The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-03-05
ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD.
4 singular suit Against Governor
CrosweIl.


IN the fall OF 1874 James n. Wells,
who resides in the town of Franklin,
came here 10 borrow some money. pro-
posing TO give a mortgage on forty
acres in the town OF Franklin. He ar
ranged with Hon. G. NJ. Croswell to
borrow the money, n mortgage was
drawn. which he took home for his
wife aud motber-in-law TO sIgD, they
being the owners of the property.
When he returned with the instrument,
it was not properly acknowledged, and
another mortgage was drawn up, which
he was TO return with and get the mon
ey on a certain day. Wells failed TO
put in an appearance on the day named
but when he did come Mr.. Croswell let
him have 600, and as the mortgage
was drawn for $500 he endorsed 500
on the mortgage rs paid.
SUSPICION.
A gentleman was looking over the
mortgage one day, and called Mr..
Croswell's attention TO tie fact that
the siguitures looked as though they
were all made by one person. They
certainly had that appearance, and Mr..
Croswel taking with him Mr.. Geo.
Holden, went 20 the Wells place in
Franklin, in order TO see that every
thing was oil right. He found Wells,
who frst said the women we're away
from home, aud then when one Of them
appeared, said they had not gone yet,
and escorted his visitors into the house.
Wells fret took his wife and mother-in-
law in O rosm apart, spd when the w.
men came out they acknowledged the
signatures appended to the mortgage
10 be theirs, and Mrs. Wells stated
that she was OF age. This visit 10
Wells took place in November, "a. or
thereabouts, and apparently settled the
mortgage question satisfactory. But
MORE susPrcroSs
arose in the Governors mind, and he
examined the marriage record Of Mr.
aud Mrs. Wells. He found, according
to that, that Mrs. Wells vould not be
of age until the 10 Of October. 1878,
nearly year later than the date Of the
visit 20 their house, when she said she
was OF age.
NEW MORTGAGE.
There was nothing for Mr.. Croswell
90 do but 10 wait until after October,
1875. he did this, aud then told Wells
that he wanted his money or a new
mortgage, and Wells came down with
the two women aud made n new mort
gage, taking up the old one. The vo-
man signed the instrument in the pres.
ence II two witnesses. Mrs. Wells stat.
ing positively that she was Of age.
Everything appeared all right then,
but now tho Wells family have fled q
BILL ~ oHAScERY,
asking that the mortgage be set aside
/ and m injunction was asked and grant
I ed 10 restrain the Governor from fore.
closing under the mortgage. At Tho
/ last term OF court this injunction wa'
/ dissolved, and an order issued thsI
I plaintiff give security for costs vithir
thirty days.
THE POINTS ~ THE cHAScrRr BILL
are very peculiar, when the statomen
given above Is taken into account
Mrs. Wells swenrs that the mor,gag,
Of which she acknowledged the sigma
ture az her house, was a forgery com
mitted by her husband: that she state.
what was untrue when she said II va
her signature, but that the untruth wa
told under fear that IL she told th
truth. her husband would be arreste,
for forgery; that her signature 10 tn
final mortgage was extorted by threats
and that when she executed il she va
not Of age. and did not reach her ma
jority until October 10. 1877. Tn
chancery suit was begun about a wee
later.
The suit is an attempt 90 defraud th
Governor out Of his money, but il is
singular one in the amount Of appar
ent perjury involved. II looks a
though James II. Wells wa- one q
those men who demanded sacnfce
from his vile, and among those sacr
fees he considered thst Of truth anon
the least Adrian Times.