, 1869-10-23
LAND cRABBING.

biug, aud characterized the whole
system as injurious to the best inter-
est Of the country. An admitted
evil, it is unfortunate that there is
no law to repress the spirit Of monop-
oily, aud SO our only recourse is an
appeal to the law of public opinion.
With the mass of the people, the
land graOber is an abomination, and
only little less odious than the Shy.
lock who exacts bis "pound of flesh"
and it is to the lend that the land
grabbers may feel the force of public
opinon that we have from time to
time directed attention to their do
ings. The great, want of the coun.
try is immigrants to fill our fertile
valley and cultivate our teeming soil,
and yet we very well know that if
the lands are allowed to fall into the
hands of one or two SPECTATORS, all
hope of increased prosperity from
that source is gone. And not only
do the spectators serve the purpose
of barrier to keep newcomers out,
but they by their exactions and i'm
positions drive away those who are
already here. We have already To-
ticed the fact that a poor widow wo|
man living on the Touchet, had been
swindled out of her claim, by one of
these Gland Sharps." We now have
to notice the case of an old man who
has been driven from his home and
his property, cOn6scated, and all this
to the end that a 0loated land specu-
lator may add to the figures that re.
present his thousands of acres. Deem
ing it possible that the public would
think it incredible that a capitalist
would drive an old man and his
family from their home, we have
taken the pains to put MIR. Lilli>
BRIDGES statement in the form Of an
affidavit, which is as follows:
Territory of Washington,
| County Of Walla WaIla, So
.THoMAs LGLLTBRIDGE being sworn, dc.
poses aud says-That be is a citizen of
the United States, over ffty~four years
of age, and the head of family. That
about the first of last October he settled
with his family on the N. E. quarter nf
the N. w. quarter of Section No. IA, T.
No. 8, N. of R. SO East-beiug on " hat
is known as the lower Touchet. That
he built q dwelling house aud put on
other Improvements, besides grubbing
and clearing several acres of said land.
That tor the want of means be did not
send notice to the Land Office before
going on to said land. That on or about
the 9th of the following mouth he lost
said home, by DR.. Dorsey s. Baker, of
the firm of Baker & Boyer, of Walla
Walla City, entering the land in his
(Baker's) own name, without giving
said afiant any notice,
THOMAS LILLIBRIDGE.
l, MADISON B. MoRRIs, of said county,
do solemniy swear that l have known
the above affiant for years; that be is
hard working, industrious farmer, and
a person of credioility; that Thave read
bis foregoing affidavit, and so far Is it
relates to the settlement, Improvements
and the acts of said Dr.. Dorsey S. Ba.
ker's entering atlantis home, it is sub>
stantially true. MADISON B. NORRIS.
| hereby certify that said sfiants,
Thomas Lillibridge aud Madison B.
Morris, subscribed and made oath to
the foregoing instrument, on this 22d
day of October, 1869, in this city and
county of Walla Walla, Washington
Territory. H. NJ. CHASE, Co. Auditor.
Comment on this procedure is un-
necessary, as it is not possible that a
single individual can read this tale,of
wrong and outrage without the hot
blush of indignation mounting to his
cheek. Wealth and broad lands are
desirable, but when they can only be
obtained by driving grey.beaded
Sires and helpless women and chill
dren from their homes, we shall pre-.
fer the hard lot of poverty. We
envy not the man his wealth who
knows and feels in his heart that he
has risen upon the ruin of his neigh
bors, and if DR. Baker can read the
statement OF this wrouged and out
ragged old man without the blush of
shame mantling his cheek, indeed is
he sunk to the lowest depths of deg
radiation.