The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-09
HELD By SQUATTERT TITLES,
A Suit Involving Thousands Of Acres
Of Land in Georgia.

The Right 70 1850 Acres IN Clinoh
County Under Dispute Between
Ellis, Young & Co., of Savannah and
Saunders and Harris of Clinch-
Judge Falligant Renders a Decision
in Chambers Preliminary to Trial
ofthe Case by a Jury-The Interests
of Turpentine Men Involved.
Judge Falligant heard a very important
case in chambers in the supreme court
yesterday II was the case of Ellis
Young & Co., against Saunders s. Harris
of Clinch county and was brought before
Judge Falligant because of Judge Sweat
of the Brunswick circuit being disquai-
fed by relationship to one of the parties
TO the suit.
The case involved the title to three lots
of timber land in Clinch county Of 1000
acres each. Saunders s. Harris claimed
the ownership of the land by reason Of a
title from MIR. Swearingen, of Clinch
county, while Ellis, Young q Co. claimed
the land by a title from Mr.. Jacob Moody,
also of ClinCh county Both parties had
begun to operate the land for turpentine.
Ellis, Young & Co. brought suit to enjOin
Saunders x Harris from operating on the
land.
They were represented by Maj S. T.
Kingsberry of Valdosta, while J. c. Nc
Donald, Esq, Of Waycross, represented
Sunders & Harris
LONG CHAIN OF TITLE.
The case occupied the greater part of
the morning. Ellis, Young & Co. showed
by means of chain Of titles received
from Jacob Moody, dating continuously
from the old state lottery grant down to
a late date that they held q clear title to
the lots. Judge Falligant decided in
their favor and issued an injunction
against Sunders & Harris, prohibiting
them from occupying or operating upon
the land
This is preliminary to a trial by jury
which will be had in Clinch county at the
next term of the court. Judge Falligant's
decision is considered of great weight in
the case, and the plaintiffs feel assured
that his decision will be sustained.
1t was claimed by the plaintiffs that
there is a great deal Of fraud practiced by
turpentiue and lumber men in this sec
ton by means of squatter titles.
1t was asserted that turpentiue
and lumber men of certain class, de-
sirOgs of entering upon unoccupied tim
Der land, make a practice Of inducing
parties living upon the land without right,
paying a mere nominal sum. BY this
means it was claimed that parties have
entered upon and operated large quanti-
ties Of land to which they haG no shadow
of right to the damage of the lawful
owners who lived at a distance and are
ignorant of these transactions.
IMMENSE BONDS INVOLVED.
The case tried yesterday is of great
importance to the turpentine and lumber
men of this section, as the lots of land i'm
mediately involved, are only small part
of the immense amount of timber lands
said to be held in the same manner. 1t is
said that there are no less than 10 lots OF
$50 acres each, in the southern section of
the state, whose title depends upon this
decision. This makes the 800 acres of land
held by squatter titles it is said on one
hand and by good titles in law on the
other 1t is possible that all of these
cases do not come under this head but it
is certain that large quantities of land in
two turpentine sections are held and
used under fraudulent titles. The final
result of the case will be watched with
great interest by the turpentine and lum-
Der men.