James Addison Reavis and the Peralta claim

Citation preview

JAMES ADDISON REAVIS AND THE PERALTA CLAIM

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department of History The University of Southern California

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts

by Newton A. Johnson May 1942

UMI Number: EP59503

All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion.

UMT Dissertation Publishing

UMI EP59503 Published by ProQuest LLC (2014). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code

ProQuest ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 4 8106- 1346

T h is thesis, w r i t t e n by

...... N E ¥ T M . . . A L m M m . J Q M S Q N ...... u n d e r the d ir e c t io n o f h.%3. F a c u l t y C o m m itte e , a n d a p p r o v e d by a l l its m e m b e r s , has been presented to a n d accepted by the C o u n c il on G ra d u a te S tu d y a n d R esearch in p a r t i a l f u l f i l l ­ m e n t o f th e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r th e d e g r e e o f

MASTER OF ARTS

Secretary Date

June, 1942

FacultyCommitU

Chainm

PREFACE After reading Will H* Robinson’s, History of Arizona, the investigator was so struck with the immensity of the account of the "Bogus Baron of the Colorados," that he re­ solved to make a study of the notorious Baron and his Peralta Land Grant*

Four years of research have brought a fuller

understanding of the stupendous part the Baron played in Arizona history. The writer has followed work of previous writers, having made use of newspaper files, interviews, State and Federal archives, historical societies, university and public libraries* Grateful acknowledgment is tendered to Doctor Owen C* Coy, Doctor Frank H. Garver, and Doctor Ivan Benson for their help and criticisms. To my wife, Betty Johnson, goes a deep appreciation of her vitally important help in making possible this work of research.

TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER

PAGE

P R E F A C E .................................................

ii

I* MEXICAN BACKGROUND OF THE PERALTA LAND CLAIM . .

1

Spanish background ................ Land grants conferred by Mexico

I

............

3

Background relations of Mexico and the United States . ............ . ................

4

II* BACKGROUND OF TERRITORY OF NEW M E X I C O .....

8

Office of Surveyor-General for New Mexico established, 1854

8

Office of Surveyor-General for Arizona estab­ lished ....................................

11

First Peralta claim filed in 1883

12

III* HOW ARIZONA VIEWED THE PERALTA C L A I M .......

15

Influence of claim on Congressionalelection

•

Attitude of the P r e s s ..................

15 15

IV. NEW MEXICO COURT OF LAND CLAIMS ESTABLISHED, 1891

21

Conditions causing the establishment of the c o u r t ................................

21

Court personnel and f u n c t i o n s ..........

25

Second Peralta claim filed, September 2, 1887

27

Surveyor-General*s Adverse Report on the second c l a i m ................................ Question of exact extent of Peralta grant

28 * •

45

iv CHAPTER V.

PAGE TRIAL OF THE PERALTA CLAIM, 1895 ..............

47

Legal talent for Peralta g r a n t ..............

47

Legal talent for the United States Government

48

The case for the Peralta descendants........

49

Reynolds summarizes adverse findings ........

51

Evidences of falsity of the c l a i m .............

52

...........

55

The claim is r e j e c t e d .........................

60

Reavis indicted— imprisoned

60

Interesting aspects of the trial .

VI.

...................

REAVIS, THE M A N .......................... His early l i f e ........................ Reavis starts his criminal career Reavis the school teacher

• •

.............

63

...............

65

Reavis, Baron of Arizona • • • • • • • • • • •

66

Reavis begins life a n e w .......................

72

Last days of Reavis and his w i f e ...............

74

B I B L I O G R A P H Y .........................................

76

A P P E N D I C E S ...........................................

79

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ILLUSTRATION 1.

pAGE

Peralta Claim Boundaries in Arizona and New M e x i c o ..................................

2

2.

The Modest Extent of Reavis’sC l a i m ...........

30

3.

Mrs* Reavis and the "Barony"

............

43

4*

James Addison Reavis, No* 964

............

61

5*

Reavis’s Twin Sons

..........

67

6*

James Addison Reavis and Dona

SofiaLoreto

Micaela De Peralta-Reavis........ ............

69

CHAPTER I MEXICAN BACKGROUND OF THE PERALTA LAND CLAIM In 1883,the settlers of Arizona’s Salt River and Gila valleys were astounded by the colossal land grant claimed by lames Addison Reavis.^

In view of the fact that

this first claim covered 1,300,000 acres, and Reavis’ second petition modestly demanded 12,500,000 acres, included the cities of Phoenix, Florence, Globe, and others, it is worth while to consider the historical background and events which made possible such a stupendous claim. Spanish background.

Under the ancient laws of Spain,

the king maintained Nueva Espana as a royal colony.

In

order to facilitate settlement of lands, the new territory, exclusive of lower and upper California, was in 1756 divided into twelve provinces or intendencias.

The Intendencia of

Sonora and Sinoloa was established with Arizpe as its head­ quarters.

Most of Arizona’s land grants originated from

there.^ The giving of land grants for establishment of mis­ sions, their buildings, farms and gardens was later to result

^ Will M. Tipton, "The Prince of Imposters," Land of Sunshine, February-March, 1898, 110. 2 lames H. McClintock, Arizona, Prehistoric, Aboriginal, Pioneer, Modern. II, 529.

APACHE,

MOHAVE

£

| K A V A J'O

R

\

C

*T 7,7,5 Mikfcs

/»SAT^?Rfi H O S C O

ott&mu*Nv *ItuiPLETS'fX, of ^v^ ' * 1 T " / * 7 6 ' 1 ' '~

globe

A C

P/ MA//AND

/Ian I a HOV w/t,f***£1 n ,ML /*/«v

8 A N CARL.0^ AGENCY

\P I0 NE.ER

iTURMBUUPH

AGEN'

'JADOiMpkC-^'' Iaus a r d - C o l l i e r E n g Co

R X £A V IS *S

T W I N ” SO InT S

P h o to , b y C u rra n , S a n t a F e.

T h e s e b e a u t i f u l l i t t l e b o y s w e r e a f e a t u r e o f t h e tr ia l o f R e a v is , a n d m a d e g r e a t s y m p a th y fo r h is c la im

68 with an eye to the future, had sent engraved announcement cards to the judges who were later to try his case.1^

He was

missing no tricks. Reavis at this time was about fifty.

His picture17

and numerous descriptions reveal a tall thin man, nervous, yet controlled by a restraining driving personality.

