Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-07
ISLAND IN DISPUTE,
POWER PLANT PROPERTY OF THE
P. & r. COMPANY.
HISTORY DATES AWAY BACK.
Heirs of the Late e. s. Ham1in Seek
to Recover the Island. Asserting
That the Present Claimants Have
No Clear Title-On Trial Now.

The island in the James river, ae 'ie
foot Of Seventh street, known as Brown
Island, is in litigation.
The heirs to the estate Of the late =.
S. Hamln have brought suit to recover
the island on the plea that the preseii'
owners have no clear title to the iaiiu'
which they claim was sold by an erroi
on the part of the commissioner, anu
that neither the late Hamlin nor the
present heirs were acquainted with the
fact of the sale at the time, and. further
that Hamlin died wholly ignorant OF the
entire transaction.
Many columns could be filled with In
teresting history concerning this par
ticular piece Of land. of the people VINO
have from time to time been its owners
some of whom have figured in both state
and national politics. The strip OF lana
Itself has much valuable historical IN
terest. It seems strange, yet neVerthe-
less it is true, that so small piece or
land should carry with it so long and
broad history, some OF the chapters
Of which are filled with the lives OF
noted political characters, and the name
of Browns Island has played an impor-
ia mt part in the financial realm. not only
in Virginia, but in Ohio and Pennsylvania
and many other States.
VALUABLE DATA.
A prominent business man of Richmond
has spent much time in getting together
data in connection with the suit, and
in doing so has collected from many
sources a pile of paper at least two and
a half OF three feet high, which. If bound
for library use would make a wonderful
and rare collection Of politics, famous
men, and an endless chain Of law suits
that have played important parts IN
many States.
It is impossible to undertake to give
here anything except what leads up to
the suit
The property. after the war between the
States. was owned by Hall Nelson, who
sold It to Samuel Bowman, who. in
turn sold it to Hon. E. S. Hamlln, OF
Ohio, who was the first Republican ever
elected to the United States Congress.
DIED IN WASHINGTON.
Hamlin died only few years ago IN
Washington. but before this he had be-
come involved in many entagled land
suits, and certain properties owned by
him and others were listed and COM
missioner appointed by the Federal court
to straighten out this tangle. In some
manner Browns Island, which was not
supposed to be in the commissioners
hands was sold by Leigh r. Page. the
commissioner. to T. c. Williams. of this
city who sold it to the Richmond Pas
senger and Power Company for the pur-
pose of constructing upon it a power
tlouse and lighting plant, which they
did and which still stands upon the
property, which. after the consolidation
of the two street-car companies. became
the property of the Virginia Passenger
and Power Company.
The heirs of the late Hon. E. S. Hamil-
ton claim that the commissioner had
no power by which he could sell the
land and have, therefore, brought suit
to recover the island or it's equivalent.
The suit is on trial in the Federal court,
and has been in progress for the past
ninety days AS vet nothing has devel-
oped that would show in whose favor the
case will be decided.
Willis 3. Smith represents the Hamlin
heirs, while the Passenger and Power
Company has for attorneys Messrs. Leake
& Carter.