Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-17
Count once Tried
To Claim Title to
Padre Island Land

chased to the island was one Of
scores Of others just like II, all
fakes. and that the island was no
place for him.
This information was impaired to
him by Pat Dunn, for many years
the Monarch Of Padre Island" and
who not so many months ago surren-
dered his title to Col. Sam Robert
SON and associates.
The count departed without delay.
These details, and scores of others
making up the colorful history Of
the long stretch Of island sand and
waste. were brought out in the trial
recently OF a case to settle title TO
the island.
Behind and beyond these facts,
ings along the borderland were re-
corded. lies a century or two Of un-
written history-of the deeds of pi-
rates and their gold, explorers and
their adventures. That gold has been
hidden on the island is shown in the
findin- of small quantities of il at
some points on the island in past
years, particularly at Money Hill"
But the expeditions which have
been conducted along the island
have all been failures so far as
money was concerned, in spite Of the
old story Of a sunken treasure fleet
just off the coast Of the island,
about midway between Point Isabel
and Corpus Christi. The treasure
galleons, il they we're ever sunk off
the island. apparently have a snug
retreat in the depth of salt water
just off shore, and will probably re-
main there for centuries to come.
hiding their treasure.
But the treasure stories are large
ly myth. And there is almost az
much glamour to the actual written
history Of the early days of the
island.
The hundred and twenty-mile
stretch of island, varying i'm width
from n to three or four miles. and
containing about 100000 acres oil
land, was granted 10 Juan Jose Bali,
and his brother, Nicolas Bali, 1
priest. on November 81, 1928. the
record shows. The island was grant
ed by the state OF Tamaulipas. Mex
leo, and the deed from that date
to this has been in evidence.
Two of the direct descendants OF
Juan Jose Bali testified i nthe case
tried recently, and gave the family
history, and the family tree of Juan
ose Bali and of all his many de-
scendants. The two descendants who
testified were Quintina Leal de San
chez and Mercedes Cavazos dc
jaime.
The case also developed how the
island acquired its name. II wa.
originally called Corpus Christi
Island, and was later called Santiago
Island. Then IL became known as
the PADRES Island, because of the
fact that 1t was owned by the Padre,
or priest, Nicolas Bali. Later the
posseSsive was dropped, and IL has
since been known as Padre Island.
The evidence brought out in the
case showed that Pat Dunn took
possession Of the island az years
ago, and that he has raised his fam
lily on il, and has maintained his
possession ever since, like a mon.
arch IN q small p~rincipality. Wit
nesses testified in the case that he
maintained agents at both ends Of
the island, and that no man could 20
upon the island without getting 4
passport or written permit from Pat
Dunn's agent.
Then the trick Of selling the island
was developed by another man
whose name was brought out in the
case only in part. as his first name
was Tot known. He secured a fake
deed to the island. witnesses testi-
fled, and sold the island frgm so TO
$50 times to New York and Chicago
capitalists. When the new purchas-
ers appeared on the island Pat Dunn
soon Informed them of the status OF
the deed. and of the real owner
The Italian count was only one of
the hundred or more who purchased
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