Pene­

trating blue eyes, contrasted with his thin reddish hair and side wiskers.

His speech was characterized by abounding

sonorous adjectives.

A deep scar on the side of his forehead,

and a marked stiffness of one leg, lead many to speculate on their possible cause.18 According to John R. Murdock, Sofia, "Lola" his wife, looked every inch the Spanish heir she was supposed to be, despite her lowly origin.

He describes her thus:

Her eyes were large and of darkest hazel. A pro­ fusion of black and silken hair hung in a great mass below her waist. The delicate lines of her body and her exquisite grace and fascination told of noble ancestry.^ In marked contrast to this picture is that of the Gazette which states in part:

^ 17

Minutes of New Mexico Bar Association, 1906. See photograph, p. 69.

18 Peralta Grant Testimony, 224-227. Deposition of Judie McKellar. 19 81.

Cf. Appendix J,

John R. Murdock, Arizona Characters in Silhouette,

69

IPeralta IReavie’ IReal l i f e Illustrates

T H E ROMANCE

O F

T H E

P E R A L T A

G R A N T w ill b egin w it h a later issue

PERALTA REAVIS

MRS. PERALTA REAVIS

“M b a t p era lta IReavis Iknowe Hbout H risona 'T ^ W E N T V y e a rs a g o I found th is a rid region a b o w e r of wild, l u x u r i o u s f lo w e rs o f e v e ry h u e a n d delicacy o f t i n t — th ere w ere t w o s p rin g tim e s then, a t every s w in g of m o th e r e a r t h a r o u n d th e s u n , b e g in n in g w i t h each solstice. B u t th e old a d a g e t h a t " s e a s o n s c h a n g e ” h a s been w r i t t e n indelibly u p o n t h e fac e o f c o u n t r y a n d m a n d u r i n g t h e s e t o o b r i e f y e a r s

s im ila r it y ; a n d I n o te t h e e v e r-p rese n t oxidized iro n , which g i v e s a p o r o u s c o n d i t i o n e a s i l y s o l u b l e in w a t e r , h e n c e a d m i r a ­ b l y a d a p t e d t o i r r i g a t i o n p r o c e s s e s in t h i s t o r r i d c l i m a t e w. li­ m it b a k in g irretriev ab ly n o r d ry ing in to h a rd pan w ith g reat fissures z ig z a g g i n g t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y . A p p a r e n t l y th is s m o u n t a i n o u s c o u n t r y v o i d o f v e r d u r e , n e v e r t h e l e s s all i t c i i ; -

JAMES ADDISON REAVIS an d

DONA SOFIA LORETO MICAELA DE PERALTA-REAVIS Tills picture was published in a magazine entitled Peralta Reavis1 Real Life Illustrated, July 5, 1900. James Addison Reavis was the editor and proprietor. (See Appendix M, 112J

70 Mrs. Peralta-Reavis, a large, heavy-featured, plain looking woman . . ., showily dressed and glittering with jewel, . . . When ladies of Phoenix called upon her she would sometimes he sitting luxuriously in her "drawing room" with an elegant hit of fancy work lying in her lap, and at other times she would appear, as if taken hy surprise, in a negligee costume, with a half-finished painting in her paint-hesmeared fingers. Yet no one ever saw her apply a needle or touch a canvas with a paint brush.20 Eight years before the Gazette presented this descrip­ tion of Mrs. Reavis, there appeared a reprint article in the Tombstone Epitaph. were in Los Angeles.

At that time, 1887, Reavis and his wife The article states:

The lady has a high type of castillian air and a most pleasant genial presence. She is apparently about 30 years of age, medium height, with clear creamy complexion, already inclining to fleshiness. She greeted the correspondent pleasantly. The Baroness had little to say except occasionally to interpolate a few words in support of her husband’s story. The claimants have with them a young girl who they assert is a cousin of the Simon-pure Peraltas whose native heath is in Andalusia. The noble pair have with them also two male servants, while the Baron seems to deem an amanuensis necessary, as he has one in his train. They are in a private residence and leave tomorrow. Their destination could not be learned. Both exhibited evidences of having money, if good clothes and a well-satisfied air are indications.21 Life at Arizola, for the Baron and family, was undoubt­ edly the high tide of their career.

20

There the Baroness, robed

Arizona, Daily Gazette, June 6, 1895.

21 Tombstone, Epitaph, August 6, 1887.

71 in velvet, would receive guests.

The handsome twins wore

royal purple caps with monogram coronets.

It is said that

while the family resided there and travelled afar, their annual expenses were no less than #60,000 a year* With a retinue of servants and quantities of baggage they toured the United States, Spain and Mexico.

The Baron

was so pleased with life’s full blessings that he, at Guadalara, Mexico, gave #1,000 for new altar cloths for the cathedral.

With majestic condescension he donated #1,500

for an impressive drinking fountain, set up to the memory of his wife’s mythical ancestor*

While travelling, they lived

at the most expensive hotels.

In Madrid they maintained a

staff of servants and luxurious carriages.

22

Reavis received much of his income from granting ’’marriage contract” land deeds to the Arizona settlers. His supreme interest he held was the promotion of Arizona’s welfare.

This he, with tongue in cheek, testified in part

at the trial: My object was to develop Arizona. . . . I never cared that much (with the snap of his fingers) for the grant, except the honor of having done something in it. I am not a lover of money, but I am a lover of development and building up the country. Therefore my whole life has been in the interest of building up Arizona.24 22 McClintock, History of Arizona, 535-536. 23 Cf. Chapter V, 55. 2^ Peralta Grant Testimony. 594-595.

72 Reavis begins life anew. While prison bars restrained the Baron’s activities, his wife, destitute and nearly friend­ less, was living in cheap lodgings on Larimer Street, Denver, Colorado.25 Upon his release from prison, Reavis, a stooped old man, returned to pick up the now frayed threads of his torn life.

He tried hard to support his family; even peddling

soap from house to house.

During his confinement in prison

he had turned his many-sided capability to the inventive field.

One of his investions, a weighing scale, did have

value; nevertheless, his efforts were insufficient. On April 4, 1902, his wife brought suit for divorce in the Denver county court. and desertion.

She charged him with non-support Cfi The suit was granted July 2, 1902.

Reavis went to Los Angeles, California, in 1906.

There

he attempted to establish a weekly journal2^ despite the failure of an earlier publishing venture in 1900.

