Devonian's Claim to £3,000,-000.

Manawatu Herald, 14 March 1896, Page 3

Devonian's Claim to £3,000,--000.

A short time ago we "published in 14 The People " particulars* of a remarkable claim about to ba made by +$lr W. Jarman, a town councillor of Exeter, to a large amount of falnable property in Salt Lake Cily, the headquarters of the Mormons. Sen safcional details were then given of Mr Jarman's career in the State of Utah. Mr Jarman was b^rn in Haymarket, London, in 1837. Whon only three months old he was taken fco Exeter, and in 1866 he left the " ever faithful* ' city for Utah. He arrived at his destination with £5,000 in cash and a substantial quantity of dry goods. The site of Salt Liko City wbs then almost a wilderness. There being no money in the country, all business was carried on by barter, and £1 sterling was worth somewhere about £100. Sjon after Mr Jarman's arrival, the United Pacific Railway extended ther system to Salt Luke City, and sold him a hlock of land for 800dols. On this eale the wealthiest quarter of the city is buil-. For thi3 Mr Jarman is now claiming. Being a man of capital, he was iuvited to join the Mormon church, which he did, and soon became a high prieet among fchem. After some years. Mr Jarman eschewed the Mormon faith, and his wife in conseqience divorced him. Then his prosecution commenced. The high priest not only grunted ths divorce but accompanied it with an order tbafc the real property of Mr Jarman in Natal should ba transferred to the wife for her benefit and that of her children. Mr Jarman, with great difficulty escaped, escaped to England, bringing with him the title deeds of the property. He fchen commenced a lengthy lecturing tour in the States, and his appeals were largely instrumental in producing a change in the state of tha law which pronounced Mormonism illegal. Whihydelivering these lectures in tfeWJtates, news reached him of the death of bis father in England, on whose decease he came into properly afc Exeter. Th.s necessitated his coming to England, and while in this countiy he learnt that the American Government had legalised divorce in Utah, and legitimised the children of the Mormon community The Government, however, refused to deal with the transfer of land. Early in the spring Mr Jarman intends returning to America to prosecute his claims to the land* He states that streets, factories, electric railways, and villa residences all cover his land, and thesp he values at befcween three and four million pound sterling. He proposes to com promise with the holders of the land, and will be willing to accept a quarter of that amount. Where cavh is not immediately forthcoming Mr Jarman states his willingness to take first mortgages bearing interest at 6 per cent. Mr Jarman's first wife was a native of Iddesleigh.