Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-23


occasion were Henry Grattan. Smith O'Brien,
Thomas Francis Meagher, Thomas Deven
Reilly and Thomas Darcy MCGEE. When, in
1848, the French revolution resulted in the
overthrow Of the monarchy, mass meeting
was held in Sligo ard an address adopted con-
graduating France on the establishment of a
republic. Young McGarrahan, then under
twenty years Of age, Mayor Verdon and Alder
man ODonovan were elected to present the
address to the French republican government
During the repeal agitation McGsrrahan,
despite his years, took a prominent part, and
when the division came between OConnell
and his whig followers and the '!young Ire
land" party the future claimant seeded with
young Ireland" under Darcy McGee who
proposed him as a member of the Irish con-
federation, the parliament of the party He
continued an active member of this party
until 1t was disbanded, in 1913, when most Of
those with whom he acted had been seized
and sentenced to Punishment by the British
government. Soon after the writ of habeas
corpus was suspended and McGarrahan's house
was searched for arms and papers. price of
f5O0 was put on Darcy McGee's head and q
penalty Of fourteen years Imprisonment for
any one who harbored or assisted him, but Nc
Garrahan sheltered MCGEE until he could es-
cape from the country.
CAME TO AMERICA IN 1S49.
McGarrahan then sold out his extensive and
his companions to America, arriving here in
March, 1S49. After residence Of some months
in the east and New Orleans he determined to
make California his home where he arrived in Oc-
tober, 1S49 He invested his capital in his former
business and in 1858 he was one Of the leading
merchants on the Pacific coast He returned
to Ireland in that year and in Dublin was en-
tertained by Charles Gavan Duffy and John
Neil McKenna, both since knighted and MEM
bers OF the British parliament. After an ex-
tended visit to the continent he returned to
California in 1854, resumed business and pur-
chased q ranch in San Jose valley which he
stocked with the first improved herd in the
state. About this time he purchased from
Gomez the Mexican title to the Rancho Panoche
Grande, and with it came all his trouble and
such an experience of the devious methods of
litigation as was never known in this coun-
Try. From that time, December, 1857, Mr.. Nc
Garrahan 8 history Is conspicuously of record
in the courts of California the Supreme Court
OF the United States, the Interior Department
and Congress to the present day.
THE REPORT ON THE CLAIM
The report Of the committee on mines, which
reported the bill, says:
81. That the proof of legal grant from the
Mexican government to Gomez and transfer of
title to McGarrahan are clearly and indisputa-
bly, shown.
''2. That the district court Of the United
States for the southern district Of California
confirmed the grant,
80. That Hon. Caleb B. Smith, Secretary of
the Interior, after examination and considora-
ton OF the case ordered q patent to be issued
to Mr.. McGarrahan.
-. That Mr. Usher, the successor in Office of
Mr.. Smith, similarly decided.
%. That Mr.. Lincoln signed the patent and
subsequently, upon full inquiry, decided the
grant to be genuine and ordered the delivery of
the patent to Mr.. McGarrahan."
Yet such was the power and wealth Of the
New 1dria Company, which had possession of
the property and were drawing millions in
quicksilver from ii, that none Of these patents
reached McGarrahan, but were withheld, de-
spite law and authority. mandate Of the Su-
preme Court Of the United States putting Nc
Garrahan in possession of his property was not
found on the records of the court in California
and the records were subsequently mutilated to
cover and conceal such mandate.
The counsel who began this case for Mr.. Nc
Garrahan and the New Idria Company are
nearly all dead. Thomas Francis Meagher and
Gen. Daniel E. Sickles were his first counsel
Gen. Sickles returned to Washington to urge
Mr.. Lincoln to Issue the patent in August. 1863,
and 1t was issued, but not to McGarrahan
Some occult influence in the general land Office
prevailed over the executive and the Secretary
Of the Interior.
Senators and members Of Congress since 1857
have been McGarrnhan's friends and opponent,
and Mr.. Amos Cummings, in the Sun Of Tues
day, says truly that all who met McGarrahan
became his friends.
HOW SENATOR BECK WAS CAUGHT.
The late Senator Beck met McGarrahan while
he was before the Judiciary committee Of the
House and said frankly: II am sorry cannot
support your bill, but the information have
bad from the counsel Of the other side has sat-
isAed me-"