This ven­

ture was the printing of a magazine revealing the true details of the Peralta Grant. That he still retained much of his former drive, and

25 McClintoek, History,of Arizona, 537. 26 Denver Post, January 16, 1921, magazine section, 2. 2^ Los Angeles Times, March 11, 1906. Cf• Appendix M.

73 vital interest in Arizona’s irrigation development, is evi­ dent by the resumption, in 1910, of his pet irrigation project. This fantastic promotion aimed to erect two water storage dams to irrigate the Salt and Gila valleys.

One storage dam,

with a capacity of 989,600,000,000 cubic feet, was to be located at the Little Tonto Basin.

The other dam, to be

erected at The Buttes, on the Gila River above Florence, was expected to irrigate 6,000,000 acres in the Florence region. Total cost of these projects was estimated at $12,535,637. The utter impracticability of the project is shown by its calling for the cutting of a tunnel, twenty-five miles long, through the Superstition Mountains.29 In 1913, Reavis was next heard of in Downey, California, near Gallatin, where he had taught school in 1875. while he visited Downey friends.

For a

When his welcome was worn

out, he turned vegetable grower and odd job man in Downey. Though reduced to these extremities, he was yet to taste even greater humiliation.

He, James Addison Peralta-Reavis, Baron

of the Coloradoes, was forced to seek shelter at Ranchos Los 30 Amigos, the Los Angeles County Poor Farm! Reavis spent a month at the Poor Farm, checking out March 18, 1913.

His registration card is pathetically blank

29 McClintock, History of Arizona, 534-535. 30 Los Angeles County Farm, Inmate Files, III, 301. Cf. Appendix L.

74 under the space designated, "Names and Addresses of Relatives and Friends I"3-*- What a commentary on the utter abandonment of the once proud Baron! Last days of Reavis and his wife.

Little is known of

what happened to James Addison Reavis after he left the Poor Farm in 1913.

It was reported that he visited his pncTe,

Elmo Reavis, in Los Angeles, sometime afterward, also that he was temporarily filling the pulpit of a church in the Arroyo Seco, near Pasadena, California.3^ Lola M. Reavis, the former grant claimant, established her residence in Denver, Colorado, where she died in 1934* The Rooky Mountain News tells of the death: Mrs. Lola M. Reavis, 71, a resident of Denver 38 years, died last night in Presbyterian Hospital, following a stroke of paralysis suffered 10 days ago. Mrs. Reavis resided at 1478 Detroit St., and was the mother of twin sons, Lieut. Col. Carlos L. Reavis, an officer of the 45th division of the National Guard, and one of Colorado’s most widely known aviators, and Miguel Reavis, 856 So. Ogden St. Mrs. Reavis was born in San Francisco, Calif., where she spent her childhood. Her husband, J. A* Reavis, died in Denver 20 years ago. Funeral services will be in charge of the Olinger Mortuary and burial will be in Fairmount C e m e t a r y . 3 3

31 Los Angeles County Farm, Inmate Files. Ill, 301. 3^ The investigatorfwas told this by Elmo Reavis, J ame s Addi son *s u n d e . 33 Denver Rocky Mountain News. April 5, 1934.

The Rocky Mountain Hews devotes but four inches of space to recount the deaths of plain Mr. and Mrs. Reavis. Thirty-nine years ago columns of news space were given to the lives of Don James Peralta-Reavis and Dona Sofia Loreto Peralta-Reavis, claimants of the largest land grant in the history of the United Statesl

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BIBLIOGRAPHY PRIMARY SOURCES Johnson, Royal A . , Adverse Report of the Surveyor-General of Arizona upon the Alleged Peralta Grant. Phoenix, 1890. Peralta Grant Testimony of the United States, Amended Answer and Cross Petition of the United States; Translations, Documentary EvTdence, and Exhibits of the Government; Transcript of Testimony Taken on Trial of the Case, end the ¥ina!T~Decree of the Court. Santa Fe, 1895. McClintoek, James H . , Arizona. Prehistoric, Aboriginal, Pioneer, Modern, Vol. II. Chicago, 1916.” Stover, William P., Story of the Red Baron. 1934. Twitchell, Ralph Emerso History, Vol. II

~

^‘

Glendale, California,

Facts of New Mexican

PERIODICALS AND NEWSPAPERS Arizola, The Oasis, December 14, 1893. Arnold, Oren, "The Baron of Arizona," Coronet. March, 1937. Denver, Post, January 16, 1921.

(Magazine section, 2.)

Denver, Rocky Mountain News, April 5, 1934. Glove, Arizona Silver Belt, July 28, 1883; January 5, 1884, Los Angeles, Times, March 11, 1906. Phoenix, Arizona Daily Gazette, June 6, July 3, 1895. Phoenix, Daily Gazette, June 6, 7, 26, 1895. Phoenix, The Daily Herald, April 23, 1885. Phoenix, Weekly Herald, April 23, 1885. Santa Fe., New Mexican, June 9, 10, 12; July 3, 1895.

78 Tipton, Will M . , "The Prince of Imposters," Land of Sunshine, February and March, 1898. Tombstone, Epitaph, August 6, 1887. Yuma, Arizona Sentinel, May 20, 1882. SECONDARY MATERIALS Adams, Ward R . , History of Arizona, Vol. I.

Phoenix, 1930.

Bancroft, Hubert Howe, Arizona and New Mexico, 1830-1888. San Francisco, 1888. Confederate States Army Records, War Department (see Appendix A, p. 80). Congressional Record, Vol. 19, Part 3, 2243. Congressional Record, Vol. 21, Part 1, 525. DuPuy, William Atherton, The Baron of the Colorados. Antonio, 1940. Farish, Thomas Edwin, History of Arizona. 1915-1918. '

San

San Francisco.

Los Angeles County Farm, Personal Records, Vol. 3, 301. (See Appendix P.) Munk, Joseph Amasa, Story of the Munk Library of Arizoniana. Los Angeles, 1927. Murdock, John R . , Arizona Characters in Silhouette. 1933.

Tempe,

New Mexico State Bar Proceedings, 1904-1906, 18-26. Fe, 1904;;

Santa

Prince, Bradford L . , A Concise History of New Mexico. Rapids, 1912.

Cedar

Reavis, Elmo, Genealogy of Reavis Family, circular 3. (Privately printed.) Robinson, Will H . , The Story of Arizona.

Phoenix, 1919.

Sloan, Richard E . , Memories of an Arizona Judge. * University Press, 1932.

