The Van Buren press., 1877-05-22
A COMPLETE TITLE.
lJ. S.. DuNnAM, Esq. !:

DEAR SIK:-ln reply to the wholesale
misrepresentation of some OF our Alma
friends (innocently made Of course) as il
regards the title Of Crawford County te
the Public Square in the town of Van
Buren, on which the Court House was
built, would state that this Block, con
stitutng the Public Square, was donated
to Crawford County by David Thomp
son and John Drcnnen 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 Var
Buren. The County by a vote OF the
people in that year did locate the Seal
of Justice at Van Buren, upon the Pub
lie Square. The proposition to donate
this ground for public purposes was ii
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 1874 or IS 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 emdloyed mo to institute suit fol
that purpose. accordingly filed bill in
behalf of Crawford County on the chan
Gerry side of the Circuit Court, setting uI
the donation, and all the facts pertaining
thereto and praying decree for title te
this property, donated as aforesaid.
To this bill, John Drennen, the surviv
ing donor then living, the administrators
of David Thompson and his heirs at law
were made defendants. The answers o!
the defendants admitted broadly all the
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 been question.
ed In addition to this, the County has
been in tho uadisturbed possession OF
this property, for hirty:fre gears, which
by prescription will give her an absolute
title against all the world; and yet it is
asserted, by these pretcntious cavilers
| that if the seat of Justice should ever be
removed from Van Buren this property
will revert back to the heirs of Thomp-
son and Dronnen. This assumption is
wholly unfoundcd. The County has a
fee simple title to the Public Square, and
| there can be no reversion to heirs in such
u case. But to satisfy the most captious.
the heirs of Thompson and Drennen, 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 msrepre.
senting the title of the county to the
Public Square, oughtto have known bet
ter They could have known better il
they had desired to deal frankly and
truthfully with the people. The employ
ment OF unscrupulous means to accom-
plish given end, is very apt to recoi
upon the heads of those who resort to
such tactics Let these frank and in
genuous gentlemen, who seem to be SC
much in love with the Jcsuitical maxim
the end justifies the Means" beware
for day of reckoning is at hand. The
tenth Of July nert ciH call them to ac,
count, after which they will be fully sat
isfed that Crawford county has an indie.
fensiblc title to the Public Square in Van
Buren. Very respectfully,
JESSE TURNER.
P. S.--While 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. 7.
! To MesSrs Bourn, Gibson and Knor,
Commissioners Of the County Of Craw
ford and State Of Arkansas for locating
the Seat Of Justice, &C.:
GENTLEMEN: We the undersigned will make
as 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 y-seven 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 makes deed in fee simple
for the said block OF land (No. 14). Rrovid-
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, 1889.
DAVID THOMPSON,
|