The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-10-26
AFTER MANY YEARS.
The Heirs Of a California Gold-Seeker Finally
Obtain their Dues in Court.

Obtain their Dues in Court.
Especial to THE HERALD-Examiner Dispatch I
CHICAGO, Oct. 25.--Judge Tuley rendered
a decision yesterday in celebrated case
involving the ownership of about one
hundred thousand dollars worth of prop
erty, and not little romance Under the
decree which he ordered entered upon
the records Of his court the property
involved passes from family which has
been forty years in possession to the heirs
of another family, the original owners.
The case was that of Henry w. Price and
Charles H. Fox, his nephew, both of Rock
ford, Illinois, against Louise Meddaugh
and the heirs of George w. Noble.
In 1s49 William Il. Price, the father of Henry
w and one of the pioneers OF Chicago, was the
owner OF planning mill at the corner of Clinton
and Randolph streets 1t was the year OF the
gold fever, and Price became afflicted with the
disease. He determined to go to California. In
October of that year he left for the golden state
but before going put George w. Noble his
brotherin-law, in charge OF his planning mill,
turning it over to him to be held in trust for o
year, at the end of which time he expected to re-
turn nom California. Noble was to provide for
Prices wife and children out of the profits of
the business. Price sailed from New York for
California and nothing was heard OF him tor
months. then the news, which Travelled slow in
those days, came to the wife and to Noble the
trustee, that Price had died while crossing the
IsthmuS OF Panama. When the report of Prices
death came, great change II is said, came over
Noble. He at once took entire charge Of the
property, He also circulated o story that the
g)ld-seeker had run away to Texas with a woman
and that he had not started for California at all
On the trial of the case, however. Prices death
was so well established by the proof that the at.
torneyS for the Mobiles heirs admitted the fact
Noble also it is charged, induced the widow by
a IN 10 IA oil
deeds, and in fact all the papers which Price had
left behind. These he destroyed, for at the trial
none OF them were produced but q receipt in
full for $50 from Noble to Price. dated ten DAYS
before the latter went away. The experts called
by the other side declared it IT, be forgery
With everything in his own hands Noble ceased
TO provide Tor the widow and children. and they
were reduced TO poverty. In 1876 Noble died,
leaving no will and no direct heirs. The prop
erty passed into the hands of his divorced
wife, Who had become Mrs heddaugh and his
collateral heirs, OF whom there are several
The son and nephew, the only heirs left Of the
man who had disappeared thirty-seven years
before, brought suit TO recover the property, and
the litigation ended in the dedision rendered
yesterday. The decree allows the Noble heirs
Sl,OOO, the salary OF the trustee for the year he
was to have been in charge of the property 1t
compels them TO account for the proceeds Of the
mill from the time Price went away until 1855 if
the proceeds can be determined. In 1858 the
mill burned down and was never rebuilt but
from the time it was destroyed down to the
present time the heirs of Noble are to account
for the rental value, with 6 per cent. interest
VIII give the son and nephew about one hundred
thousand dollars