Stanford

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A REAVISf WAR RECORD

WAR DEPARTMENT The Adjutant General’s Office Washington Respectfully returned to:

June 21, 1941

Mr. Newton A. Johnson 2451 Ridgeview Avenue Los Angeles, California The records show that one James A. Reavis, name not found as James Addison Reavis, Private, Captain Lowe’s Com­ pany (Jackson Battery), Missouri Artillery, Confederate States Army, enlisted February 1, 1862, at Springfield, Missouri. The company muster roll for March and April, 1863, shows him, "Absent on detached duty since September 10, 1862." The company muster roll May and June 1863, last on file, shows him, "Absent on detached service." Other records show that he was paid at Demolis, Alabama, September 26, 1863, for "service in the Quarter Master Depart­ ment from August 12, 1863, to September 26, 1863, and was also paid for service as a nurse at Breckinridge’s Division Hospi­ tal", Marion, Mississippi, from October 1, 1863 to October 31, 1863. He was born in Henry County, Missouri, age 20 years, height 6 feet, fair complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, and by occupation a student. His residence is shown as Vernon County, Missouri. His name appears on a record of the organization which shows that he had prior service in Hunter’s Regiment, 8 ’th Division, Missouri State Guard, Confederate States Army. There are no muster rolls on file in this office for any unit of the Missouri State Guard, C.S.A., and no record has been found to show the date or place of his entry into service as a member of that organization. The collection of Confederate States Army records on file in this Department is incomplete and the failure to find the complete or any record of any person thereon is by no means conclusive proof that such person did not serve at some period not covered by the records. E. D. Adams Major General The Adjutant General By S.L.A.

APPENDIX B FIRST PETITION FOR RECOGNITION OF PERALTA GRANT, 1883

83 And your petitioner further states that a record of said grant, together with a copy of the last will and testa­ ment of the said Peralta, Baron of the Coloradoes, was made in the year 1788, in the ancient mission San Francisco Javier del Bac, giving to the legatee, Miguel Peralta, absolute possession and control of said grant, photographic copies of which, duly attested, are hereunto annexed and marked "Exhibit C." 1-2-3 which, with translations of the same, are made part hereof* Petitioner alleges that under and by virtue of the above described grant, Miguel de Peralta, Baron of the Coloradoes, became, in the year 1758, the owner in absolute property of the tract of land as described in the title papers above referred to, with all things thereunto pertain­ ing in the highest title that could be given to the royal domain in any part of the Spanish dominions, in the year 1758, towit: A grant by the King with title to nobility for dis­ tinguished military services to the crown, and that grants of such extent, or even greater, were, during the times of the Spanish rule in America, under similar circumstances, often made is historically notorious* Petitioner further alleges, that it being shown by the original title papers that in the year 1758, an absolute title becoming vested in Miguel de Peralta de la Cordoba, Baron of the Coloradoes, to the tract of land as hereinbefore described the right so possessed by him under the law was bequeathed to Miguel Peralta, his legal heir and representa­ tive, And petitioner represents that the present ownership of the tract of land granted in 1758 to Miguel de Peralta is clearly shown by the following chain of title* First: Will of grantee dated in Guadalajara, January 13th, 1788 as set out in Exhibit B and C 1-2-3 hereinbefore referred to by which will Miguel de Peralta, Baron of the Coloradoes, left to his son Miguel Peralta, the tract of land described in said grant. Second: Deed from Miguel Peralta to George M* Willing dated October 20th, 1864, Third: Power of Attorney from George M, ?/illing to F, A* Massol, dated May 11th, 1864* Fourth: M* Willing, to

Deed from Massol, attorney in fact of George J. A. Reavis, dated May 22nd, 1867*

84 Fifth: Deed from Florin A . Massol and wife to lames Addison Reavis, dated July 29th, 1881. Sixth: Deed from Mary Ann Willing, widow of George M. Willing, deceased to lames Addison Reavis, dated May 1st, 1882. Petitioner alleged and claims that under and by vir­ tue of the original title papers and the several powers of attorney and conveyances hereinbefore described, he is now the owner in the. property or tract of land as granted, in the year 1758 by the Spanish government to Miguel de Peralta, Baron of the Coloradoes, as the same is described in the original title papers; and he therefore prays the Hon. Surveyor General of the United States of America that after the necessary examination, he recommend a confirma­ tion thereof to petitioner, and the issue of a patent to him by the government of the U. S. of Castilian or Spanish meas­ urement which equals 49 3/4 English miles in width north and south by 149 \ English miles in length east and west, be the same more or less. lames Addison Reavis. Tucson, A. T., March 27th, 1883 The other papers filed in addition to the petition of Reavis consist of: The papers bound together in pamphlet form, with cot­ ton cloth back and distinctly claimed by petitioner Reavis in his petition, dated March 27th, 1883, as "Original Title Papers." (This claim as to these papers being original title papers Reavis abandons in his late deraignment of title in his wife.) These bound papers consist of: The royal decree (cedula) ordering grant. The report of the Royal Inquisition. The alleged grant by the Viceroy. A statement in writing by Peralta showing the ap­ proximate location of the land. A petition by Peralta to Carlos III, of Spain asking confirmation of grant.

85 An order of the King dated January 20th, 1776, at Madrid, Spain* A letter from Santa Ana, President of the Mexican Republic, to Senor Don Miguel de Peralta, son of original grantee* Three photographs of books of records of San Xavier church* A copy of will of grantee dated in Guadalajara, January 12th, 1788 filed March 27th, 1883* A deed from Miguel Peralta to George M. Willing dated October 20th, 1864* A power of Attorney from George M. Willing to F. A* Massol, dated May 11th, 1864. A deed from Massol, attorney in fact of George M* Willing to J. A* Reavis, dated May 22nd, 1867. (See Massol affidavits that deed is forgery.) A deed from Florin A. Massol and wife to James Addison Reavis, dated July 29th, 1881. (Of no import if valid as there is nothing to show that Massol ever had any right to the Peralta grant, even if found to be genuine.) A deed from Mary Ann Willing, widow of George M. Willing, deceased, to James Addison Reavis, dated May 1st, 1882. A sketch of the alleged grant and accompanying peti­ tion for survey. Photographs of Maricopa mountains and "Monumental Rook," so named by Reavis filed September 2nd, 1887. Amended deraignment of title, filed September 2nd, 1887. Marriage contract and identify of heir at law, filed September 2nd, 1887. Photographic copy of testimonies. A bound book marked on outside cover as follows: Exhibits AAA and BBB Royal Patent, also Wills, Codicils and Certified Copy of Possession Given to Don Miguel de Peralta de la Cordoba, Baron of the

