Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-09-13
A Noble Example.


ployed to examine the title of piece of
land in Massachusetts. In making my in
vestigations found that one Of the prior
grantors, through whom my client derived
his titke, had possessed only an estate for
life, and could not, therefore. legally con-
vey any greater estate. He had suppos-
ed, however, that he possessed an estate
in fee, which is, in law, a larger estate
Acting on this supposition, he ha 4 attempt
ed TO convey it as such to his grantee
This transaction had occurred when the
value of the land was some few hundred
dollars. AT the time of my examination,
however, large manufacturing town had
been built up around the land, and had
greatly increased its value.
After discovering this fatal defect in my
clients title it became very desirable to
know in whom the legal title of the land
rested. After many and careful inquiries,
l found that a young man in Peterboro,
N. H., was the legal owner. His father
had, many years previously, sold and con-
veyed it as an estate in fee. and had re-
ceived a fair price as such, but in point
of law he could convey only such estate
as he legally possessed, and that was one
which terminated with his own life, and at
his decease the land became, by operation
of law, the property of this young man
then living in Peterboro. / also ascer-
tanned that the young man did not know
of these circumstances and consequently
was ignorant that he was the legal owner
of the land.
i After consultation with my client, l
went to Peterboro to do the best for him
that could. / soon became acquainted
with the young man, and after carefully
observing him, and rejecting on all the
circumstances of the case, felt convinced
that could best promote the interests Of
my client by unfolding the whole matter
to the young man, and leaving it for him
to act as he should think proper. | ac-
cordingly stated the whole case to him.
, WE'LL" said he, what do you want me
to do 7" ] replied that Mr.. T., my client,
r would like quit claim deed of the land
: from him. 6 Have you such deed made
] out for me to sign?" he asked. " Yes
] answered, and produced it. He read il
! carefully through, then said, /" Let us &C
! over to Mr.. , justice Of the peace.
We did so. There he executed the deed
acknowledged it before the Justice jss !. and ,a{f
! delivered IL 10 me. = NOW, sald ne, tei
what the present value of the land is. !
would not make this inquiry before ! sign
, ed the deed, lest should be hindered
from doing what was right; but now
!; should like to know the value of the prop.
t erty / have parted WITH told him thai
! it was estimated at from fourteen thousand
! to twenty thousand dollars. He said he
t hoped it would have made no difference
] with him in signing the deed, whateve
: the value of the land might have been
J. but that he did not wish to inquire unit
u he had placed himself beyond the reacl
e of temptation, for he wanted to do wha
was right.
$ That young man who thus, from pur'
c principle of right, relnquished property
G which was his own by law, of the value Q
. from fourteen Thousand to twenty thous
: and dollars, 10 a perfect stranger, was Re,
's Samuel Abbott Smith, late of West Cam
1t bridge. The fragrance of a noble dee
q perfumes his name.
= "0nly the actions Of the just
T. Smell sweet and blossom in the dust"
S, - Christian Register.