Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-07
AN IMMENSE ESTATE.
Virginia Claimants for $4,000
Acres Of West Virginia Lands.
WI. |. ROYAL YHg PETITIONER.
A special Commissioner Appointed 70 In
vestigats and Rspost-csp for the Sell
disr's Mcnumsnt-Other NoteA

Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispstch.l
PrrERsBuno, Va, February Gin the
Circuit Court of Petersburg, Judge Han
cock presiding Mr.. Philip B. SHIELD. conn
sol for Mr.. William L. Royal. OF Rich
mond, presented petition showing the
following interesting case;
That in 1915 George Keith Taylor died In
the CITY OF Petersburg testate. and his Will
was duly admitted to probate on the 4th
day of December, 1916, In the Hastings
Court Of said city. He left. surviving him
his widow, Jane TAYLOR, who never mar
ried and died intestate.) and three daugh-
fers-to wit: Georgianna Keith Taylor.
Sallie Taylor, and Anna X. TAYLOR. lhe
two first named died interstate, never
having married. and without issue. Anna
X. TAYLOR married John J. Royal. OF Eau
ouier county, Va, and died leaving Mary
A.. who married Robert l.. McMurran, OF
Portsmouth, Va; Helen NJ, who married
John q. Cooke. of Fauquier; and ". L.
Royal, the orator. who married =. rage
Ayiett. of Richmond. Tbs said Mary a.
McMurran. Helen NJ. Cooke. and ". u.
Royail are ali living and the sole heirs at
law of said George Keith Taylor.
HIS WILL.
At the time of his death said George
Keith Taylor was possessed OF a large es,
tate. both real and personal, and provided
by his will that the same should be SOLO Dy
his executors in such manner and ct such
time. by private or public sale. as to them
might appear advisable, and after the pay
ment of his debts to divide the surplus
among his widow and children-givingh her
one half during, her lifetime, and az ner
death to his children in equal parts; tine
other half 70 be divided among his chill
dren Immediately. At the time OF his
death said Taylor was seized Of -four. sepa-
rate tracts of land granted to him IN the
wear 1896 by the State of Virginia. contain
ing respectively 2l3.000 acres. 1877 900 acres,
~, 900 acres, and $1,000 acres. all IN the
county of Kanawha, on the Sandy. Guyan-
dotte, and other rivers. Certihed copies
OF said four grants are filed.
DID NOT SELL
Mr.. Royal further charges that the exc
cutors of said Taylor did not sell or dis
rether. or any portion thereof, and that
the same always has been and still Is
part of the estate of said George Keith
TAYLOR and is the property of MIR. Royal
and his two sisters above named: ne
therefore prays, that in order that the VIII
OF the said Taylor should be carried out as
he intended, an administrator be appoint.
-
be sold. and the proceeds OF the sale be
distributed among those entitled thereto.
A SPECIAL COMMISSIONER.
The court after examining all thepapers
submitted in the case. and hearing ar
gulnent, ordered that the cause be referred
TO A. Il. Guigon, of Richmond, who Is APP
pointed O special commissioner for the
purpose to report to the court whether
the George Keith Taylor mentioned in the
bill of proceedings was the George Keith
Taylor to whom was granted the four
several tracts OF land by the State OF Vir-
ginia, as above charged; whether the said
land or any part thereof was sold off by the
executors, who were and are the heirs of
the said Taylor. and their names and resi-
dences; whether any of said land was sold
by the State for taxes and forfeited, and
into what counties said land fell or the d.
vision of Kanawha county into other coun-
ties, DC. 49,
The whole amount of land involved in
this suit is $4,000 acres. all lying in the
State of West Virginia, and much OF 1t very
very valuable. 1t may be stated in this
connection that there are several mmedi-
ate connections OF George Keith Taylor In
Petersburg.
SPLENDID PIECE OF WORK.
A Corinthian cap feet inches square,
feet in height. and "a tons weight is now
being carved by the Petersburg Granite
Quarrying Company for the soldiers and
sailors monument in Richmond. 1t 10 the
greatest undertaking OF the kind ever yet
attempted in this country. and when COM
pleted will be worthy of the cause it will
commemorate to future ages.
Two of the three parts of the cap are
about finished. 1t is designed to mount
the whole upon an oval pedestal feet in
diameter and "A feet high, composed of IL
pieces of granite. each weighing from IS
to ~ tons, and requiring car to TRANSPORT
each piece. The pieces for the pedestal
have all been delivered in Richmond by
the Petersburg Granted uarrying Com
pany to Mr.. James Netherwood, the chief
contractor for the monument.