86 Coloradoes, of Baronial Estate in Arizona,11 said to contain paper indicated by the marking on the cover. In addition to the above a deed purporting to be from George M, Willing, (father of Dr. George M. Willing,, deceased) to Britain H. Hill is on file and two reports made by Rufus C, Hopkins and a brief in the case of Hon. Clark Churchill, also a brief by Reavis. The above enumer­ ated papers together with some unimportant letters, com­ plete the papers in the case. The alleged title papers filed originally in the office of the U. S. Surveyor General (March 27th, 1883), upon which the claimant to the so-called Peralta Grant made his entire claim to the property as defined in the petition of Reavis. M e r e bound together in pamphlet form by a cotton cloth back, and con­ sists of a title page and six other pages of printed and written matter, all in Spanish language. NOTE: The first part of this petition was cited in Chapter IT.

APPENDIX 0 REAVIS’ WILL AND STATEMENT OF MARRIAGE CONTRACT

88 KNOW ALL MIN BY THESE PRESENTS: That I, James Addison Peralta Reavis of Arizona, aged forty years on the 30th day of the current month, being the third born of the lawful wed­ lock between Fenton Goss Reavis (second son of James Ashley Reavis) and Mary Isabel Lane Reed Dickson of the State of Missouri, do covenant obligate and forever bind myself and my lawful heirs to respect and abide by the following bonds and obligations made and constituted by me in this my lawful and only marriage contract being with the undersigned. And be it Known that I, James Addison Peralta Reavis aforesaid, do hereby make and cause and by these presents and these agreements do create and constitute Sofia Loreta Micaela Mase'y Peralta de la Cordoba my lawful and wedded wife, and as such constitute in her my legal and only heir at law in consideration of these mutual bonds and obligations, Decree­ ing, directing and commanding by these presents, that the whole of my property shall go to her at my death without the interposition of "judge or jury" the intention hereof being to convey in fee with full effect and force from and after death; and I hereby renounce and relinquish all claim of whatsoever class, to separate estate from and after the pub­ lication of these bonds and obligations. Therefore be it Known by these presents, That I, Sofia Loreta Micaela Maso’y Peralta de la Cordoba, aged twenty years on the 4th day of March, of the current year, being the first born (of twins) of the lawful wedlock between Jose Carmen Maso and Sofia Laura Micaela Peralta de Lacordoba E Yara, the latter being the only legitimate offspring of Baron Miguel Peralta de La Cordoba y Sanchez, son of the Exmo Sr, Don Miguel Peralta de La Cordoba, Caballero de Los Colorados con Grandeza de Espana, to whom was transmitted legal successorship, Do covenant, obligate and forever bind myself and my lawful heirs to respect and abide by the following bonds and obliga­ tions made and constituted by me in this and only marriage contract being with the undersigned. And be it known that I, Sofia Loreta Micaela Maso y Peralta de La Cordoba afore­ said, Do hereby make and cause and by these presents and those agreements do create and constitute James Addison Peralta Reavis above mentioned, iny lawful and wedded husband, and as such constitute in him my legal and only heir at law in con­ sideration of these mutual bonds and obligations, Decreeing, directing and commanding, by these presents, that the whole of my property shall go to him at my death, without the interposition of "judge or jury," the intention hereof being to convey in fee with full effect and force from and after death; and I hereby renounce and relinquish all claim of whatsoever class, to separate estate from and after the

89 publication of these bonds and obligations; -WITNESSETH, that we the undersigned as named and described herein, Do mutually agree and by these presents, do become and hereby declare ourselves agreement and this our covenant do bind each to the other lawfully as such husband and wife by the Authority of, and in accordance with the laws of the State of California wherein we now abide, trusting that God the allwise dispenser of every good gift will bless us in this our holy bond. Nothing in this marriage Contract shall be construed to alter or change the legal order of inheritance of the issue or child of adoption of this Holy Bond, nor to derogate from the rights given by law to the husband as the head of the family. In Witness Whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals in the City of San Francisco, California this the 31st day of December, A. D. 1882. James Addison Peralta Reavis (Seal) Sofia Loreta Micaela Maso y Peralta de la Cordoba (Seal) S. H. Collins ) ) fatnesses Max Shirpsen )

APPENDIX D ORDER FOR REAVIS’ ARREST, SPAIN

91

Decree: It resulting from the foregoing proceedings that there appear acts constituting the crime of the forgery of documents, and it likewise resulting that there is sufficient ground for holding Mr. lames Addison Reavis as the author thereof, civilly and criminally responsi­ ble for the crime. Considering: that for the reasons set forth he may be declared prosecuted and subject to the results of this sumaria. Considering: That having in view the nature of the crime and the antecedents of Mr. lames Addison, his arrest becomes necessary. There­ fore, his Excellency declared before me, the Notary: That he should and did declare Mr. James Addison Reavis to be prosecuted and subject to the results of this sumaria, and that he should and did decree his provisional arrest in the jail of this City until he should give bail in the sum of Ten Thousand pesetas, and in order that his arrest may be made, let the necessary orders and communications be issued and let him at the same time be summoned by requisition and in the term of ten days, according to the form established by law, notice of all being given to the fiscal, and let the corresponding pieza be formed. Thus did the Judge order and sign, to which I certify. Vicente R. Zapata. Rafael Lopez. Note: Thereupon, notice was given to the fiscal of the preceding decree. I so certify. Lopez

