The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-22
Case Comes Up in the Law and Equity
Court Tomorrow.
NINE RESIDENCES INVOLVED,
James Bell, Who Was Sexton at DIR.
Uogc's Church Before the war, is
Suing 10 Recover Property that
Fronts on Chimborazo Park,
Wife and Childred Deed
Ell IL Away.

James BelI, a colored man, now about
eighty years old, who has resided in
New York ever since tho sixties, Is in
Richmond suing TO recover valuable
property fronting on Chimborazo PARK
which he claims IS his own.
Tha case will come up in the Law and
Equity Court tomorrow. It is an eject
ment proceeding under the style Of James
Bell VS.. b. W. T.. Carter. This is only a
test case. Nine handsome brick houses
now stand upon the property Bell claims.
TIE piece Of land fronts 16j feet on
Thirty-second street and 132 feetlon Grace.
one residence belongs to Mr.. Carter,
another TO Mr. j. u. Redd and the other
10 the estate Of Joseph Allard, Jr
OF course, if Bell succeeds in cjecting
SIr. Carter. olr Redd and tho Allard es-
tate Will lose their buildings.
Bell Is represented by Messrs. George
]. Hooper, Jr., and J.. II. W. Marye,
and Mr.. Carter by Mcssrs. Jackson Guy
and George J.. Haw
HISTORY or THE CASE.
For many years prior to the war be-
tween the States there stood ON the
lot I'm question, which was part Of quar-
ter square Of ground. "a small brick dwell
ln-, which was occupied and owned Dy
au old cOl0rod woman named D0TCas Bell.
Dorcas was q free woman, ana pur-
chased this property some time about
ISIS. Her husband was also free man
of color, and there was born unto them
one son. named Thornton. Thornton lived
or the place with them, married wo-
man named Ellen by whom they had
one son. James Bell. who is the plaintiff
I'm this case. Thornton Bell was u sea-
faring man, and was lost at sea, or
died some years before Dorcas Bell died.
1ils son, James L.l was quite youth
when Thornton died. Dorcas and her
husband were both buried on the pro-
porty in question. and their remains are
stu there. unless they have been re-
moved IN recent years. James lived with
HIS gTandmother DOrcas Bell, on this
place. married woman, 10y whom he
had several children. and with his family
was living ON the property when old
Dorcas died, which was several years
before the war James and his family
continued TO live on the place. and were
living there i'm 1865. when the war closed.
BELL WENT NORTH.
Soon after that James. having had
some disagreement with his wife. left
her and went to New York. where he
obtained work with Alr. Fitzhugh Mayo.
He worked for Mr.. Mayo until the latter
died, and Bell was subsequently taken in
TO the employ OF the Mauorys, the own
ers Of the Mallory line of steamships.
and has been constantly in their em-
ploy since, in The city Of Brooklyn, New
york
James visited Richmond several times
after he went 90 New York TO live and
had correspondence periodically wi-h
some OF his children. His family com
tinuod 10 reside on the place, and he
thought they would DE allowed TO rec
main there as long as his wife lived.
Several years ago. however. some men,
ber of his family informed him that the
property had been sold. and soon there
after he had the matter looked into.
PROPERTY DECIDED AWAY.
From bis Investigation De learned that
I'm the year 1854 his wife and children had
sold the prop riy TO Joseph Aiard ana
executed the deed 90 him. in which they
described themselves as the hoirs-at-law
of Dorcas Ten deceased. That was
great surprise to- James. and ho immcdl-
atclv employed counsel 20 recover his
property. a portion 0f which AIr. Alard
had sold 10 llr B. T.. w Carter
James Bel is n typical cOl0red man Of
tho old scho0i-one Of the kind pictured
by Polk Miller 20 his lectures and writ
incs. Ho has p vivid recollection Of
many OF 49, older citizens of Richmoni,
and recalls with pleasure such persons
MS Robert 4. Mayo William ROwlett
and others. for whom he worked when a
vounr man. Tie remembers Or HOge
as n Young man and recalls his first sar-
mon I'm the church Of which the Doctor
is now the pastor He insists on styling
DR. H0go as "llr." fIoge whom he knew
when ne was student. iIo met Or.
Hoge I'm New York several years ago,
who recognized him NJ once and had
very pleasant conversation with him.
VISITED DIR. HOGE
He called 40 Dr. Hoge's residence yes
terday 10 see the Doctor and sent up his
name. The Doctor could not see him.
but sent word that he remembered him
well and would Ike very much 10 talk
with him and requested that he call
again.
James was for some- time ono Of the
sections az Or. H0ge's church. and from
there was given the place as SEXTON at
the Third Presbyterian church. on Twen-
tv-dffh and Broad streets. which place
he held in 1850 at the time he left Nlr-
ginia.
James reached the. city last Saturday
o,1 has been visiting among his old
friends ani acquaintances, many of
whom knew him as O boy and several
OF whom remembered distinctly also his
father Thornton Bell. and his grand
mother Dorcas. He has 4 half-brother
living here who IS now approaching
eighty years Of age. and who had not
seen James for over quarter OF cen
49,, 1vben they met each other Satur
d,., the scene was very touching.
AIr. p. IT. Mayo remembers Bell very
,,.ou ord IL "a said. can Identify him II
this question is raised in the trial
The property in question is worth sew
eral thousands Of dollars.
Dining Cars on the Southern.
WASHINGTON. Nov. H.-The South