Levying On 40,000 Acres Of Land

Last night's Detroit Evening News contained the following somewhat startling information: Deputy United States Marshal Wallace started for Ann Arbor this afternoon with a list of property as long as the moral law, and an execution authorizing him to levy on about 40,000 acres of land in Washtenaw county. The property includes valuable lots in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and all the big and little towns in Washtenaw county, bcsides farming lands scattered through the various townships. The vaiue of the property levied on will aggregate several hundred thousand dollars. The case grows out of the alleged fraudulent transactions of Elijan V. Morgan, a prominent lawyer and real estáte dealer of Aun Arbor, who died about two years ago. Morgan and others formed the Ann Arbor Land Co. 60 years ago, and acquired extensive holdings ol real estáte. The others gradually dropped out, and for many years he had almost entire control of the company's affairs. In 1873 he put all of his property out of nis hands deeding it to his wife, who died hal a dozen years ago, leaving an estáte valued at $500,000, to Franklin L. Parker, a relative, who died last month, and to other members of his wife's family. Among other creditors of Morgan wa,s George Lamb, Sr., of Evansville, Ind., who got judgment against him 12 years ago in the Washtenaw circuit court for about $10,000. About three years ago he sued his judgment overagain in the United States circuit court. Morgan died while the case was pending, and a contest follovved in the Washtenaw probate court over the administraron of his estáte. Morgan 's heirs and Mr. Lamb joined in asking to have Capt. Manly appointed administrator, Frazer & Gates, of Detroit, being their attorneys. The executors of Mrs. Morgan's will - Franklin L. Parker, Judge Kinne and Prof. Johnston, of Michigan university - contested Manly's appointment and asked that an administrator of their choice be named. The probate judge humored both parties by appointing Capt. Manly and Leonhard Gruner joint administrators. Lant and the heirs appealed to the Washtenaw circuit court, and then had the case transferred to the Wayne circuit court about a year and a half ago. One year ago last December the Wayne circuit court reversed the order appointing Gruner and affirmed Manly's appointment, leaving him sole administrator. Manly at once began proceedings in the probate court óf Washtenaw county against the executors of Mrs. Morgan's, will to compela disclosure of the books, papers and other property of Elijah W. Morgan. It appeared in the proceedings that Capt. Manly had not been able to find any assets of Morgan's estáte, and that the executors oí Mrs. Morgan's estáte had two wagon loads of books and papers that had fcelonged to Elijah in his life time, but which they refused to let Manly examine. Finally, last April, the probate judge ordered a disclosure to be made, according to Manly's petition. The proceedings ran along until the latter part of May, when the executors refused to obey the order. The probate judge would not compel them to do so. Manly asked the supreme court for a mandamus compeüing the probate judge to enforce his own crder. An order to show cause was issued, argued and is still hung up in the supreme court awaiting decisión. Meanwhile thë Lant suit was revived against Manly as administrator. Last [une the case was tried in the United States circuit court, and Judge Swan rendered judgment in favor of Lant. The court ordered an execution against the estáte of Elijan W. Morgan last summer, but it was returned unsatisfied. A new execution has now been issued and was taken to Ann Arbor this afternoon by_ Deputy Marshal Wallace, as above stated. He will levy on 40,000 acres of village and farm land, all over the county, and the courts will have to decide who owns it. Lant is bound to get his money, and the heirs of Morgan's estáte are equally determined to establish their claims. If necessary they wouldn't hesitate to levy on the whole state of Michigan.