The herald., 1895-01-04
he ONLY WANTS ONE BARONY,
Peralta Reayis' Modest Claim
Against Uncle Sam.
Twelve Million Acres in Arizona VIII
Satisfy Him.
Testimony Now Being Taken in This City
by tho Court of Private
Laad Claims.


claims that his vito 10 descended from
the great Bsron Peralsa aud, incl
dentally, that the great Baron Peralts
was once presented by the king Of
Spain with grant OF land in America,
in recognition OF distinguished services
performed, the said Peralta- Reavi5 will
be tho posseaaor OF 1900 600 acres of
land.
Peralta Reavia lives ut Trcpco. He
has been selling land in Arizona and
New Mexico TO people in thsse parts for
eome time, the salsa being contingent
upon peculiar form of deed making
allowances for the fac; that the govern
men i: doesn't iks to have Mr.. Pe-alta-
Reayis selling land until he know +
Whistler he owns it o. not.
Since the lat day oil October speuial
agent OF the government and special
attorney have been III this city working
On case arising out OF the claim OF
Peralta-Reayis to this land.
The testimony has been taken by
Judge ]. r. Reed of Council Bluff,
chief justice OF the United States court
Of private land elaine, Who mas occupied
quarters in the federal building snco
the special officers OF the government
nave been ct work hero.
Nett G. Reynolds, an attorney OF St.
Louis, has represented the government,
and Special Agent Hughes has collected
the government testimony.
The court OF private land claims,
which will decide the caso, is the only
court which has Jurisdiction over Span"
ish or Mexican grants. Previous to the
appointment OF this court congress
handled ell such claims by npecial act.
The court WAS authorized by congreas in
1891 and appointed by President Harri-
soa. II consists OF Chief Jcstics ]. r.
Reed, who 10 now in the city, and Asso-
ciate Justices Thomas G. Fuller of
North Carolina, w. W. Murray of Ton
nessee. Henry @. Burs of Kansas and
Wilbur +. Stone of Denver.
This court hoids two seesiona each
year, one at Santa Fs, N. NJ, and one
q: Tucson, Ariz. For over year it
has been working on the claim OF Per-
alta Rsavis, which was presented by q
petition in equity to the government
in 1891. Previous to that. however,
Peralta- Reavis had claimed possession
OF portions of the land.
Testimony has bsen taken by the
court in Ukiah, San Francisco and Los
Angeles, and within a few days a
member OF the court. Justice Stone,
will leave for Spain TO gather evidences
there, taking with him an attorney OF
the government.
About year ago the claimants tes-
timony was taken by Judge Reed and
o portion of the governmental testimony
was taken in San Francisco and Ukiah.
The government will claim that the
wife OF Peralta- Reavis is not descend
ant of Baron Peralia, and that the land
in question was not preeented to the
baron as barony, anyway.
Reavis will claim that his vile is the
only living descendant OF the distin
guiahed baron End that the grant was
made to the baron by the king OF Spain
in l742.
Judge Reed was seen by HERALD re.
porter last night, and was perfectly wills
ling to talk about the celebrated case.
The judge is just that sort of a man
who would BIO selected for ouch an in
tricate Gaze as ia presented in this claim
He is deliberate in his manner, clear in
his statements and evidsntlysiecisiye in
his opinions.
at would be improper for me to tell
you the tendency of the testimony" he
said, "but l can tell you regarding the
progress OF the case.
''There are two sides presented. It
must be proven that the grant was made.
and then that this woman ia a do.
ecendant OF the Baron Peralte.
''If both these claims prove true" he
eaid, after some elaboration, "the title
will be confirmed in Peralta Reavia
through his wife. II the decision 10 the
other way, the government has entered
cross bill, which will settle the title in
the government
1.-THE land claimed lies in Arizona and
New Mexico. Some Of it is valuable
land, can say. though | would be un-
able to form any estimate OF the value
of the whole.
There ere now living in Southern
California 1852 other Peraltas who all
claim the grant and whose claim is pre-
tented by Judge Kinney, now of San
Diego. Thess Peraltsu claim no relation.
chip to the claimant whore claim ia now
under consideration by the court.
THE report which went out about a
year ago that Reavie, who added the
Peralta end hyphen to his name when
he married thu woman, had been
granted the title to the land by tina gov
eminent, was started when the govern
ment gave him leave TO amend his COM
plant, but was without foundation in
fact. The title will be with the govern
ment until the case is settled.
Testimony is still lacking from Mex
leo and Spain. The court meets in
March at Tucson. In February the
testimony from Spain will be in and
should the rest be ready the case will DO
finally disposed OF at Santa Fe shortly
alter the Tucson session OF the court.