The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-19
LIKE A ROMANCE.
oEINaRAEED suIT sRITLED
Which Comes DOWa from the Revolutionary
War The MyStsry In tho Case "A
DAY Life in Parh- The Wild
LRnda OF Our state.
simiql Dispqleh 10 an h,lelliOaoer.

Special Diipaieh TO As b.tflligaesr.
PARKERssURa, W, Va, Feb. ls,-oae Of
the most remarkable, romantic, as well as
important casss ever brought into West
Virginia court has engaged the attention
OF the U, S. Court ilr the past two days.
II dstes back to Revolutionary days and
its progress from that time TO the present
has been intimately connected with prom
inent characters and the progress Of this
State. A brief reslmt Of the events, which
are Of the most absorbing lnIerest, is as
follows; Il
AT the time Of the Revolutionary
war Jsmes Swami was wealthy and n
tlueRtial citizen Of Rnston- etoEs1
services at the earliest hour Of the con
tlCs and was commissioned an officer In
the Continental army. He rose by lila
work in the field 10 the rank OF General ut
the close OF the war, Perhaps, his greatest
ssrviCe 10 his country WIS rendered hnan-
Cially, as he turned all his immense for.
tune over to the Government at q critical
period when II was most needed, and his
retirement from the amy iound him a
comparatively poor man.
The Virginia House OF Burgessss in
consideration Of bis distinguished ser
vices made him grants Of wild lands
amounting to about 5000, 900 acres, These
immense tracts Of land were principally
in what now constitute Upshur, Randolph,
Tucker, Braxton, Nicholas, Kanawna,
Fayette, Webster, Clay, Wyoming, Logan,
Wayne counties, in this State, aud Tazs-
well, Bland, Pulsski, Giles, Botetoutt,
Buchanan, Wise and Russell counties, Of
the Old Dominion, To these grants Gen.
eral Swami added about $500, 600 acres by
purchase and otherwise, until he con.
trolIed nearly 7,0O0UO0 acres, principally
Ia what now constitutes this State.
RETURNED TO PARIS.
On money he still retained he made his
way to Paris during the latter yean Of
the last century, lie raised large sums Of
money on his landed Estates in this coun.
try, and for several years he lived the life
OF u sybarite in the gay capital. He Sc.
bhloA y pAAAtiaA ACpNVhGp huA lWInlHuGu
1t with Oriental magniiCepCe. lie enter.
tained with lavishHtss that was nagniH.
cent. His army associations gave him the
entree everywhere, aud he was received as
favored guegt ut the French Court. In
the meantime he had interested himself
in an immense colonization scheme. Hell
proposed to settle all the southeastern
part Of what is now West Virginia with
colonists, He had III his company for the
iurtheranGs OF his grand idea, many
Frenchmen OF high rank, several princes
and at least two crowned heads OF Europe.
His plans were laid on scale that Las
never been equaled even by the famous
South Sea Island scheme.
Aiter,a few years the changes In the
Government and the unsettled state Of
national affairs In France brought his
splendid Chutedur IN e9pdJns tumbling
about his head like q house OF cards, and
he found himself reduced almost to
penury. He came back TO America,
leaving debts in Paris amounting to about
$2,50O,0OO, most OF his creditors being
connected with the first NapoleoniC gov.
ernment Of France. On his arrival In
Philadelphia he procured assistance and
attempted to retrieve his lost fortunes,
but to no purpose. He was so poor he
could not pay the small taxes on his land.
CANE TO MS ASSISTANCE.
In 1888 the Legislature Of Virginia
again came to his assistance, and released
all his lands from forfeiture, which had
occurred through non-paymsnt OF taxes.
because Of his eminent services to his
country.
In the meantime General Swami died,
and in his will he devised his lands
who was his intimate FRIEND, as trustee
for the benefit Of bis French creditors,
Dumas was obliged 10 borrow money to
carry out the wishes OF Swami, and he
executed deed Of trust on the land as
collateral TO Josiah Randall, the famous
lawyer, and Henry Clay, Wing leader,
OF Philadelphia, and father Of Samuel j.
Randall. John Peter Dumas died in 1874,
and Josiah Randall was appointed trustee
In his stead, by tho Circuit Court OF
Kanawha county, this State, which posi-.
ton he held until his death, which occur.
red In 1906. In 1906 Josiah Randall's son,
Robert +. Randall, Of Washington, D. O.,
was appointed trustee, which position be
held until to-day's deCiAion.
Like Dumas, young Randall borrowed
money TO enable him TO settle up the bust.
ness OF the estate, giving also q deed OF
trust on the estate. The gentleman from
whom the money was borrowed brought
the suit which was settled to-day, asking
for sale OF SO much ot the property as
would cover bis claim, which amounted
TO about $4,000, principal and interest.
Other creditors also joined in the request.
THE CASE COMPROMISED.
The case was compromised by the ap.
pointment Of Col. Il. l.. Butterick, Of
Charleston, as agent, with directions 10
settle up the estate. Attorney Il. g. Barr, OF
your city, who represents the French cred.
itorB whose claims Bmountto $l60, 900, was
present In the interest OF his clients.
A great portion oi the lands originally
patented TO Swami have passed into other
hands by reason OF tenAntry for the lawful
time, but II is estimated that at least S00,,
900 acres will remain to the estate when
the case Is finally adIudlcated, ot which
iully 100000 acres are In West Virginia
The loose condition Of affairs In this case
has been great drawback to the progress
Of the lower portion Of the State. II was
q difficult matter to secure q title 10 lands
and for that reason capital passed us by
for safer rinvestments. "squalters" settled
on the lands, and suits for ejsCttnent have
cost the State thousands Of dollars,
and In several instances have oCcassioned
the loss Of the ollicsrs' lives when obey.
Ing the orders oil the courts. When the
litigation is over aud this great area Of the
States territory 10 vested with a safe title,
II will be an immense stride In the coming
development Of our State, and the notori.
oils "Dad Lands" Of southeastern West
Virginia will be q matter Of the past.
ltobert Il. Randall and wife are at pres.
ent In this city.
- Two BArgSS sunk.