Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1897 — The Thomas Gray Case. [ARTICLE]

The Thomas Gray Case.

Many of our readers will remember the case of Thomas Gray, who until a few years ago lived near Francesville, and was quite wealthy in lands owned in Pulaski, Jasper and Benton counties. In July 1893, Gray traded the Pulaski Co. land, valued at $27,500, with 560 acres in Jasper county, 240 acres in Benton county, $l,lOO worth of stock and SI,OOO in cash to a man named C. Y. Tryce, a speculator for Butler county, Kansas lands. Gray moved on to the Kansas lands in 1894, and in a short time became convinced that he had been swindled out of bis property and he and his family managed to get back to thei:* old home in Pulaski county in 1896. After his return to Indiana he was adjudged of unsound mind by the Pulaski circuit court and his wife was appointed guardian. She instituted suit as guardian to set aside the conveyance of the lands in controversy. In the meantime Tryce had traded the land to Curtis Judd, of Dwight, 111., president of the Keeley cure institute. Judd and others brought suit to quiet title, to the Pulaski Co. land, and the defendant, Gray, filed a cross complaint, asking that the title be quieted in her ward.

The trial took place last week at Winamac lasting many days, but was decided Saturday in favor of the defendant Gray. It is probable that the case will be appealed to the Supreme Court. In this county a suit is pending, for the recovery to the Grays of their Jasper Co. land. The parties to the suit are Thomas Gray, by guardian vs. Frank B. Vennum.