Re: Spindle Top Oil
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In reply to:
Spindle Top Oil
Jesse Judice 12/09/08
Ah, the legend still lives on. I too grew up listening to the fascinating tales of the trillions owed to our family. I am related to the Meadors, Humphries, and Colonel O'Brien (who owned Spindletop land). I have frequently asked my family, "Where's all my money now?"
Unfortunately, there is a 0% chance of ever recovering ANY money or settlement whatsoever. In fact, there has never been a settlement. I don't know about the 1999 thing. Maybe you're confused with when the last court judgment was declared, "ending the litigation once and for all."
If you're related to the Meadors, you may have heard that they received a settlement, but that isn't true. A group of nuns just gave them a bunch of money in hopes that the Meadors would win and donate LOTS of money to the church. Of course, the Meadors DIDN'T win and ended up bankrupt. They got to keep their nice house and car though.
Now back to Spindletop... There are several books and reports out there that will explain the nitty-gritty tales of this event, but let me warn you. No matter how strong the evidence is, people are still subject to inaccuracies. (For example, one "tell-all" book claims Betsy Jane Foust, one strong link to Pelham/William Humphries, never existed, when in fact she was MY aunt!!!)
The "Humphries shot in a bar by McFaddin" part is probably fictional. As far as the "name-changing" part of the land deed, I find it suspicious that three individuals (hmm...one was a MCFADDIN!) somehow got a judge to change the name of owner of the deed. Now, from my family, I've heard that the REAL land deed burned up in a "mysterious" court house fire (I think either in San Antonio or Mexico). I have NEVER heard about the "mysterious fire" from any other outside source besides my family, so I suspect it could be true. You can't even find a dispute against it on the Internet because it is not a part of the traditional Humphries lore.
I have always dreamed of finding the "lost" deed (which is never mentioned by any source), but I'm afraid it's too late. The statute of limitations has expired, naturally, and no judge will allow the case to be reopened. I have read a few documents and done a little research, and I came to the conclusion that it is simply too late. One judge said that if the claim had been submitted before 1885, maybe something would have come of it. I dunno.
After reading some background information, I nearly thought it would be possible to reopen the case. Now that we have DNA and special forensics, it could be PROVED whether or not the documents on file were forged or modified. Many people don't realize that the courts at that time period were very corrupt and open to bribery. And with the DNA, the Humphries heirs could all be found.
I could spend literally HOURS talking about this case, but I won't for your reading sake. People have spent their fortunes trying to get their "royalties," but none have succeeded. As sad as this sounds, those trillions will just have to keep piling up in the trust funds, which, by the way, DO exist (they are required by the government).
If somebody had alot of time and money, they MIGHT be able to gather a substantial amount of information to make a new case. But you would have to prove at least five things: 1) The true identity of Pelham or William or Whoever Humphries, 2) that the deed to McFaddin was a result of fraud and conspiracy, 3) you have evidence of an original deed that burned up (or still exists), 4) that the court who carried out the case was indeed corrupt or susceptible to corruption, and 5) that you have so much evidence that nothing can be denied or refuted.
That's about it.
[If anybody else on Genealogy.Com knows more about the "mysterious fire" that burned the REAL Spindletop land deed, please let me know with a followup here.]
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Re: Spindle Top Oil
Barbara Carter 11/22/10