The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-01-05
LOSES HIS MILLIONS,
FLORIDA JUDGE PUTS AN END TO
CLAIMS OF Mr.. COWELL.
CLAIMED JACKSONVILLE LAND
And Had Transferred 1t to the waubun
Colonization Company Which has
Several Members in This
City and Vicinity

A legal struggle involving millions of
dollars closed late Saturday afternoon
in Jacksonville, Florida, and the result
of the long and holly contested fight
wipes out dream of millions which
has long been cherished by Walter M.
Cowell, of this city.
The end of tedious legal struggle
came when P. D. Cassidy, of the circuit
court at Jacksonville, acting under an
order from Judge W. A. Hooker of the
fifth judicial circuit of Florida, burned
a deed which was given early in 1898,
purporting to convey large tract in
Springfield, a valuable residence suburb
of that city, for consideration of
S., 100000.
The deed purported to have been
executed by Walter M. Cowsll, of
Kenosha, to the Waubun Colonization
and Improvement Company, and a
trust deed involving the same property
was also made to the Chicago Loan
& Trust Company.
The burning OF this deed brings an
end to one of the most interesting land
deals in which any Kenosha parties
have ever been interested.
Before Attorney Cowell came to
Kenosha he had lived in Jacksonville,
and over ten years ago in connection
with Robert Holgerson and Chicago
attorney named Mcbride he examined
the records of all the land in Jackson
Vile, and discovered that the land
which is now the magnificent suburb
called Springfield, had never been pre-
empted but the only title owned for it
was one of Spanish origin.
With visions of great wealth before
them the spectators met and cast lots
as to which one OF them should recover
the coveted patent for the unpreempt-
ed land. Fortune favored Holgerson
and during the administration of Presi-
dent Harrison the patent was issued in
due form of law. Holgerson filed his
claim in the Florida courts and pre-
pared to take charge of his prize, but
public sentiment grew so strong against
him that after short ownership he
refused to longer hold the response
bility and gave quit claim deed for the
entire tract of property to Attorneys
Cowell and Mcbride. AS soon as the
transfer was legally recorded the rage
of the people broke out afresh ana the
two would be millionaires were forced
to leave Jacksonville at the point of
Winchesters. They came to Chicago
and pushed their claims for a short
time after, when Mcbride let the mat
ter drop and at his death Willed
the property to COwell, thus making
him sole owner.
The Kenosha lawyer was unable to
finance the scheme, so early last year
he formed in this city the Waubun
Colonization and Improvement Co
The members of the company are I'M
known, but Mr.. Cowell was the gener-
al manager and attorney and James
Crook of this city was the secretary.
In this manner the deal was introduced
into the courts of Florida without any
of the elements of dangers which &C
companied the early attempts to secure
possession of the property.
These papers were sent there early
last year to be recorded, but as an in
junction had been issued against any
one claiming title under deed from
Robert Holgerson and Sarah P. Hazel
tine, who Edeclared themselves to be
heirs of John R. Hogan, from asserting
these claims, the clerk declined to
record the documents.
The Springfield companp, which
purchased the property from Mrs. W.
NJ. Bostwick, through whom the court
bad adjudged the legitimate chain of
title has descended, asked Judge
Hooker for further injunction against
claim being made under the Holgerson
and Hazeltine alleged chain of title.
The defendants restrained by this
order failed to make answer to the bill
and Judge Hooker issued an order
directing the clerk to destroy the So
called deeds. He also ordered the
deeds following this chain of title to be
declared null and void, and all I'M
record deeds to be destroyed.
Attorney CoWell was seen last night
and said he had not as yet heard of the
action of the Florida courts, but he