1 Sevilla, July 7, 1886

APPENDIX E PERALTA, OR REAVIS GRANT

93 This indenture, made this 20th day of October, 1864, by and between Miguel Peralta, of the County of San Diego, California, party of the first part, and George M. Willing, Jr., of Yavapai County, Territory of Arizona, party of the second part, witnesseth that the party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum, one thousand dollars, in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, has sold, bargained and quit claimed and by these presents do sell, bargain and quit claim unto the said party of the second part, to his heirs and assigns, all and singular that certain grant of land lying and being situate on the Gila River, in the Territory of Arizona, commencing at a point north of the Pimos villages and extending east thirty Spanish leagues from said claims of said Pimos villages, and ten leagues, Spanish measure, in width, including cer­ tain old ruins known as Pinaltos Casas Blanca, and the north and south lines of said Spanish claim being adjoin­ ing the said Pimos reservation, to a boundary east, south and north unsurveyed, which said grant was made to Miguel Peralta by the Spanish Government in the year 1758 and to his legal representatives, and which said grant by parole has never passed from the possession of the said Peraltas legal representatives, only on account of the hostile Indians, To have and to hold the premises all and singular the lands, mines, water courses, and appurtenances there­ unto belonging unto the party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever. And the party of the first part hereby for himself, his heirs and assigns quit claim and invest in the party of the second part all the right title and inter­ est claim of the party of the first part in to and for the said aforesaid described claims, and in consequence of the non-existence of any legal authority magistrate or Judge of Court, the party of the first part calls upon such wit­ nesses as are at hand to take his acknowledgment of his sale of said grant.1 In testimony whereof the party of the first part has hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first be­ fore written. Miguel Peralto Witnessed by Rodrigues Antonis Juan Jose Digarro Bernalto Guerres

^ Globe, Arizona Silver Belt, January 26, 1884.

94 "Received and filed for record March 12th, 1874 at 4 o ’clock P. M. at request of G. M. Willing and duly re­ corded in Book One of Promiscuous Records of Yavapai County, -Arizona at folio 93 and 94." Ed. W. Wells County Recorder This indenture made this first day of May A. D. 1882 between Mary Ann Willing, late wife of George M. Willing Junior of Yavapai County, Arizona Territory, party of the first part and James Addison Reavis late of the city of Saint Louis, State of Missouri, party of the second part witnesseth that the party of the first part Jin considera­ tion of the sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) in hand paid . . . and in consideration of a vested right of one undivided half interest in and to the property hereinafter described heretofore. (Found on pages 460 and 461. Volume of Records for year of 1788. Public Archives of the State of Jalisco in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico with map of survey of west boundary) Given in the City of Louisville, State of Kentucky. Geo. H. Webb ) Wm. D. Reed ) Mary G. Willing Wm. W. Mel one ) State of Kentucky County of Jefferson

APPENDIX F SHERWOOD DEPOSITION

State of California ) ) Ss* County of Mendocino ) I, Alfred E. Sherwood, sixty^four years of age, a resident of the County of Mendocino, State of California, being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that, I have resided in Sherwood valley of Little Lake Township, aforesaid County and State, during the last preceding thirty-four years; and that I personally knew Dona Sofia Loreta Micaela de Maso Reavis y Peralta de la Cordoba who was brought to me and entrusted to my charge when under twelve months of age; and that I was informed that she had been duly christened by the Right Reverend Father Francisco of the Roman Catholic Church at her birth in San Diego county, State aforesaid, it being reported that she had a twin brother who with her mother died leaving her the sole survivor, as Dn Jose R. C* Maso her father left for old Spain soon after she was brought to this County^, and as I have been informed died of old age in this County'; and that her grandfather the Baron of the Colorados died in Spain bequeathing to her a large estate as I am informed and verily believe; And I further depose and say that this, Dona Sofia Loreta Micaela de Maso Reavis y Peralta de la Cordoba, is her genuine signature made by her in my presence in this the twenty sixth year of her life at my residence in Sherwood valley aforesaid, this the sixteenth day of July, A* D* 1887* Interlineations "State aforesaid" Don Jose R. C* Maso "for old Spain" made at the time of signing* A. E. Sherwood Subscribed and sworn to before me this 16th day of July, 1887. (Seal) H* B. Muir, Notary Public STATEMENT IDENTIFYING H* B. MUIR State of California Mendocino County

) ) )

Ss.

County Clerk’s Office, July 18th, 1887 I, Sam D. Paxton, County clerk of the County of

97 Mendocino, and Clerk of the Superior Court of said County, the same being a court of record, do hereby certify that H. B* Muir, before whom the annexed instrument was made and executed, and who has thereunto subscribed his name was^at the time of so doing a Notary Public, in and for the said County, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature thereto is genuine, and I further certify that deponent is a creditable person, IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, the day and year in this Certificate first above written. Sam D. Paxton County Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the said Superior Court of said County,

APPENDIX G DECISION OF COURT ON PERALTA CLAIM

99 On this 3rd day of June, A. D. 1895, the above entitled cause coming on to be beard upon the amended petition filed in said cause on the 16th day of November, 1893, and the amended answer and cross-petition duly filed by the United States on the 3rd day of June, 1895, and after hearing and considering all of the evidence presented by the plaintiffs in support of opposition thereto, and after considering the objections presented by the plaintiffs to the testimony offered by the government, the Court hereby overrules the same.1 The court finds from the evidence that said grant or claim is not entitled to confirmation in the name of the alleged original grantee, Don Miguel Nemecio Silva de Peralta de la Cordoba, nor in the name of any one else claiming an interest therein. That the claim is wholly fictitious and fraudulent, and the various documents upon which the same is based, as well as those tending to establish the plaintiff Dona Sofia Loreto Micaela Silva de Peralta de la Cordoba and the grand­ daughter of Don Jesus Miguel Nemecio Silva de Peralta de la Cordoba, are each and all of them forged, manufactured, and have been surreptitiously introduced into the records and archives at Madrid and Seville, in the Kingdom of Spain, and into the records and archives in the City of Guadalajara, in the State of Jalisco, Republic of Mexico. And the Court further finds that the baptismal and burial records of the parish of San Bernardino and San Salvador, in the County of San Bernardino, in the State of California, copies of which were introduced in evidence by plaintiffs in support of their claim for the purpose of establishing the identity of one of the petitioners herein, Dona Sofia Laura Micaela de Peralta de la Cordoba E. Vara and Don Jose Carmen Maso, are forgeries, and have been fraudulently and surreptitiously inserted in the records of said mission. And the Court further finds that no such person as Don Miguel Nemecio Silva de Peralta de la Cordoba, bearing the various titles of nobility and official relations with the King of Spain as set forth in said amended petition, and to whom said Grant is alleged to have been made,ever existed, or that he had a son Don Jesus Miguel Nemecio Silva de Peralta de la Cordoba, to whom he willed said property so alleged to have been granted. 1 Peralta Grant Testimony of the United States, pp 1057-60. ! -

