The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-12-01
HEIRS TO MILLIONS.
Astounding Fortune For The Heirs
of Robert Edwards. Panaca Num-
hers Eight of Them. In The Lee and
the Edwards Families.

several Lee brothers of Panaca, to-
cether with the Edwards boys as
heirs of their father, are about to
share in the distribution of an
immense fortune, the result, after
wears of effort of establishing title to |
4 tract of land in the heart of New
York City.
The particulars which we have are
the following:
e.The tract Of land involved in the
heirship embraces forty 1--we acres of
land in the heart of NewYork City,
extending from Battery street to
Canal street. This tract includes all
of the promontory, which extends
from Canal street out TO the bay. The
great business blocks on Wall street
and on Broadway, the Government
building, postofice, custom houses
are on this property.
"This land was leased to King
George III. by the Edwards family
for colonial use prior to the Revolu-
tionary war for period of ninety
nine years. 1t was afterwards sud-
let by a crown lease to Dutch set
tier and later sold off into city lots
subject to the terms of the lease.
Thus the Edwards ownership was
prior to the Revolutionary war.
Latter deeds were absolute, but the
Edwards heirs never lost sight OF
their equity and when the lease
expired efforts were made to estab-
lish title, but many reverses follow
ed.
Accusation of forgery and bri-
berry were made in connection with
the claim until twelve years ago,
when one of the heirs fitted himself
for the contest and began the work
of establishing title for the heirs of
Robert Edwards.
''This man finally perfected an
abstract of title from the crown
grant in the first instance and then
the lease to the crown for the use of
the colony, then the subtitle lease to
the individual who sold off lots
subject to the lease. 1t seems that
all the rights of the Edwards heirs
were protected to avoid lapse OF title
by prescription under the common
law.
"The copies of deeds and leases
form perhaps the most complete ab'
stract of title in the civilized world.
This work was compiled by William
Edwards of Tennessee in 1876. He
took the case out of the hands of the
lawyers IL years ago. For ten years
he worked necessarily on the task,
spending private fortune in the
work, but when he confronted the
attorneys of the present holders OF
the property in 1896 they advised
compromise.
"Mr. Edwards was required to
secure Identification through the
Secretary of State to the national
Government before he could secure
the evidence of title he required
from the archives of the English
Government. When this red tape
routine was complete the musty
vaults open their secrets to him ane
he was enabled to make complet'
international abstracts Of title.
"Mr. Edwards secured about 2O(
powers of attorney from the living
heirs of Robert Edwards. Whel
he came 10 New York with his evi
dence and compromise was propos
ed be entered into an undertaking
to quiet little for the sum of $305 ,O0C
900.
"Over 81 600, 90 of this sum wa
placed on deposit and the date fixe
for the distribution was Septembe
20, 1896.
1.-The heirs were quietly summon
ed to New York to transfer title an
to secure for each share of over
million dollars.
"But some of the heirs who wei
possessed of large fortunes refuse
to compromise for what they col
sidered small portion of the gre
estate. William Edwards. who hi
all but finished the great work I
his life, was insulted and grieve
by the ungraceful attitude of the
heirs and by the imputation that
had exceeded his authority. l
dropped the great work then al
there.
The Edwards title however, W
established, and the occupants
the ground could not afford to
the matte. 60 unsettled, SO the m
ter was again brought up a
promises now to be speedily settl
A. o. Lee, John N. Lee, the cl
dren of M. L. Lee and Sam l.
both deceased, Mrs. VIM. Atchif
and the Edwards family of Pana
and Geo. w. Lee, Of Bunkervi
this ounty viii share in the dis
button Of this vast estate, and
several years all of them have b
contributing to the expense incid
to forcing a settlement.
se-s--