South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-08
HEIRS TO PRICE
ESTATE TO MEET
Plans for Legal Fight to Re-
cover S4O,OOO,OOO Estate
to Be Formulated.


From the east, west. north and
south. heirs OF the $40. 900. 900 estate
Of Christopher Price, at Baltimore,
Nd. viii gather Thursday afternoon
at the home OF Thomas H. Hartman,
319 Lincolnway E. when plans 70
launch a legal battle 10 recover the
property for the heirs scattered
throughout the United States and
Canada Will be formulated. Letters
approving the plan TO delegate
power Of attorney to Hartman have
been received by the local man from
heirs in many states of the east and
west and offers Of financial aid in
conducting a legal battle will be
forthcoming at Thursdays meeting
Hartman expects to leave South
Bend for the Maryland metropolis
one week from Tuesday and will
devote about three weeks to an ex-
haustive Investigation Of the claim
which embraces 252 acres originally
leased TO Lord Baron Baltimore for
a period of 80 years. About $50
I people are expected TO attend the
meeting.
VIII Aid Investigation
Five heirs of Thomas Price, old
est son Of Christopher Price. have
written Mr.. Hartman from Lebanon,
! Pa. expressing willingness TO share
( in the investigation to be conducted
at Baltimore.
At Plymouth. Ind, one Of the
I heirs has received a letter from his
sister residing in Baltimore in which
she states she lives on the land un-
der dispute and has no deed to heI
property. She suggests that Hart
man call on her during his visit 10
/ Baltimore. Four descendants OF
Betsie Price, sister OF Thomas
/ Price. now located in Colorado. have
written to South Bend Offering TO
contribute their share toward fnanc-
( ing the investigation. Others at St.
Joseph Mich. have similarly ex-
/ pressed their approval of Hartman's
! plan.
A "Tomahawk Claim" awarded
settlers in Maryland following the
Revolutionary war, was granted TO
Christopher Price, who came to this
country in 1855 and settled in Queen
Anne county, Md. The best legal
minds OF the country declare a
"tomahawk claim" never outlaws.
At the present time the 252 acres
in question is said TO be valued at
S4O.OO0O00 and the rental rights
are said to be maintained by the
city Of Baltimore. Christopher Price
obtained a release on the property
( following expiration Of the 99-year
: lease held by Lord baltimore.
Christopher had two brothers,
benjamin and Andrew, who came to
this country with their brother and
settled in Maryland. Christopher
served with Gen, Washington in the
Revolutionary war and for his
services was granted the 'tomahawk
( claim" His descendants are scat
tered throughout the country. Many
are located in South Bend, Niles.
buchanan, Lakeville and surround
ling territory. Mr.. Hartman's
grandfather, Thomas Price. young
est son of Christopher. held the
lease after his fathers death.
Hartman holds the deed, lease and
contract to the 252 acres, also the
! location OF the survey. These were
sent him by a group OF heirs, de-
/ scendants Of Benjamin Price, who,
at the time, believed Benjamin to
be a brother of Christopher. When
they discovered Benjamin was a
brother Of Christopher they sought
an alignment Of interests with the
third generation descendants OF
Christopher but their advances at
that time were refused.
Atty. Frank II. DUnnahoo. Of this
city, is taking care of legal matters
in connection with the investigation
in behalf OF some of the local heirs.