The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-05-05

mercial warmth and light radiate m ever
increasing circles. ~
DISPUTED CLAIMS.
Much Of the land in the Northwest was
settled before IL was surveyed or came
into market. This state Of affairs gave
rise to endless disputes in regard to
claims. It sometimes happened that
when the survey was made, two men
would have been found to have made i'm
.proyements ON the same property. Two
mems claims would be found to be over
tapping each other,-fences and roads
aslant Of proper lines. Unprincipied
speculators took advantage Of circum-
stances, and entered improved land in
advance of actual settlers, and demanded
exorbitant prices for the same from the
rightful claimant. tt,aAA ~, r3
These claim disputes gave rise to feuds,
deep and bitter, and sometimes bloody.
Public sympathy was always in favor OF
settlers, and wrongs that could not be
riobted by law were sometimes taken in
hand by resolute mobs and settled by
mob-law. In the territory known as the
Indian Land, in Northwestern Wisconsin,
three men-Judge Tolles, Jared Walls
worth and A. Smith, were elected by the
settlers as "court Of claims" which, al
though without authority Of law. was re-
spected, and their decisions rigidly en-
forced. Before this tribunal came all
disputed claims for that section. Wit
nesses testified pro, and con-, and oil bus
mess was conducted with the propriety
of a legal court of justice. Their decis"
ions were usually just, and from them
there was no appeal. BY this arrange.
ment much ill-feeling was saved and
much Injustice thwarted. In one instance,
in a dispute of lines, this court decided
that whatever the survey might be- the
line between two rival claimants should
follow the course Of certain stream.
This stream was one Of the most winding
and crooked imaginable. This, OF course,
could not constitute legal boundary, but
was probably as near just as could be
made, and was accepted. When the land
was bought the owners decided to each
other such portions as crossed the stream
ON either side, and the boundary still re-
mains the same as it was made by the
"court Of claims"
The dignity of the court was always
sustained in one way or another, as we
may believe from the following incident:
There was disputed claim, in which an
Irishman was one of the contending par
ties. The 'court of claims" was in SEES
sion, and this man was outside relating
his grievances to a group of sympathiz-
ing listeners, and ended with San be dadi
can lick any damned Yankee there is
here If this case goes agin mel"
Immediately there appeared upon the
scene the towering form of Judge Tolles,
six feet in height and well proportional,
and rolling up his sleeves, called out:
"Show me the Irishman that is going to
thrash any Yankee there is here" The
boasting son of Erin was Quoted, and,
the dignity of the court being preserved,
the Judge turned to his seat and the case
was proceeded with.
There were many other cases which
were not decided so amicably as by
this claims court, but of all ferns of set
Element none were so deplorable as those
in which mob violence was resorted to-
These cases. though not frequent, or re-
sorted to on extreme occasions, were still
more numerous than could be wished
Here is an instance of a claim difficulty
which resulted in
A RIOT.
Sometimes man would come into the
country poor, pre-empt piece of land,
build house, and make some improve
ments, such as breaking, fencing, ETC.,
with the intention of buying the land of
the government when the year of pre-
emption expired. There were not lack
ing unprincipled men who would not hes
itate to deposit money at the land Office
against these claims, and if the settler
failed to be on hand at the time the pre-
emption expired, the land, together with
all the improvements thereon, would pass
into his hands, and he could exact any
price he chose from the settler, and, by
the law of the land, there was no redress.
This was called "iumping q claim"
RIO be Continued
81 wish to ask the Court" said a
facetious barrister, who had been called
to testify as an expert, ''if / am COM
PEELED to come into this case, in which /
have no personal interest, and give a
legal opinion for nothipgp" Eyes, yes,
certainly" replied the mild-mannered
judge; ''give it for what it is WORTH"