100 And the Court further finds that the plaintiff Dona Sofia Loreto Micaela Silva de Peralta de la Cordoba and her husband and co-plaintiff, James Addison Reavis, are not in anywise related to or connected with said alleged orig­ inal grantee the alleged Don Miguel Nemecio Silva de Peralta de la Cordoba, either by privity of blood or estate, but that they and each of them are fraudulent and fictitious claimants for said property described in the amended peti­ tion. It is therefore ordered and decreed that the claim to the property which is commonly known and called the Peralta grant, situated in the Territories of Arizona and New Mexico, and more particularly described as follows, to wit: Beginning at the west end of the "monument rock," or stone, hereinbefore described, which is situated at the most eastern base of the Maricopa mountain, at the eastern extremity of the Sierras Estrellas, on the south bank river; which said monumental stone is located about eight and onehalf miles south of the said Gila river, being south about one hundred and forty chains and east twenty-five chains of the center of township 3S, range 2E of Gila and Salt river base and meridian, United States Surveying District of Arizona, according to the United States Survey of said dis­ trict, and having fallen to the east, since the establish­ ment of the said barony, now lies by a width of about nine feet and about fifteen feet in height, with a map about twelve by thirty-six inches etched upon the south face representing the said Barony of Arizona; thence from the center of said west end of said monumental stone north, crossing the Gila and Salt (Salado) rivers, thirty-nine miles and forty-one thousand five hundred and thirty-five one hundred thousandths of a mile (39.41535) to a point; thence two hundred and thirty-six miles and four thousand nine hundred and twenty-one ten thousandths of a mile (236.4921) to a point; thence southerly at right angles to the last described line seventy-eight miles and eight thou­ sand and three hundred and seven ten thousandths of a mile to a point; thence west two hundred and thirty-six miles and four thousand nine hundred and twenty-one ten thousandths of a mile (236.4921) to a point; and thence north thirty-nine miles and forty-one thousand five hundred and thirty-five one hundred thousandths of a mile (39.41536) to the point of beginning; embracing twelve million four hundred and sixty-seven thousand four hundred and fifty-six acres and one million eight hundred and thirty-nine thousand eight hundred and eight ten millionths of an acre, English meas­ urement; is hereby rejected and the petitibn dismissed. (Signed) -Joseph R. Reed (Chief Justice Court of Private Land Claims)

APPENDIX H REAVIS* PRISON RECORD

THE PENITENTIARY OF NEW MEXICO SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO John B. McManus, Superintendent

June 20, 1941 Mr. Newton A. Johnson 2431 Ridgeview Ave. Los Angeles, California Dear Sir: In reply to your letter, the following information is available from our records: James Addison Reavis was our No. 964, sentenced July 18, 1896 to serve 2 years for Conspirace, from Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Served his time and was discharged April 18, 1898. He gave his age at that time as.53; weight 150 lbs.; height 6 feet, blue eyes, gray hair, dark complexion, born in Missouri, Civil Engineer. The above is all the information I can gather from our records. Yours very truly, John B. McManus, S up er in tend en t

APPENDIX I IRRIGATION PROJECT PLANNED BY REAVIS

104 A dispatch from Santa Fe, N. M. says: I. Addison Reavis, the famous claimant of the Peralta land grant, covering 12,000,000 acres in Ariz. and Southeastern N. M., was released from the U. S. prison department of the N. M. penitentiary last week after serving his two years sen­ tence When boarding the train for Denver to visit his wife, he said: You can tell the public that I ’m still on deck and prepared to assert my rights. I still have interests in Ariz. that will eventually compensate me for all my trouble. The Casa Grande Improvement Co. of which I am the originator, has controlled since 1884 all the water storage reservoir sites in the Salt and Gila rivers in Ariz. north of Phoenix and Florence. It is a N. Y. Co., backed by unlimited capital, and, after a visit to Denver, I shall proceed to N. Y. and arrange to carry for­ ward these irregating enterprises in Ariz. We will expend #2,000,000 there in providing water to irri­ gate 15,000,000 acres of land.

1

Arizona Daily Citizen, April 30, 1898.

APPENDIX I DEPOSITION

106

To whom it may concern: In 1875 I attended Gallatin School near Downey, California. My teacher at that time was James Addison Reavis, who later was claimant to the famous Peralta land grant. The school was a two^room building with an attend­ ance of about seventy five students. Mr. Reavis taught the upper grades history, mathematics, and other subject matter. Reavis was the Principal and had one teacher under him to teach the lower grades and other subjects. I recall Reavis as being tall and slender, with light red hair and blue eyes. I distinctly recall he was crippled, being stiff in one leg. Which one I don’t recall. Though a sentimental man, nevertheless he was a firm disciplinarian. The students all seemed to like him. My father was on the school board which hired James Addison. He taught at Gallatin but two years, then left for parts unknown. I next hears of him in connection with the Peralta land claim. After the Peralta claim was denied by the Land Claims court, Reavis was sentenced to jail. He served time, then, about 1913 he appeared again in Downey. He was a broken man in appearance but retained his air of assurance and command. He spent some time at Ranchos Los Amigos, the Los Angeles County Poor Farm, near Downey. The above deposition is to the best of my knowledge an accurate account of my acquaintance with James Addison. Reavis and the time he spent in and near Downey, California. (Signed) Judie McKellar

APPENDIX K DEPOSITION

108

To whom it may concern: About 1913, James Addison Reavis, former claimant of the Peralta land grant, was residing in Downey where he made his living growing vegetables and doing odd jobs. The school boys in town used to, upon meeting Reavis, mock him and call him the "Baron." I recall him well, we boys considered him crazy, for he still talked of his huge land estate. He finally ended up at the county poor farm, Ranchos Los Amigos. The above deposition is to the best of my knowl­ edge an accurate account of my acquaintance with James Addison Reavis and the time he spent in and near Downey, California. (Signed) Wallace McKellar

APPENDIX L REAVIS * POOR FARM RECORD

110

LOS ANGELES COUNTY FARM— NAME:

James A. Ashley Reavis

ADMITTED:

Feb. 18f 1913

PERSONAL HISTORY BORN IN:

Mo.

BY ORDER OF:

H. M. Crane

Statistical: LENGTH OF RESIDENCE:

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF RELATIVES OR FRIENDS:

In United States: 70 years In California: 38 years In County: 38 years SEX:

Male

DATE OF BIRTH: AGE:

COLOR OR RACE: Cauc. Dec. 20, 1842

70 years

MARITAL STATUS;

Widower

OCCUPATION: Experting Scales Last Employment: " " READ AND WRITE:

Yes

NAME OF FATHER: Fenton Ashley BIRTHPLACE OF FATHER: Mo. MAIDEN NAME OF MOTHER: Mary Dickson BIRTHPLACE OF MOTHER: Mo. PREVIOUS RESIDENCE:

Los Angeles

RESULT OR DISPOSITION OF CASE: Left March 18, 1913.

