The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-04-13
CLOSE
OF Mercer COunty's Most Gel
ebrated Civil Case
DecislOn Of Supreme Court, Given
I'm Full Below, Sets Ownership
Of Farm Lands at Rest.

Not only those directly interested
but almost everybody in the count!
will read with interest the mandat,
and opinion of the State Supreme
Court on their decision in the cas-,
CT Joseph Motion and York Ryal To-
themselves and others against Ger
hard Kessens ct al, better known al
the famous Randolph slave cases.
Newspapers all over Ohio N The
past couple OF years have reviewed al
length these famous cases and the bi
dailies have used lengthy stories OIL
the history of the litigation.
The cloud Gf question OF title oi
the present owners OF these valuable
farm lands is finally raised by the
mandate OF the States highest tribu-
nal.
Possibly every reader in Mercer
county Is familiar with the traditions
and facts OF the famous case which
had its origin when Randolph. Of
Roanoke Virginia, freed his slaves
and sought 10 secure them tract OF
land in Ohio. Choice fell upon the
virgin land Of Mercer county, then
virtually wilderness, but where
there had been started a school for
colored people.
To that Isolated spot in the will
derness some one versed in history
had givcn the name of Carthagena,
and here it was decided by Ran
dolph's eexcU tor, his black people
should be located. Very few of them
ever reached the promised land.
Coming UP from Cincinnati on the
canal packet, they were met and
driven back by the white people at
New Bremen. The land purchased
for the was sold and the freed
slaves settled in Miami and Shelby
counties The older people were le-
thargic cr Indifferent to their loss,
but their descendants cherished the
Of their legacy and in 1905
began the suit TO recover possession.
Counsel for the defendants, Attor-
neys John W. Loree. P. E. Kenney
and John G. Romer, of this city, who
have fought valiantly in behalf Of
their clients Fer the past twelve years
are highly elated over the victory in
the court of final jurisdiction, and
have begun the task of preparing
suits to quiet the title to the lands
Of the nifty some defendants.
The opinion of the Supreme court
Is here gwen in full:
This cause came to be heard upon
the transcript of the record OF the
Court of Appeals of Mercer County,
and was argued by counsel. On con-
whereof, 1t is ordered and
by this court, that the judg-
ment of the said Court Of Appeals be,
fnd the same is hereby affirmed; for
the reasons:
1st. That the will of John Ran
dolph, deceased vested in William
.eigh las executor, full power, au-
Ihority and discretion to determine
the location. plans, methods and the
means of transporting and settling
The manumitted slaves Of John Ran
1oiph in some state or territory OF
he United states, other than the
state Of Virginia. in which the tesla
tor resided at the time of his death,
Ill OF which not only appears by the
direct terms nf the will, but by the
'Urther provision therein, that,-'no
inventory or appraisement be made
my estate, and no security shall
De required OF my said executor for
he faithful discharge of the trust
in him,-his own character,
being ia best security, and when
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