The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-12


ish employed by the court of King Ferdi-
nand VI He became an expert in arch
aeology, and had perfect knowledge Of
the seals and signets and the deeora tons
of the court of Spain Of the eighteenth
century.
This was Reavis' claim. One Of the an
cient Kings of Spain had given to one of
his supporters an immense grant of land
in what was known as Spanish America.
This favorite of the king was known, ac-
cording TO Reavis, as Don Miguel Peral-
Ia de la Cordova. Baron of Arizona and
the ColOrados knight of the Golden Fleece
and Baron of the Order of Charles III,
knight of Montesa, Knight of the Colo
RADIOS, Gentleman of the Kings Bedcham-
Der with entrance at will, and grandee of
Spain.
1t occurred to this former street car con-
ductor to discover the heir to the land and
possessions of Don Miguel Peralta. And
this is what made him think of it: One
day while he was in St Louis as real es-
tate agent, a DR.. Willing proposed to
Reavis to take an interest in a land grant
in Arizona. Reavis investigated the VIII
ing proposition. He laid the facts before
Col. Broadhead, afterward minister TO
Switzerland, and then the great lawyer of
St. Louis. The lawyer told Reavis that
the claim of Willing was genuine. Reavis
and Willing proceeded to Arizona Soon
left in the keeping of Reavis. Among the
papers was a deed of the Peralta land
grant.
The plans of ReaVis unfolded gradually.
Several years elapsed before he filed with
the surveyor-general of Arizona a petit
ton in which he set forth that he had be-
come owner, by purchase from the legal
heirs and representatives of the original
grantee, of a certain tract of land in the
territory of Arizona. The petition was ac
companied by muniments of title in detail,
showing that on Dec. 30 174S a royal de-
cree was signed by King Ferdinand VI, of
Spain, directing that certain lands in what
is now Arizona and New Mexico should
be granted to Miguel de Perata-a list of
his titles following. 1t appeared further
in this claim that in 1888 the original
grantee had willed to his son, and that
the son in 1864 had decided the same-the
tract originally described-to DIR. George
Nj. Willing. And this was transferred to
Reavis by the attorneys and the widow
of Willing. On this showing, Reavis ask
ed the surveyor general to recommend the
confirmation ''of the aforesaid grant to
him by the United States" A long inves-
tigation followed. The result was a declin-
alton to grant the petitioners prayer be-
cause of defects in the chain of title.
Four years later Reavis filed an amend
ed petition. In this he set forth that he had
found the heir to the Peralta estate; that
thereby he was the representative of Don
ma Sofia Loreto Micacla de Peralta-R eavis
formerly Maso Y Silva de Peralta de la
Cardova. He contended that she was the
Observation-Disclosures of the deceased Don
Miguel NeVuesio Silva de Peralta.
Reavis admitted later that ne had found
this heir several years before. He met
her in 1879, and three years later she be-
came his wife. But it was not until she
went with him to Spain that Reavis be
came convinced" that she was the lost
heir. The marriage which was secret,
was made public before the American leg
alton at Madrid in 1886.
The woman was naturally attractive.
OF course, she was more so when she
believed to be what Reavis represented.
Together these two Travelled in Europe, al
ways returning to Spain TO rest. They
were received IN Madrid and entertained.
She had the honors of the court. He was
admired and feted as a clever man, which
he certainly was. While feasts followed
feasts, Reavis was not idle. He was per
feeling his title. He secured documents,
seals, photographs of original papers and
records from the archives of Spain. And
when he and his wife of fascinating beau
ty sailed for America, Reavbs had trunks
and boxes of documents to prove the vail
dity of his claim to the Arizona and New
Mexico tracts. He took up his residence
in New York He had sumptuous apart
ments at the Hoffman house, and his
turnOuts in Fifth avenue are yet the talk
of many who have seen splendid pagean-
try in equipage along that thoroughfare
Ed Stokes was induced to invest in Reav-
is mines. And there is an open entry yet
on the old books of the Hoffman house,
showing that T. Addison Reavis- Peraita
contracted a board bill to the amount of
$4,000.
While this was on, while people looked
al splendor of the woman's life, and men
of the town talked of this lucky fellow"
former Senator Conkling was examining
the papers of Reavis Peralta. 1t is said
that for one month Mr.. Conkllng devoted
his entire time to this case. At the end
of the investigation he declared that the
title was project. Col. IngersolPs opinion
was as emphatic, after he had made a
study of the case.
Then land grant companies were formed
out west; the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company, the Casa Grande Land and I'm
provement Company and the Silver King
Mining Company. John w. Mackay and
others contributed to the schemes of the
former street car driver of St Louis. He
lived a life, all this while, which would
have satisfied the original Peralti, if he
had returned to earth with his fortune and
his titles and had insisted on good time
The government all this time had resist
ed the Peralta claim, and the trial was
docketed in Santa Fe, before a United
States district court. Attorney General