The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-03-09
For the Palladium. e.,
BEAVER LAKE LANDS.

BEAVER LAKE LANDS.
EDITOR PALLADIUM
Ny attention has recently been
called 10 articles in the Newspa-
pers entitled Land Steal,' 'Beav,
er Lake Swindle,' and other synon
yms equally forcible and poetic,
which demand my notice. Pro-
fessional engagements have pre-
vented me from responding at an
earlier date to the gross misrepre-
eentations on the subject Of Beaver
Lake lands. The articles referred
to, show either an ignorance of
the matter, or q wilful perversion
OF facts, calculated to jeopardize
the interest of confding and in
noccnt people-citizens who have
purchased lande Of the State in
good faith. and who ought to be
protected in their rights.
John p Dunn, former A uditor,
became liable to the State in about
SO, 600 on account of the failure Of
the Metropolitan Bank. In 1856
the then Treasurer (Noffsinger)
deposited funds Of the State in that
Bank to the amount above atatcd.
Dunn owned the Bsnk-it failed.
and be for that reason became lia-
BILE to the state for such deposits :.
Dunn and A B Condict had pur-
chased OF the State a. swamp
lands all the fractional sections
adjoining Beaver Lake. intending
to drain the Lake, and claim its
bed as RIPARIAN prorrietors. The
Lake was partially drained, and
the bed surveyed, and subdivided
into 40 acre lots. The lots were
numbeTed-Dunn taking the odd
numbers a. his share. These odd
numbers were conveyed to thu
State in liquidation Of the balance o
Dunn's liability (reduced to abou
81, 7,ooo) on accountof the failure o
l
Dunn's bank. Michael G Brigh
Was not Dunn's endorser. or suri.y
on the contrary he held = judgmen
against Dunn, and purchased Of
execution upon the judgment al
Dunn's interest in the Beaver Lak'
lands. An adjustment Of Bright
Judgment was had between tn
parties, and Bright ceased to hav
any further interest in Dunn's por
ton OF the lands. Instead how
ever Of re-convcying to Dunn, tn
lands were transferred by Bright t
the State, at Dunn's request in cal
isfaction Of his (Dunn's) liabilit
to the State. This is q con- ise bu
truthful statement Of the mann g
in which the State became possess
ed Of the Beaver Lake Lands.
All that statement about Brigt
being the security Of Dunn fc
this liability is without foundatio
lin fact, AIR. Bright had endorse
for Allen May while he was Age,
Of State, to large amount, an
thereby became liable to The Stat
This Indebtedness Bright sdjuste
by the conveyance Of lands in Ja
per county many miles from Bcav
er Lake, and which had nothiu
on earth to do with Dunn's iabili
ty. 1t had no connection with Il
Dunn matter, and I re-itera,
without the fear Of successful COZ
tradiction, that Michael G Brigh
was not indebted to the State, in
large amount or any other sum. "a
surity for a defaulting democrat
officer, j P Dunn Nor do / thin
it just to attempt the creation q
prejudice against the rights of il
nocent persons by connecting the
with the names of others who ar
unpopular with the dominant part,
Private rights should not be mad
to suffer in mere party scramble
After the conveyance Of thes
lands. as before stated, q Republi
can Legislature in 1865 authorize
their sale. Many persons now r.
siiing upon them. oonnding in Il
rights Of tie State, and not dream
ling that she was dealing in fic,
cious titles, paid their money int
the Treasury, and received the