The US Court of Private Land Claims voids James Reavis's Barony of Arizona claim

Background. The United States Court of Private Land Claims was an ad-hoc court created to decide land claims guaranteed by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in territories such as New Mexico and Arizona. James Reavis, known as the Baron of Arizona, claimed ownership of over 18,600 square miles through the Peralta land grant, a pair of fraudulent claims that would have granted him vast land in central Arizona and western New Mexico.

Investigation. Reavis filed his final complaint in Santa Fe in February 1893. In January 1894, investigators Mallet-Prevost and Tipton examined the original claim in Tucson. Upon returning to Santa Fe in April 1894, Mallet-Prevost stated he was entirely convinced of the spurious character of every paper filed. Testimony was taken in Guadalajara in October 1894, with the process completed in March 1895.

Trial. The civil action trial began on June 3, 1895. Reavis requested a continuance, appearing in court on June 10. During questioning, contradictions emerged regarding his knowledge of witnesses. The Court of Private Land Claims presented its findings on June 28, 1895, declaring the claim wholly fictitious and fraudulent.