The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-03
A BIG LAND CASE
INVOLVING 10000 ACRES IN EMAN-
UBL COUNTY.

Two Occupants for Trespass on the
Claim of a Superior Title.
About twenty mad countrymen came
down from Emanuel county yesterday
morning and proceeded to make life bur
den for Assistant Clerk Gillespie Of the
United States court.
They came in answer to subppnas served
upon them in Macon to appear and make
answer to bill filed in the United States
court by Thomas Watson Of Chicago, lay
ing claim 20 nearly 10000 acres Of land in
Emanuel and johnson counties, upon
which land they have their homes, and
which they have held for years, having
secured their titles from other claimants to
the land. They did not know that they
could appear through an attorney, and
hence their long aud useless trip to Savan-
nah. When they discovered that their APP
peaTance in court yesterday was mere
form it did not serve to put them In good
spirits, and when they found that they we're
to re .eive no money from the court to pay
their expenses, at present, at least, their dis
pleasure was increased.
ALLEGED TO BE FRAUDULENT.
In fact they we're pretty mad lot, any
way, They declared that the land claim
was a fraudulent one, which has been an
noying the people of Emanuel county for
years, without any real grounds to support,
and that it is revived every now and then
to cause trouble.
Mr. William Donovan of Wadley ia the
principal party attacked In the bill, together
with his partner, s. Perkins. The others
are mostly farmers.
The bill itself, which was examined by a
MORNING NEWS reporter yesterday, gives
the best idea OF the case. It was filed in the
4. ~ sd
Meldrim, and is styled Thomas Watson
VS.. Donovan 81 Perkins, in equity"
Thomas Watson Of Chicago, Ill, brings
the bill against William Donovan and Stein
way Perkins of jefferson county. doing
business under the firm name of Donovan 81
Perkins. and against Edward l.. Kirkland,
Henry Overstreet, Max Monkey, John
Stroud, John J. Stroud Cain Fields, Henry
Bland, James Jones, William Flanders,
James Flanders, Urius s. Page, Henry
Watkins, John Jones. Seaborn Moore,
Beny Hart, George Colley, Dan McLendon,
James E. Ellison and Sam Scarboro of
Emanuel county, and claims that he ts and
has been since June "a, 1881, possessed of
eighty-two tracts of land lying in Emanuel
county, and one tract in Johnson county,
varying in size from 1884 acres to 1000
acres each, and aggregatiug altogether
$685. acres.
LOCATION OF THE LANDS.
A map Of Emanuel county is attached
showing the location and boundaries Of the
lands in question. The bill recites that the
lands described are chiefly valuable for the
yellow pine timber growing thereon, and
that In having confidence In the increasing
value Of the land and the timber, and rely
ing upon the strength of his title, which he
was advised and believed was perfect In
vested a large sum Of money in the pur-
chase, intending to retain them as per-
manent investment and believed that
he would be secure in his
ownership and employment Of them. In
this he has been disappointed, for while the
value of the lands and timber has steadily
increased, there has also oeeu an.increased
demand for them, inducing many persons,
more especially producers OF naval stores
and manufacturers OF yellow pine lumber.
to enter upon without authority Of law and
possess themselves of the lands, the object
being TO deuude the lands as rapidly as
possible of the timber.
To accomplish this, the bill says, deeds
are frequently obtained from parties who
have no title TO the land, and to prevent the
true owners from locating 1t, the corners OF
the tracts, the line trees and other evidences
OF boundary are destroyed
sQUATTER SOVEREIGNTY.
In some cases mere squstters erect log
cabins and claim that their constructive
possession extends over thousands of acres
The bill further states that the claimant
has been prevented, by threats of personal
violence, from ascertaining the damage
done to his land by trespassers or from
making any survey to establish the bonn-
diaries.
The lands 10 question, il is stated, were
at one time known as the Williams lands
and were obtained by the present owner
from Mr.. n. s. Baldwin of jackson, Miss.
The services of ]. P. Pughsley, ex-
ordinary of Emanuel county, were secured
TO make a survey. Mr.. Pughsley did not
make the survey because he received q
notice signed MANY Citzens,n saying they
would not allow any surveying done on
their lands in the interest of the Williams
and Loud claim, and that il they could not
prevent it by tair means they would resort
to rough means.
He next secured the services Of T. B. Eel
der, Esq 3, TO represent his interests and ascer-
tain what trespasses bad been committed.
Mr.. Fielder did not secure the information
desired because he received a notice from
"many citizensn thai he had better select
his burial clothes and order his coffin before
leaving home.
The services Of the county surveyor of
Emanuel county were also invoked, but he.
too, received q similar notice.
REFUSED TO SURVEY THE LANDS.
The county surveyor Of johnson county
was applied to to mako the survey, aud be
replied that he would resign his office
rather than attempt it. NJ. S. Bald
win, the former owner, went to
Swainsboro In December, 1890, at the res
quest of Mr.. Watson, but was informed
that any attempt to make the survey
would be at the risk Of his life. A check to
pay the state and county taxes for 1890 was
RENTED to the tax collector OF Emanuel
county for which he receipted, but the
check was never collected.
The court Is requested to Join the de-
PENDANTS from cutting and removing the
timber and wood upon the lands and from
IN any manner trespassing upon them and
decreed to pay over such sums of money as
may be found it to be due for the use and
occupation Of the lands, to deliver up for
cancellation their false and fraudulent
deeds; that a competent surveyor be ap-
pointed with full power and authority 70
make an accurate survey of the lands de-
scribed, and that the cause be referred to a
master with full power and authority to as.
certain the damages committed by the tres
paSsers and report to the court.
A LoNG-STANDING CLAIM.
The parties mentioned in the suit united
and engaged Judge A. Pratt Adams to rep
resent them. Judge Adams said last nigat
that so far as he has been able to ascertain,
the claim was one of long standing of the
speculative and closely allied to tine fraudu-
lent variety which are constantly being