Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-02
Mrs. Maybrick Will Return in
afew Weeks.
Will Attend Trial Of Land Suit in
Virginia.
Served Sentence for Murder in British
Prison.

| TdIflnOlit w. Nd july 10. MS ldlil
Gus American prisoner is one of the
principal heirs interested in the out
come of this suit, which is nearly 100
years old. The issue in this litigation
| is made by Henry c. King of New
York, who brings suit to dispossess the
holders of hundreds Of thousands of
acres if valuable lands in West Vir-
Sini;l to which he claims title. There
are several hundred land owners and
corporations interested in keeping the
lands and just us many heirs expecting
to secure the property. The history of
| this famous case antedates the ReVolu-
| ton and concerns many men of ma
tional prominence and importance in
| their day.
On June 25, 1879, the state of Vir-
Ginia patented to Robert Norris of
Revolutionary war fame 4 tact of $780,
600 acres in what was then known as
Wythe and Russell counties, Va, on
the Sandy and Guyandotte rivers and
their waters, and now embracing the
counties of Logan. Mingo. Mcdowell
and Wyoming, w. Va, and Buchanan
county. Va.
Wilson Carey Nichols. who COM
manded Washington's bCdyguard dur
| ing the Revolution. SurN eyed this land.
AftcrWard he was United States semi
tor and Governor of Virginia. Robe: t
| Morris, who was i wealthy banker of
Philadelphia, became Il great friend of
Gen. Washington.
Nov. 16, 1895, Morris conveyed this
vast tract of land to james Swan "
Boston, who Il short time aftcrward
went to Paris, and after living fast
life for Il time. was cast IN Jail for debt
and a few years afterward died while
still in prison. Swan executed Il pOW..r
Of attorney for Il portion of this prop
crty to Il man nacmd Hunt, who con-
veyCd Il portion of it to Schwitzer anu
Allison. They, after holding it for
some time. conveyed it to Mr.. Hol-
brook of New York.
Mrs. MHyhrick, whose name is known
throughout the world, and who WAS
recently released from imprisonment in
England. where she mas been serving
Il sentence for murder, is Il direct de-
Srcndant of Holbrook. one of the OWL
crs of the property, and is one of the
principal heirs of his fortune. The suit
concerning the Holbrook portion in
which Mrs. Mayhrick is interested
rests upon different set of facts than
hose supporting the litiSaEts over the
other and larger portions. 10th now
involve Irany millions of dollars.
y short time after the Revolutionary
war this entire tract of land became
forfeited to the state of Virginia TO-
payment of taxes. But in 1880 an
act WAS PASSED by the Virginia Asscul-
~, releasing the taxes which were due
thereon, upon an application OF Swans
representatives which WAS supposed to
he in consideration of the services
France rendered this country i'm its
time of need, during the war of indie
pendence. it being reported that certain
prominent Frenclmen. including La
fIyettc himself. were interested in tbs,
property. This representation was
made in the Virginia Assembly by John
lftzer Dumas.
Dumas WAS cmpoN red to sell and
convey the land as Il trustee of the
swan estate. AS such trustee he made
several convcyanccs. The land then
PASSED through Il number of successive
conVeyalnCnS until whatever title WIS
remaining after some OF the land had
again been forfeited for non-pavmo,1
Of taxes became the property of Henry
&. King, the plaintiff in the numerous
suits ROW pending in the different
courts of West Virginia.
King was once a Chicago speculation.
but went broke" after which he was
engaged in business in the Rocky noun
talns and in California. He finally
heard of this Morris grant, came
to this part of the country and
purchased as much Of it as he
could secure. Now he is suing to gain
possession of the land. He began the le
gal struggle 10 years age. thus throwing
a cloud on the title to all the vast prop
crty interests involved and greatly re-
tardinS the progress of this large section
of the state
After this land was forfeited for non
payment of taxes for many years all the
persons who claimed any interest in it
lost sight of it. They did not return after
these taxes had been RENTED in 1890. and
the heirs of Dumas did not occupy the
land.
The years rolled by and finally the state
of Virginia became tired of the vast tract
lying idle, with no revenue coming in
from it. At last it was agreed that the
tract would be granted in small parcels
TO different persons in the state. The
persons who received these grants have
since that time transferred many of them
to other persons, who have paid taxes on
the land and who have resided there for
many years. These are the ones King is
now trying to disposscss.
This case has at different times been
in the highest courts of the countr-- hav-
ing been taken up to the United States
supreme court by King, who claimed
that the forfeiture clause in the West
Virginia constitution was in violation of
the federal constitution. Many tragedies
are recorded in connection with this liti-
CATION. When Robert Morris received
from James Swan of Boston, the money
for this great property, the Philadelphia
banker decided to invest the proceeds in
Washington real estate. 1t is said he did
so against the advice and counsel of Gen.
Washington. The lots were purchased
on the agreement that Morris would
build 20 brick houses every year on this
property. Shortly after this undertaking
no nd