The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-06-02
3. A. goxENg RECORD As PIsOnATE
JUDGE.

4 EDITOR REGISTER - Some things
have been said concerning the fitness Of
s. a. Johns for the position OF County
Judge of Linn county, to which office
he now aspires. III ooncede the Office
is one that, to fulfill its duties, requires
man of considerable legal attainments,
as well as man of honesty and integ-
rity. The title to large amount of
real estate passes every year through
or by virtue of proceedings had in the
administration of estates, aud these pro-
eeedings are under the immediate con-
troll and supervision of the County
Judge. 1t has been said by the friends
of S. A. Johns, that he was a good
Probate Judge; that he Kept a good
record, and that all sales OF land in the
administration of estates while he was
County Judge of Linn county, from
July, 1868, to July, 1872, were legally
conducted, and the title acquired BY
purchasers good. have been informed
that S. A. Johns asserted this himself,
on the stump, within the past week.
It takes time to develop errors. Tie
proceedings had before S. A. Johns, and
the records kept by him in the matter of
estates, are beginning to be investigated,
and it is now ascertained that the Rec
ords kept by him are the most detective
ever kept in Linn county. will in
stance few of the sales of real estate
confirmed by Judge Johns, the records
being in his own handwriting and
signed by him:
In July, 1868, Henry Davidson pur-
chased farm in this county for 81 $50,
at administrators sale, Andrew Grcggs,
administrator, and S. A. Johns confirm
ed the sale. On account of irreg,llari-
ties the administrators deed conveyed
no title, and the rents ard profits of the
farm are now the subject of litigation
in the Circuit Court of this county.
In August, 1868, James KeeDy pur-
chased, at administrators sale, a farm
belonging to the estate of Thomas
Boggs, for 1857 so; and at the same
time D. NJ. Thompson and p. w.
Sphinx purchased several lots in Albany,
at administrators sale, paying full value
therefor, believing they were getting
good title thereto. But upon investi-
CATION it was found that the title to all
these lands SO purchased was worthless,
on account of irregularities in the pro-
ceeding in the County Court, over
which Judge Johns presided. All these
sales were confirmed by S. A. Johns in
August, 1868.
he above is some OF the proceedings
that have been brought to my observa-
tion during the first two years that S.
4. Johns acted as County Judge of
Linn county. The records of Linn
county will snow the correctness of the
above statements. Linn county has
never had a Judge that left SO detective
record. The men who paid their
money for lands, supposing they were
getting good title thereto, now realize
the importance of having competent
officer to transact county business, and
the records show that S. A. Johns is
either wholly incompetent, or that he
is crimirally careless and negligent of |
his sworn duty. Johns has been tried /
by the people and found wanting. Is
it policy to try him again, aud entrust
and incompetent man with the interests
of the fatheriess and widow 1t is q
matter of vital Importance to the peo-
pie, and they should see to it that they
have competent man to look after t
their interests man with sufficient
ability to know and perform correctly the
duties of the Office. s. A. Johns hav-
ing been either SO ignorant or negligent
in the confirmation of the sale OF lands. /
have we any evidence or reason to be-
lieve that estates have been settled up
correctly under his administration !?
Doubtless few years more, when those
who are now children begin to enquire
into their rights, and investigate the
of the estates of their fathers
or mothers, they may find as grave
errors in such settlements as in the above
sales. With the evidence of Johns In
before them, can the people
of Linn county cast their votes for him
on Monday next j? JUsTIcE.
The desperate straits in which The
Democratic .ering,' finds itself. brought |