^ Volume 3, page 301.

None

APPENDIX M REAVIS - PUBLISHER

112 Excerpts from: (Page 1) PERALTA REAVIS REAL LIFE ILLUSTRATED Published in New York, Denver and San Francisco— Arizona Supplement Vol. II, No. 18

Per Volume, $2*50 Denver, Colorado July 5, 1900 (Page 3)

PERALTA REAVIS REAL LIFE ILLUSTRATED Published in New York, Denver and San Francisco, Thursdays James Addison Ashley Reavis - Editor and Proprietor Rooms 14 & 15

#2319 Larimer St., Denver, Colorado

. . .Owing to prolonged ill-health the office work has been neglected, therefore all who have failed to receive copies as per agreement please advise the office, and the matter will receive prompt attention. My glorious lot was a pair of twins to lug about from pillow to post; and while they were yet young, wife and I had much of travel, . . . Then when we went room hunting all the signs read, "no children allowed here" in one sentence, while another read "dogs must be tagged or the pound man will take them." Just think of my poor wife facing such a storm of indignation and inferred partially for pugs. . . . I came to Arizona five months past, after having lingered two years with bronchial catarrh, and all the con­ sequent orders superinduced by la grippe primarily, and secondarily many stages of relapse, until I had grown so sensitive from this, that and the other hint that I lost all love for society, seeking seclusion and camp life until

113 the spell wore off. These conditions drive many poor suf­ ferers to suicide. By the Grace of God, however, I endured, until I now boast absolute recovery, and to all who suffer likewise the life of a hermit in Arizona has less ills and more recuperative possibilities than any climate I have known. AEO20KAGA— ARIZDMA— ARIZONA Azrizonaca was first known to the Jesuit fathers as applying to a mountain by that name located upon the west of Miembres Valley, to the east of which was found the famous "Bolas de Plata" (boulders of silver), and is now known as the f,Lone Mountain," east of Silver City, New Mexico. The Miembres River courses the valley lying east of this mountain, upon the banks of which was a thriving mining town one hundred and seventy years ago, called Arizona, a map of which is among the general archives of Mexico, made by a Spanish baron, commissioned especially for the purpose of surveying and reporting upon those fabulous silver deposits. This furnished the romance of the Peralta Grant, or Barony of Arizonaca.

APPENDIX N DEATH NOTICE OF LOLA REAVIS

115

This is to advise that according to my records ______Lola M. Reavis_________________ ______April 4. 1954_____ at Denver, Colorado.

diedon

Presbyterian Hospital

The Birthplace is given as ________

California_________ , and the age as

70_______

Cause of death— Cerebral Hemorrhage. Elveta C. Myers Denver Registrar Dated at Denver, Colorado ______

7-1-41________ _

NOTE: This is an official notice of the death of Mrs. Peralta-Reavis sent to the investigator upon his request. This is, of course a copy, the original being in the pos­ session of the investigator.

APPENDIX 0 REAVIS’ CONFESSION

117 Reavis served his light sentence, and got time credits for good behavior. When released he was far from being the same debonair character he had been. He was a thin old man, with whitened hair and stoop, but with much of the same men­ tal vigor as of yore. He still is drifting around in the West. For a while he went back to his old business of can­ vasser, and in 1910 he worked hard to float a scheme for water storage on the Gila River, to irregate 500,000 acres of the Casa Grande and Mesa plains. Reavis does not deny his guilt, for some time after serving his sentence he wrote a confession, complete though brief, as follows: I am of Scotch-Welsh antecedents, with a tradi­ tional Spanish extraction in the remote generations. Three of my great grandparents fought in the Revolu­ tion. I was reared in Henry County, Mo. In May,1 1861, at the age of 18, I enlisted in the Confederate army, and during my life as a soldier committed my first crime. I forged an order, andbeing successful in this, I raised a furlough, and before this expired I surrendered to the Union forces. Ifter the war I worked as a street car conductor, but subsequently opened a real estate office in St. Louis. I was successful in forging a title to sustain a tax title to some valuable land I had bought, not knowing the title was imperfect. But these are incidents in which there is little interest. However, success in these early evils sowed the seed that later sprang forth into the most gigantic fraud of this century. The plan to secure the Peralta Grant and defraud the Government of land valued at 1100,000,000 was not conceived in a day. It was the result of a series of crimes extending over nearly a score of years. A t first the stake was amall, but it grew and grew in magnitude until even I sometimes was appalled at the thought of its possibilities. I was playing a game which to win meant greater wealth than that of a Gould or a Vanderbilt. My hand constantly gained strength, noted men pleaded my cause, and unlimited capital was at my command. My opponent was the government, and I baffled its agents at every turn. Gradually I became absolutely confident of success. A s I neared the verge of the triumph I was exultant and sure. Until the very moment of my downfall I

118 gave no thought to failure. But my'sins found me out and as in the twinkle of an eye I saw the millions which had seemed already in my grasp fade away and heard the Courts doom me to a prison cell. Now I am growing old and the thing hangs upon me like a nightmare until I am driven to make a clean breast of it all, that I may end my days in peace.1

1

McClintock, Vol. II, pp. 536-37#

APPENDIX P MISSING REAVIS DOCUMENTS

120

In my varied experience in book collecting, I met one failure that I distinctly remember. A Mr. W. W. Jenkins, pioneer and reputed gunman, living at Newhall, California, came to town to get some medical advice and accidentally fell into my hands. In the course of the conversation I learned that he was an agent of James Addison Reavis, of the Peralta Grant fame. He said that he had a bound volume of documents, which were related to the trial that he wanted me to see. He did not name a price, but said that he would sell it and credit the amount to his bill. The book, he said, was loaned to Horace Bell, a friend of Mr. Reavis and an attorney living in the city, from whom I could get it by calling at his office. I did so and told him what Mr. Jenkins had said. He paused a moment, and then looking up, said, "Yes, I have the book, but don't see why I should give it to you,” and he didn't. Major Bell soon left the city and Mr. Jenkins died, and I never saw the book, ,nor either of the men again.l

1

Joseph Amasa Munk, Story of the Munk Library of Arizoniana. Los Angeles, 1927, p. 40.