The herald., 1893-05-16

remembered the death of the travelling
lady and Of her boy, and that the girl
lived. He also recollected the burial OF
the mother in the cemetery there, and
while he did not know positively that
the boy infant was buried with her in
the same coffin, thought such was the
case, in accordance with the usual Gus
tom.
There was little additional testimony,
and the court adjourned, closing the
taking OF evidence in Los Angeles.
Mr. Peralta Reavis was very solicitous
that very little should be said about the
testimony taken at this time on the
ground that it was not the trial of the
case, and he WAS afraid of the other
claimants getting hold Of his witnesses
and cooking up testimony to counteract
their statements.
Some of the most talented lawyers Of
the country have been and are counsel
In this remarkable case, which has al
ready been once before the interior de-
partment at Washington, but the petit
tioners seem to be confident that they
can establish the direct line of descent,
in spite of the claims of others that Mrs.
Peralta Reavis cannot lay claim to the
blood OF the old baron.
MIR. REAvIs INTERVIEWED.
Last night Mr.. Peralta Reavis said to
HERALD reporter that the testimony
in the case is virtually closed, unless
the government has other witnesses of
whom he does not know.
Speaking OF the time when his wife
was born, at the Bandini rancho, he
said that her father and mother were
then on their way to escape from the
French invasion and were making
towards San Francisco.
After the death of the wife and little
boy Don Miguel and the little orphan
girl did go there.
"The case has now been in court" he
continued, "since 1882"
Who are your opponents in the con-
test?"
"Well, they have gathered up every
Peralta they could - he remarked. 'But.
| will tell you who the real peo pie be-
hind it are. It is the Arizona Canal
company. They have bought up the
claims OF these people and jumped up
about 115 other claimants y
WAS the son of the original baron
ever in possession of the estate ?"
"Yes, he was. His father willed him
everything. The family has never been
out of possession. We have sold land in
the grant and given deeds to it. The
government has sold about 100000 acres
out Of the 100000 in the grant,"
swell, will not the opposition put in
testimony 2"
Z THAT cannot tell you, sir, If they
can find any witnesses they will, sup
pose. They had every chance to get
witnesses down here today, but they did
not find any, at least they did not pro-
duce any"
"You look then for speedy final set
Element, do you Mr.. ReaYis 2"
do not see why not. Tne case is vir-
tually closed. The court of claims is
composed OF five Justices and they have
authority to. ary one or two of them, to
take testimony. It has been the chief
justice in this instance. They will hear
the case in bank, and, of course, after
their decision there can be an appeal to
the United States supreme court"
"Your paper is the first that has got
chance at our evidence. The other
claimants have never been able yet to
get hold Of our papers and the records
in the case, although they have tried.
Tdon't mind saying that ell they hope
for is to get us to buy them off, or vir-
tually that. They used the surveyor
general, and his report upon our claim
waa in accordance with their wishes.
/ do not care il you say so. It was made
without careful investigation. Our case
is clear and we are able to establish an
unbroken line, which entities as to the
astataD -