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146 Rh    is pregnant with proof that these transfers are fraud ulent and base forgeries, and that the original claimants never existed except in name. There is another peculiarity about these transfers calculated to throw discredit upon them. It is this: in thirteen of these deeds, it is manifest, from an inspection, that the name of one of the witnesses thereto is written in the same handwriting with the body of the deed, and in the same ink. It is not usual or common for a witness to a deed to be called on to write the deed itself; and as the witness is never after heard of, the presumption is very strong that he, too, lives only in name. There are also twelve other deeds of transfer filed by consent, as evidence in this cause. We will not waste our time in remarking upon them. To pursue the subject further, would be worse than useless. In investigating frauds like these, the mind sickens and the feelings revolt. From a review of all the evidence in this case, we entertain no doubt that the transfer in this case, which purports to have been made from Bernardo Samperyac to John J. Bowie, is false and forged; and, consequently, upon that ground also, the defendant Stewart cannot be permitted to occupy the attitude of an innocent purchaser, fairly and bonâ fide, from Bowie. But his recourse is upon Bowie, of whom he purchased; and he cannot stand upon other and different ground than Bowie himself. The act of congress of the 26th May, 1824, from which this court derives its authority to decide in these cases, has been continued in force by several subsequent acts, the last of which was passed on the 8th May, 1830. That act has expressly given the power to this court to entertain bills of review in these cases, and to reverse the former decrees of this court, if, upon a revision, it shall appear that these decrees were based upon forged title papers.

From the view we have taken of this case, it has not become necessary for us to consider the question made, and ably argued at the bar, whether congress have not, in the act of 1830, transcended the limits of sound legislation; and we withhold the expression of an opinion upon it, as we are satisfied that the act of 1824 referred the decision of these cases to this court, sitting as a court of chancery; and that, under the system of