The herald., 1893-05-16
SOME OLDT|MERS ON THE STAND
A Sitting Here of the U. s.
Court of Land Claims.
Testimony Being Taken in the Fam
Ous Peralta Land Grant Case.
The Taking of Dispositions from Resi-
dents of Los Angeies-A Curious
Romance Back of the Case.
Some "Reminiscences.

Mention was made in Sundays issue
of the HERALD, Of the taking of testi-
mony at San Francisco in the celebrated
Peralta land grant case, before the
United States court OF private land
claims.
Yesterday Justice Joseph L. Reed,
chief justice OF the court, convened
, court at Los Angeles, in one of the
rooms of the old district attorneys
Office in the Lanfranco block, on North
Main street, and took further testimony
during the day, ON behalf of the petit
TONERS.
The government WAS represented by
Matt G. Reynolds, United States attor-
ney, the petitioner by James Addison
Peralta Reavis, husband of the claim
ant.
The court is now merely taking depo-
Hitione ia the case which will be tried at
later date.
The testimony yesterday was of
peculiarly interesting and important ma
ture for the claimants to the 100000
900 worth OF land in Arizona, and was
directed to the establishing of the iden-
tity OF the claimant as a direct descend
ant. of old Baron OF Arizona, who was
granted the princely domain involved, by
the King Of Spain, towards the middle of
the last century.
The witnesses examined were all
Spanish and spoke through Col. T.
Masac, as interpreter. Mr.. Peralta Reavis
conducted their direct examination, and
they were sesrchingly cross-examined
by Mr.. Reynolds.
In order that the nature OF the testi-
mony may be better understood brief
Statement OF the romantic history OF the
present case is necessary.
The petitioners are James Addison
Peralta Reavis and his wife, Sofia Loretta
Micaela Peralta Reavis, nee Maso
Silva de Peralta de la Cordoba, she
claiming to be the great granddaughter
of Baron Miguel Nemecio Silva de
Peralta de la Cordoba. ea
The old baron was sent to America on
q mission of investigation at the begin
ming OF the last century, and as q re-
ward for his services was given land
grant in what is now Arizona by the
king OF Spain, which was confirmed to
him, as evidenced by many old docu-
which are included in the evidence OF
the petitioners.
The grent embraced several million
acres OF land in Arizona and
New Mexico, large portion of
which has been sold by the government
and portion is still unsold. A number
OF towns have been built on it, and If
the claimant can establish her right to
the property it would seem like tale
OF the Arabian Nights to contemplate
the vastness OF her possessions.
The old baron died February l, 1924,
In the city Of Gusdalajara, leaving one
son, Jesus Miguel Silva de Peralta, to
whom he willed all his estates.
The petitioners claim that the son
married, in 1922, Dofia Juana Laura
Ybarra Escobeds, and that they had
daughter, Dofia Sofia Laura Micaela
Silva de Peralta de la Cordoba de San
chez Y barra de Escobeda. A.c
This daughter. they claim, married
Jose Maso, or as his full name appears,
Don jose Ramon Carmen Maso y Castillo,
in Hermosillo, Spain.
At this point the story assumes local
interest. 1t is claimed that they were
travelling in San Bernardino county in
1862, and while passing the Bandini
rancho, near San Salvador, or Aqua
Mansa, the wife fell sick and was taken
twins, were born, one male and one
female.
1t is further claimed that the mother
and the boy died shortly after, and were
buried in the old San Salvador cemetery,
while the daughter lived, and is the
Sofia Loreto Peralta Reavis, petitioner
In the present case, to the possessions
of the old Baron of Arizona.
1t was upon the points referred to and
the establishing of the identity of the
travellers of 1862 that the testimony
. taken yesterday was principally di-
rected.
The scene in the bare room was Pc
culisrly interesting one. The witnesses
were old men, one of them being liz
years old, and the youngest 65. AS they
went back into the dark corners of their
memories and recalled bygone days,
their old eyes sparkled and they seemed
to throw off the lethsrgy of age.
1t is only few days ago that the his
tory and photograph of the oldest wit
ness was given in the HERALD. His full
name ie Juan Ignacio de la Cruz Fran
cisco Garcia, and he now resides in So
noratown. He seemed to be able to re-
member away back to 1902 and was
:. quite clear that he enlisted in Sonora,
Mexico, as a soldier under DON Miguel
Silva de Peralta, the son of the old
baron, and that he served under him
for a number of years.
He WAS followed by old Juan Garcia,
who ig "A years old, and who lived at
San Salvador in 1852, when, it is
claimed, the petitioner was born. He
remembered very distinctly that such
an event took place, and that he was
called in by the midwife to assist upon
that interesting, but tragic occasion.
The old fellow grew quite eloque
over the days of 40 and the gambling
excitement, and remembered that along
about the time OF the birth OF the chill
dren and death of the mother and
child, that he lost $40 to Don Jose
Maso.
He was asked by Mr.. Reynalds II he
ever knew man named Treadway. but
said he never did, and that Don Miguel
associated with Spaniards and not Amer
leans. He said also that he did not
gamble now as he was very old, and did
not like to think of his young and fool
ieh days. He said this, however. with
twinkle of the eye, that showed how
fondly his memory recurred to the days
of old.
He said everybody gambled from 40
until 1852, the time of the greatest ex-
citement, and that money began to
o~ovr ooorna oftar that altk~.-S ~ -