The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-08-09
THE ]. S. HOLMAN SURVEY
FURTHER STATEMENT REGARDING
THE NOW FAMOUS LITIGATION.
Copy OF an Ancient Acknowledgment
which 10 Claimed to Be De-
fective.

Judge w. p. Hamhlen, who has bcen
practitioner st she Houston bar during
the past half century and whose known
edge Of Harris county land titles Is there
fore based on the cumulative experiences
and Investigation Of these nfty years Of
practice. was called on by a reporter Tor
The Post yesterday and asked to furnisa
some personal "reminiscences In regard 70
the J. s. Holman survey, which Is at
nresent the subject Of wholesale and In
teresting litigation.
Judpe Hsmblen said: "The litigation, as
far as am informed. arises out of three
or four deeds In which It Is claimed the
ackrowledgments are defective IN thas
they fail TO comply with the Iornuin OF
the law as II was administered IN those
DAYS have every confidence that after
a lapse Of nfty-hve years the courts VIII
sustain titles. 49,
heir. Mrs. .Darden Of Columbus, acqulesced
In the titles 10 the time Of her death some
nine years ago. Her husband, Colonel W.
j. Darden, was n prominent citizen VINO
died twenty yeafs ago at Columbus. lie
was frst-cla lawyer and kucw. all the
facts concerning the estate. Ills Vile, Mrs
Fannie A. y. Darden, was woman ~
frs class intelligence.
dThe plaintiffs In the present suits, who
are claiming title through Mosely Baker,
are the remote heirs Of the palernai ana
maternal ancestors OF Mrs. Dnrdcn.
ii understand there are fonr or five
Of these acknowledgements which are
claimed 10 be defective, and II would he
impossible 70 thoroughly eluctdalc the case
until the matter is heard In the courts.
while We don't want to appear huasttnl
In the eases OF defendants which we rep
resent at the same time we believe the
courts win sustain the titles held under
these several deeds without doubt. We
consider the cluims of the plaintlrs essen
at The same time may state that
after forty seven years OF practice | nave
court decisions as / had at II.
AS values Increase we ind persons In
communities VINO seem to ait4ck ana Try
to destroy on the sllghlcst technicallt}y AZ
most every right belonging 60 mankind,
and upon the most absurd claims. ! sup
pose 100 lawyers have pissed on these
titles ana pronounced, them good. 900
''Mosely Baker died OF cholera In 1S4S.
Ills heirs were Miss Eliza Baker who
remained single, aud died In this city dur
Ing the war, and Mrs. w j. parlgn, who
Darden was the administrator Of the es-
tate of Mosey Baker
"At the death of Mrs Darden she be
queathed q certain portion OF the estate
10 81. Johns church of Columbus, Late
~ the vestfy nt this church conveyed the
property back 10 the Moseiy Baker heirs
for consideration of $1,000
~
One of the Acknowledgements which Is
c'Aiueh 10 NC uctcCtlFp APpedEs ia tue
deed records OF Harris county. 1t reads
sc folowsi
state Of Texas, Harris County. Before
me- William NJ Lyon, notary public OF
Harris county in the State Of Texas, came
Mosely Baker to me known, and executed
Ia my presence the above deed for the
purposes therein contained. Witness my
hand and notarlal seal at Houston, Sep
tember 10, 1S4T.
tSignedl WIN. n. Lyon,
Notary Pablic, Harris County.
II 10 understood that tina plaintiffs con
tend the word 'executcd" lp the ahoy,
should read acknowledged" and that III
failure to do 30 inyalidates the title.