The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-10-28
THE YASI ESIATE
Involved in the Great Land Suits
Now ON Trial In tho
UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURT
AZ Parkcrsburg = History OF the
oase-Laud in West Virginia That
Was Formerly Owned by George
Washington = Originally Intended
asa oolony for French Nobility

PARHERsBuRd, w, Va, Oeh T-Ihe
mos. important land suit ever tried in
the federal court in West Virginia 10
now on before Judge ], j, jackson, Tho
case is ono Involving the possession OF
about 100000 aereI OF land in MIuso,
Logan, Wyoming aud Mcdowell coun'
ties, W, Va, Pike county, KY, and
Buchanan and TazaWoll counties, VS..
The case was brought by Henry O.
King, the present litigation involving
the tide to 100000 acres, but it will DO
followed by separate suits for poI'essiOa
OF tracts OF 100000, $4,000. 10000 and
olherS, respectively the total agsregat'
ing 100000 acres. :.
A brief history OF the land involved
IL about as follows; James Swami, y
Boston merchant, and friend OF
George Washington, the original owner
Of much OF his land, sold what no could
Of il aud devoted the proceeds TO FUR
thering the cauae Of American indie
pendenco, himself taking an active part
In tho war. In return for his services
the house OF congress OF Virginia decided
to him all the property he sold aud gave
him much more lying west OF tho Alle'
ghonies.
swann's idea was to found Utopia
in this ter 'ory, and he went to Paris
and interested many Froncl, nobIemeu
in his scheme to coloniEe tho wilder
ness, The advent OF Napoleon irustrat'
ed the emigration, and SgRnn was con-
ironted with debt Of 100000 francs
Unable to pay II, he was Imprisoned at
ST. Pelage, where ho remained for ton
years. Under the constitution OF
France Mt that timo tho creditor was
coin PEELED to support his debtor prison
or ia the manner in which he had lived
while ut liberty, aud Swami, though a
prisoner behind stone walls, lived
otherwise like prince. HIS apartments
we're luxurious in all their appoint
ments and his menu was such "a only
could DO supplied by tho most noted
chefs In all Paris. lie bud wines from
the south Of France aud the delcaciOs
a cultured taste demanded. lie was
daily visited by his morganatlc vile, a
noted countess.
During the riots in Paris, when the
prisons were demolished by tho popu-
lace, Swami was released, but he was
heart.broken, and fell dead on the
streets three days alter gaining his
freedom. When the legislature Of Vir-
ginla learned OF SWann's death, that
body appointed John Peter Dumas, OF
Philadelphia, trustee for the French
creditors, who we're princes and pOten.
tates OF great influence. Dumas died
aud left the estate $4,000 in debt, and
the French creditors employed Hon.
Josiah Randall, Of Philadelphia, father
Of Hon. Samuel Randall, as attorney, in
1885. Meanwhile the great estate had
become forfeited 20 the state for the
non.pRyment OF taxes, but in 1858 the
old commonwealth. yet mindful OF the
patriotism and generosity OF her prOtego,
reconveyed 1t. Mr.. Randall died about
tile close OF the war, in 1865, and IN 1856
Robert L. Randall, brother Of Samuel
Randall, was appointed trustee by tho
United States court. On his removal
the debt had grown to Sl,5OO,OOo Since
then many other trustees have tried
unsuccesliuIly to disentaugle the aiairs
Of the estate.
Among tho counsel for the plaintiff
arc Judge Maynard stiles, Of Boston ;
Conlonl L. l.. Butlrick, Of Charleston:
II. X. shumate, OF Logan, and Judge
Twigg, Of Abingdon, Va, whilo the
other side is represented by Judge
James II. Ferguson, OF Charleston
Hon. w. L. Chiffon, OF Charleston
Hon. John a. Hutchinson. OF PatkOrS.
burg;Z 4. \. vinson, OF Huntington
W. II. Hubbard, OF whOsiing; MGsIrs.
Allison Shepherd and others