of this clause he uses this lam
guage AT the death Of my said wife, [
direct that my executor sell said property,
and divide the proceeds into equal parts,
one-seventh Of which | give to the chill
dren of ny brother Thomas who may be
living at the death Of my said wife. one
seventh 70 the children OF my brother
Robert. who may be living ut the last men.
brothers and sisters hereafter named.
Robert. John. Edward. Mary Kyle, Jane
Boggess. and Diana Hall. =
Mrs. Hall afterwards married DR.. p. b.
DoWddil She sold her life estate to John
Hall md other heirs, Robert M. fall hav-
ing children All Of the legatees except
Robert N Hall, four Of his children and
the surviving child of Thomas Hall, sold
tlipir interests To- Philip Liggett some
years before tie war He afterwards sold
to NJ II rEfiinger the 14s acre tract and
the balance Of the land to other persons.
Mr.. Etfinger divided this "A acre tract
into town lots. and on these. have been
built some of the handsomest dwellings i'll
town.
Mr.. ,IEick. who at one time owned the
- acre tract, also built Il handsome
dwelling on it.
Mrs Dowdall. CJas. Halls widow died
In Dec. 1879 and the heirs who had not
latter part Of 1850, to recover their inter-
est,
During the war the will book and will.
'Wsfe destroyed by the FederaTtroops
Some wears after the war certified copy
Of the viii was found in an old ehancery
suit which was brought about 1889, and
that was recorded.
The principal points raised were, lst,
Whether the copy of the will filed by the
sc6lnplai4fants was a true copy OF Jas.
Halls WiAsta fae aps
II. What the true construction oil the
second clause Of the will, that is. into how
many baftstsheuld the proceeds Of sale be
divided.
ID Whether the complainants housl
be allowed to participate in the pernnanen
improvements erected since the death of
Gol.rIIali. on whether their Interest was
only IN the land. exclusive Of the improve
meilts
4. Whether the accomplishments could be
compelled 70. elect between taking their
Proportion of the land OF its value in
money. sAiesaH ex*3l IA
z Judge Mclaughlin held that the will
was the true copy of the viii of Jas. Hall.
ID. The proceeds Of sale to be divided
into equal parts Compartments are en-
titled to fiye-sixteents of the whole.
3d. They are entitled to participate in
temperament improvements. They are
entitled to- sale Of the property as it is on
day OF sale. and to fiye-s ixteents of the
whole proceeds.
4. They eannot be compelled to elect
The Court directed a sale Of the prop
er1N+ aldappointed commissioners for the
purpose.
The complaihants were represented by
E.tS. Conrad and Judge Robert Johnston,
and The defendants by w. b. Compton. J.
y. Harnesberger. e.. w. Berlin, G. +.
Gompton,J J. j. Roller, 6. G Grattan, ".
I.urty. j. T.@Harris, j n Liggett and
CsiE. Haas. sap
The amount involved is estimated at
from SlS,0o0 to $50, 000
lhlS is one Of the most important cases
brought in this court for a number of
years, and has elected much interest from
the fact that the titles to the property of
SO many prominent people were involved.