WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1859
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an influence to his views and interests by his presence and countenance. On the 30th of June, 1847, a decision was given in the case of Phalen vs. Herman, 4 in the court of New Orleans, in favor of the plaintiff, declaring the fraudulent certificate sued on to be valid, and giving judg·ment for $3,000. Here the curtain drops in New Orleans; but without a day's intermission rises again in continuation of the plot in Texas. With reference to this Phalen suit, we find the following judg- ment expressed in a series of resolutions passed in August, 1856, by the Senate of Texas, but at too late a day in the session to obtain the action of the other legislative House: "Said judge [Watrous] is guilty of obtaining and attempting by contriving and carrying on a made-up suit in his own court, to validate in the same .over twelve hundred fraudulent land certificates, claimed by himself and his 'compeers,' and of a class-in all the enormous amount of twenty-four million three hundred and thirty-one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four acres-of fraudulent certificates, thereby attempting to deprive his country of a vast domain, besides causing the State the cost of additional counsel in defending herself against such enormous preconcerted spoilations; and, on discovery of his interest in said class of certifi- cates being made, said judge transferred said suit for determination in the United States court in another State, after shaping the case and influencing that court in such a manner as to obtain his desired judgment." It will be observed from what I have stated of the sudden translation of the conspiracy from New Orleans to T·exas, that there is no pause in the progress of the drama; the scenes are shifted with almost incredible swiftness; and when the interest might seem to flag, we find a new character introduced into the drama to challenge our admiration of the versatility and re- sources of the plotters. Thus we find, on the very day of the rendering judgment in the Phalen suit at New Orleans, Thomas M. League, a new character in the play, but sufficiently well known as a partner of Judge Watrous in his land speculations, and an ally in all his enterprises, intervenes and institutes a suit in the State court of Texas, as the transferee of the identical fraudulent certificate that had been declared valid in the United States dis- trict court at New Orleans. This Mr. League will be found to be a conspicuous party throughout the whole system of fraud
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