The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-10
|[|T|GAT|ON MAY !.
| INVOLVE MILLIONS
,,'vIR INTERESTED IN
tsas>
CLAIMS THAT MAY DISTURB
\ MANY WASHINGTON TITLES.
SEARCHING FOR WILL
4 EDM0NsTON FAMILY's CLAIM MAY
Il BRING ABOUT BIGGEST LEGAL
\ FIGHT IN DISTRICTS
II HISTORY.

~ WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. TO-
II Rigid investigation into the titles to
II millions of dollars worth es land in
III Involve perhaps one OF the most SEN
Hsational Legal fights ever waged in
asthe history of the District, Is being
t.conducted in the District courts by
s.former Representative J. Golszier, Of
WChicago. in behalf of the Western de.
descendants OF Colonel Ninian Beall and
iyArchibald Edmondston.
III Colonel Beall and Mr.. Edmondston
lwere two of the original owners of
aaIarge tracts OF land in Washington
sssand Georgetown and in Maryland and
aevirginia, and their descendants assert
apthe government has discovered II does
s,not legally own all the lands IL has
habeen laying title to. The heirs say
38they have as evidence documents COW
ksering the original granting of the
GLANDS In question, and that 1t Is their
i.intention to compel the present hold
a5crs OF disputed properties to estab-
s,.lish their titles or relinqnish all claim.
Il Dir. Golszier is sdelving into the
Marehives OF the District courts, and
sin a few days he will begin action to
8force the issue TO final adjustment.
~ big Fund to Fight Case.
" The descendants OF Colonel Beall
stand Mr.. Edmondston have raised an
enormous fund to be used in defray
A1ng the expenses Of rigid research
Unto the legality OF the present titles.
e The bill recently introduced In the
Senate by Senator Scott. OF West Vir-
Z ginia. who is chairman of the title
Investigation commission of the Dis
Ffrict. which will enable the United
Estates to acquire possession of and
ia clear title to all lands In Washing
ton now in dispute. Archibald Ed
,smondston, of jefferson City, Mo-, one
9of the claimants. who Is here. says
< establishes beyond doubt just what
.,his relatives have been contending
Tor years. that the government has
discovered IL does not legally own all
s.the lands it has been laying a claim
Eof title to. In his opinion, this ad-
.mission will be made public after the
bill has passed Congress. and the gov
ernment then will proceed to sue to
..obtain clear title.
K Civil proceedings of this kind are
what the Edmondstons are anxious
to have instituted. they assert. as IL
viii then enable them TO introduce as
sevidence records and documents COW
ering the original granting of the
lands in question, and the present
holders OF the disputed properties
then must establish their own titles
70 all land they now hold.
Search for Missing VIII.
missing win. the last wishes and
Testament OF Thomas Edmonston.
.who died in 1924. and who was a son
.of Archseaid Edmondston, No. /. Is
being sought for by Attorney Golszter
When the record OF 1t Is found II will
assist materially in establishing the
claims OF the Edmonstons, 1t is be-
Nesed. and clear away much or the
mystery of how the lands at issue
passed into the possession of those
who transferred them TO the govern
1nent.
Among the Washington lands at
issue are tracts along the Eastern
was the flats" In Georgetown and
Others in Maryland and Virginia ad-
sacent to the District
The only living direct descendants
of Thomas Edmondston are Archi-
bald T. Edmonston. OF jefferson City,
.Mo.; Felix w. Edmonston. OF ST.
Louis. Mrs. Helen Eelmeke and Mrs.
Matilda Visser, OF Chicago. Mrs E.
Al. Fuller. OF Clinton. H., and J. O.
-Edmonston. Of Laray. Va. All other
Edmonstons are descendants OF the
brothers Of Thomas Edmonston. and
therefore have no connection with the
Washington lands, but will come in
for q share OF the Montgomery coun-
ty properties. fs, ~. sss.+~. ,-e-.-.a. ~
Attorney Golszier has brought with
him to Washington copies of all pa
pers. records and other documents
@hiGh he will use In his resea r,cfreS
He will enlist the services OF all Ed
monstens and relatives In and around
Washington and Baltimore In his ef-
fort to get to the bottom Of the case.