The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-03
A ROMANTIC CASE.

The history of This case. the termiua-
tion OF which VIII Dee hailed with delight
bv am who know Dr. Parker and there
aye few who do not is most interesting.
ana has a spice of romance about SO.
- often found outside of novels. The
main facts We're published exclusively
IN The Times 90 number of months ago.
..hcu the legal battle for the possession
was FIRST joined.
FIFTY years ago. when Dr Parker was
20 young ana vigorous man. hc became %
party to the purchase of several thousand
acres of land in Wetzel county West
Virginia. lying near the Pennsylvania
line. His partners in the deal We're d. W.
HorHev then member ol the lcgisla-
ture. and j. Lluck. a. Methodist minister
The land at that time was of DO par
ticular value but just about tine time OBJ
the breaking ONT of The war oii was dl'
covered adjacent 90 3D. and the prices
land went mp 90 astonishing figures. Nea-
Dr. Parker property was sunk the great
Llfwclhn we'll the yield of which was
something fabulous.
Bat the South was then in The throes
of war and Dr. Parker. who headed his
famous battery am through the contest
was unable To get 10 West Virginia To-
look after his interests. when Doe did
go there after tine close OF the contest
the boom bad collapsed. Confederate
r.-noH was worthless. and hif chance of
ID fortune was gone.
Dr. Parker returned TO his home
and went to work 10 build up
his shattered fortunes. He did
not forget the property owned hy
him in West Virginia. and stil cherished
the hope that 81 would one day be of
value TO his descendants IL not 10 him.
LANcKs PERTTDY.
But the perddy of the man whom he
had trusted robbed him of that hope. The
minister. Lanck. informed him after the
passage of some years. that his land had
bcoa sold for taxes. although he lhad
always looked after their payment and
had also tried TO protect Lnncks in-
terests.
10 was not until many years alief ihdt
Dr. Parker discovered that such was
not the case. but that Lanck had taken
possession of the property, and had sold
on portion of the same tO q man named
Brast and others, receiving therefor the
sum of $4,000
Lanck. however. did not live long to
enjoy his il-cOtteu gains, and his SON
came into possession OF the rcmainder or
the laud. comprising. as stated. llW
acres and 10 was TO recover possession
Of this that suit was instituted 10y Dr.
Parker. his counsel being West Nir-
-inia lawyer. and Mr. John Q. Parker
of Southampton the well-known member
OF the legislature.
LOST TAX RECEIPTS.
An Interesting feature Of the matter
was that Or. Parker had lost his tax
receipts. and though he had searched
long and carefully for them, had never
been able 10 discover them.
While confined to his bed, however, with
a broken leg. received i'm iall from his
horse. ne began thinking over the matter,
made another search. and found the val
liable papers.
The case was fought In the lower court,
am appeal was taken 20 the supreme
Court. where argument was heard about
four months ago. and the decision has
just been rendered.
DR. Parker received the good news ln
his accustomed quiet manner, but when
seen at his residence on Third street last
night he appeared deeply gratiiied
VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
He said that he had as yet received no
definite information as 10 the status Of
the nroDertv. and could therefore, give
but little idea as 10 its value, the only
index being the fact that one OF the wells
had In the past been worth $4,000 per
wear and that there are twenty-five OF
them. IL is more than likely. however.
that the value OF the land will be well
up I'm the hundred thousands.
Mr. ]. c. Parker has gone 10 West Vir-
cinia TO look into the matter DR.. Parker $
recent recovery from a severe illness