The Van Buren press., 1877-05-29
A COMPLETE TITLE.
S. DuNHAM, ESQ. +:

LEAN toih'-Ih Fepi1 w Wv "Hoioeeio
misrepresentation Of some Of our Alma
friends Gnnocently made of course) as ii
regards the title of Crawford County to
the Public Square in the town Of Van
Buren,, on which the Court House was
built, | would state that this Block, con;
stituting the Public Square, was donated
to Crawford County by David Thomp-
son and John bremen the original own
ers of the town site in the year 1889, on
the condition that Crawford County
should locate the Seat of Justice at Van
Buren,. The County by vote of the
people in that year did locate the Seat
of Justice at Van Buren, upon the Pub
lie Square. The proposition to donate
this ground for public purposes was in
writing, and is probably still in existence,
but it is believed no formal deed to the
County for the property was ever made
by the donors. In 1914 or D the Coun-
ty Court decming it best TO procure from
the Court of Chancery decree for title
to this property in pursuance of said do
nation cmdloyed mo to institute suit for
that purpose. accordingly filed Il bill in
behalf OF Crawford County on the chan
Gerry side OF the Circuit Court, setting up
the donation, and all tho facts pertaining
thereto and praying a decree for title to
this property, donated as aforesaid.
| To this bill, John Bremen, the surriv-
ing donor then living, the administrators
of David Thompson and his heirs at law
werc made defendants. The answers of
the defendants admitted broadly all tho
allegations in the bill; the truths Of
which were also proved by other testi-
mony. Upon the hearing of the cause
the Court decreed title to the County in
fee simple, absolutely and unconditional
ly; and from that day to the burning of
the Court House, the title Of the County
to this property has never Aeen question
ed. In addition to this, the County has
been in tho undsturbcd possession of
this property, for thirty:fce gears, which
by prescription will give her an absolute
title against all the world; and yet it is
asserted, by these pretentious cavilers,
that if the seat of Justice should ever be
removed from Van Buren, this property
will revert back to the heirs Of Ihomp-
son and Drcnncn. This assumption is
wholly unfoundcd The County has a
fee simple title to the Public Square, and
| there can be no revcrsion to heirs in such
case. But to satisfy the most captious,
the heirs Of Thompson and Bremen, all
Of whom are Of full age, stand ready to
execute to Crawford County quit claim
deeds for this property.
Those who are engaged in misrepre-
senting the title of the county to the
Public Square, oughtto have known bet
ter. They could have known better if
they had desired to deal frankly and
truthfully with the people. The employ
menu OF unscrupulous n1cans 10 accom-
plish n given end, is very apt to recoil
upon the heads Of those who resort to
such tactics Let these frank and in
gcnuous gentlemen, who seem to be so
much in love with the Jcsuitical maxim,
the end justities the means,' beware
for q day of reckoning is at hand. The
tenth of July neat rN call them to &C.
count, after which they will be fully sat
istied that Crawford county has an indie
feasible title to the Public Square in Van
Buren,. Very respectfully,
JESSE TURNER
p. S.--Whlo writing the foregoing,
Mr.. D. G. Williams has shown me the
original proposition of Thompson and
Drennen to donate the Court House
square to Crawford county, which please
publish below. J. r.
TO Mcssrs Bourn, Gibson and Knor,
Commissioners Of the County Of Craw-
ford and State Of arkansas for locating
the Seat Of Justice, DC:
GENTLEMEN: We the undersigned will make
as II donation to the County of Crawford.
Block IA, in the Town OF Van Buren,, con-
tanning sixteen lots. Each lot contains thir.
| ty-three feet front. and one hundred and
| twenty feet back. with a ten foot al
ley running through said block. The block
of lots No. IA, agreeable to the plat of said
town of Van Buren,, is wtll-situated to make
a public square, and an eligible site for a
Court House. According to a correct calcu-
| lation, the donation will contain something
upwards of three acres of ground. We. the
undersigned will make deed in fee simple
for the said block of land (No. l4). Provid-
ed said commissioners will place the Court
House and jail of said county of Crawford on
said block of land.
Given under our hands at Van Buren,
March 18th. 1899.
DAVID THOMPSON,
JoHN DRENNEN.
by his ATTORNEY in fact.