The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-11-26
FORTUNE FOR AN IDAHO MAN
J. II. Edwards of Lewiston Falls Heir
to q Cool Million.

j. NJ. Edwards, clothing salesman of
has received authentic informa
ton that after years Of litigation he had
come into fortune amounting to 81 ,0OO.-
900. The story reads like romance,
covering litigation over large tract of
land lying in the business heart of the
city of New York dating back to the
time of King George Ill.
A correspondent of the Spokane Chron-
icle interviewed Mr.. Edwards at his home
a few days ago and obtained the follow
ing particulars regarding his Inheritance.
1.-THE tract of land involved in the heir
ship embraces As acres Of land in the
heart of New York city, extending from
Battery street to canal street. This tract
includes all of the promontory which ex-
tends from Canal street out into the bay.
The great business blocks on Wall street
and on Broadway, the government build
ing, postofice, custom houses and mint
are on this property.
"This land was leased to King George
III. by the Edwards family for colonial
use prior to the revolutionary war for
period of 80 years. 1t was afterwards
sublet by crown lease to Dutch settler
and later sold off into city lots subject to
the terms of the lease. Thus the Ed
wards ownership was recognized prior to
the revolutionary war. Later deeds were
absolute, but the Edwards heirs never
lost sight of their equity and when the
lease expired efforts were made to estab.
lieh title. but many reverses followed.
Accusations Of forgery and bribery
were made in connection with the claim
until 10 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 all abstract
of title from the crown grant in the first
instances and then the lease to the crown
for the use Of the colony, then the sub
title 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 pro
scriptioD under the common law.
The copies of deeds and leases form
perhaps. the most complete abstract 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 10 years ago.
For 10 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 compro.
mise.
"Mr. Edwards was required to secure
Identification through the secretary of
state Of the national govurnment before
he could secure the evidence of title Q
required from the archives of the English
government. When this red tape routine
was complete the musty vaults opened
their secrets to him and he was enabled
to make complete international abstract
of title.
Mr.. Edwards had secured about 200
powers of attorneys from the living heirs
of Robert Edwards. When he came to
New York with his evidence and COM
promise was proposed he entered into an
undertaking to quiet title for the sum of
$3O5, 100000.
"Over 81 900. 900 of this cum was placed
on deposit and the date fixed for the dis
tribution was September 90, 1896.
"The heirs were quietly summoned to
New York to transfer title and to secure
for each a share of over million dollars.
"But some of the heirs who were pos.
sessed of large fortunes refused to com.
promise for what they considered small
portion of the great estate. William
Edwards, who had all but finished the
great work of his life, was insulted and
grieved by the ungrateful attitude of
these heirs and by the imputation that he
had exceeded his authority. He dropped
the great work then and there.
"The title to the realty, however, was
established and the holders applied to
the courts for an order to quiet title. A
suit was brought to compel the heirs of
Robert Edwards to make deed In ac-
cordance with the contract entered into
by their attorneys-in-fa fact by which the
heirs were to receive $3O5. 100000. This
contract is now held to be binding upon
the heirs and the compromise price OF
$3O5, 100000 is ready for distribution"
j. NJ. Edwards is not informed as to
the exact number of testators, but there
are less than 800. His fathers family
consisted of 10 children, full and hall
brothers and sisters. Some of these are
dead. Two sisters live near Spokane
Mrs. j. s. Marine and Mrs. Emmett Rob.
inson. The brother, James ]. Edwards
is with the Sterling Mercantile Comp any
in Walla Walla. The family home is in
Tennessee, where the mother owns q