The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-11-07

practice to that time, and suggested other In
struments not liable TO duty. To this opinion
! have since CONFIRMED as the rule of the
Office with the knowledge of my Clerk. The
instruments | enumerated, ] believe, do not
comprise the whole which are exempt-nor is
1t to be understood that they were all adopted
after this consultation, as Executions, Bonds,
Leases, and some others believe were never
considered within the meaning of the Statute.
The instruments received from April LIST, 1919,
10 April list, 1920, on which the duty was net
paid, find amount to ABB. In the subse-
quent year, to 40. Of what they all consist.
cannot accurately be determined without more
time than is now allowed ne from the mme-
date duties of the Office, as many of them
gould not be determined without recurring to
the Records-some being specified in the en-
try and others checked Ia the argin. Should
q more minute investigation be necessary,
am ready to meet it when demanded by any
competent authority-and regret that this cir
cmnstance puts II out of my power to obligc
You personally.
Your obedient servant, 0. FISkE.
"Capt. S. WARDn
Before commenting upon the above letter, it
will be proper to insert the following certificate
from the County Treasure.
6 Worcester, IS. November 9, 182l.---This
ceTtifies whom it may concern, that ] haye re-
ceived of Hon. Oliver is!le, Register of Deeds
for this County, a duty Of II cents each, on
the following Deeds, Sc. by him received for
record, after having deducted his commissions
eli two per cent. viz
Oh those received between Dccemba-
II, 1916, and. prii /, 1917, 1894
Between April /, 1877, & April J., 1915, 1861
Between April l, 1913, Il April ], 1919, 2704
Between April /, 1919, g. April /, 1890, 2I24
Between April /, 1920, & April l, 1921, 222@
Making, in all, 112li
SAMUEL ALLEN, County Tfcds''
The first question arising IN the foregoing
papers is, Why did not Doct. FisIe comply
with the request to furnish the certificate, es-
pecially after his friend had assured lis that all
facts and Records pertaining to the Office
would be made known to any one asking for
them? The answer is obvious--he knew thai
ifhe certified the true number of Deeds recciv-
Ell between April, 1918, and April, 1910, this
and the Treasurer's certificate taken together
would show that he had paid the duty on all
Instruments up to the latter time, and, consc-
quently, that his former explanation was I'M
true. He knew that the 1reasurer's certif-
cate would show a dinnution of Lis return.
from 1919 to 1929, Of almost 700. 1t therefore
became necessary to change his gToand, and,
instead OF sticking to his former declaration
that he consulted with the Court at December
Term, 1916, to fix it at March Term, 1870
But he is still unfortunate-he has always said
that Judge Bangs was one OF those he consult
ed on this subject, and by whose opinion he
was principally governed. Now Judge Bangs
died in June, 18l3--nne months before the
time the Doctor fnal!y settles upon.
In the two years in which he does certify the
number OF excepted Instruments, there is still
q deficiency OF about go unaccounted for.
he says he canGot distinguish the different
kinds of exempted Instruments This may
appear singular after lis explanation given last
week, and after his declaration to the messen-
ger as above mentioned. But to those who
acquainted with the whole ground, it is
not astonishing. Since the discovery of the
facts disclosed last week, his whole conduct
has been 4 scene of changes, of twisting and
evasion, to avoid the disclosure of other facts
which would place him much deeper in the
Inire. Why 50 much time taken to ascertain
facts which appeared upon a single book, and
which were 50 easily embodied in certif-
cate People must now be satisfied with the
course taken in obtaining information which
has been so much complained of by the Doc
TOR and his friends, and that the information
would not have been given if asked fer.
Want of room in the papers fnrbids further
remarks Readers win please to count their
recorded instruments, and make their own
comments. 1t is necessary, however, to state,
that. examination has been made in the Clerks
Office, and many of the other &C crempted''
Instruments have be n counted; and s. arcely
one has been found where the duty has not
been paid, and generally they show the fees
taken to have been much greater than the
duty aud legal fees.
AFRIEND OF CONSISTENCY.
Rond and # you are not con-
7,,uced note far Or ESEe