Reading

United States v. Reading

Good Law
27 F. Cas. 716
United States District Court, Northern District of CaliforniaJune 15, 1853California592 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

Hoffman, J.

Two objections to the confirmation of this claim are urged by the district attorney: (1) That the claimant had no capacity to take, being a foreigner. (2) That the conditions of the grant have not been substantially complied with.

First. The grant itself recites thatthe claimant was a naturalized Mexican citizen, at the time it issued, and it is shown that letters of naturalization were, in fact, issued to him. No fraud in obtaining them is pretended to have been committed by the claimant. Whether or not he was strictly entitled to receive them by Mexican law, is immaterial, for that question having been passed upon by Mexican authority, and the claimant in fact naturalized, it cannot now be contended that he was not, at the time of receiving his grant, a naturalized Mexican citizen. It is proper to observe that the proofs on this point were only furnished after the district attorney had taken his objection.

Second. With respect to the performance of the conditions, the proof shows that in August, 1845, less than one year after the date of the grant, the claimant went on the land, took possession, and selected a site for his house, which he left his servant to build. It was…

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