St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-03
cILFILLAN'S GUILT.
An Explanation Which Confesses
Rather Than Explains
The Husband Tells Him That the Wife
BrOOded Over the Sale Of the
Homestead.

On Saturday morning the GLOBE published
statement which was q scathing expose Of
J. B. Gillian. It was, in brief. that while
acting as friend Of Benjamin o. Cutter,
who was compelled 10 temporarily leave
Minneapolis for his health, he (GIlfIlan)
bought judgments against Cutter which were
nearly outiawed, and then robbed him OF
his home. AS the result Of the kss Of their
home Mrs. Cutter went insane, and escap-
ing from the asylum at st. Peter drowned
herself in the river.
The citations from the Hennepln county
records made clear cage and the pgblica.
cation attracted good deal Of attention.
The GLOBE rendered Mr.. GiIfllan the use Of
its columns TO explain or to have his old
neighbors explain but no call has been made
on our space for that purpose.
Public men sometimes decline to make
any reply to any charge made against them,
essaying to treat the accusation with con-
tempt. Mr.. Gillian did not dare 70 treat
these charges with the contempt Of sileace,
but the manner Of his response is peculiar.
If a man decides 10 reply to accusa-
tons against him. the most natural medium
is through the same channel where the
charges originated. he cannot plead con-
tempt for the GLOBE and its publication, be-
cause he has prepared a reply and published
itin the Minneapolis Jotg7sal, the Minneapolis
Tribune and the Minneapolis Pioneer Pres.
As be did not send his reply 20 the
CLONE, it is evident that be does not dare TO
place the denial before the same audience
with the charges. By giving bis denial in
papers where the charges have not appeared,
the papers assume il is a complete crusher
and accept the denial without knowing what
it denies.
But though Mr.. Gillian asked three other
papers to print his defense and did Hos ask
the GLOBE, the GLOBE. takes pleasure in volun-
teering topublish It, 1t is as follows:
Mr.. Cutter in 1863, wished 10 cell me his
former homestead. consisting OF three Tote, and
after negotiation we agreed on the price Il
was then encumbered by mortgage aud ten or
a dozen judgments. amounting 10 about $4,000
principal and nearly as much more accrued in
terest, the judgments having been recovered an
the way from 1889 10 1864 or 1865
Under these circumstances Il was difficult
for Cutter 10 make title TO the property,
and devised and he approved
the plan OF buying enough OF the earlier judy
ments which were then nearly outlawed 10 cover
the value Of the property, and which we sup
posed could be bought At very great discount,
Ind assigned 10 Mr.. Cutters interest aud upon
which execution sales could be made, aud 80
perfect title and shiele thd property from the
long list Of subsequent judgments. This plan
was fully approved by Mr.. Cutter. and was con
sidered by me 70 be the only practicable
method OF saving anything 70 him ont Of
the wreck, as he had then determined TO abandon
his homestead and remain where he had become
established In business In Nevada. ] was TO pay
him s., 500 in money and do all the work and
business free Of any cost TO him, which did.
charging him out OF the purchase money only
the sums which obliged to pay for the
judgments which bought, aud bought them
for the lowest possible sums. They were
assigned 20 John Martin for convenience
and 20 prevent merge In Their superior title which
/ took 10 myself. He put no money into Il, and
had no interest in IT. We made the execution
sales on the judgments, amounting in all as shown
by the sherih's deed 10 s.. ss6. 81. The warranty
deed 20 me expresses the true amount Of consid-
Grafton money paid by me to-wIt, s., 500. These
proceedings were a matter OF public record at
the time, except a quit claim deed from
Martin which was not placed on record until
after had arranged with subsequent judgment
creditors. full and detailed account was rem
dered TO Mr.. Cntter, and final settlement made
with him which was entirely satisfactory TO him.
l met him here some years after the transaction
OF this business, and he made no complaint
whatever in regard 20 IL, but seemed satisfied
spells of insanity before and after this transac-
ton, and this Is well known among her family
friends. Mr.. Cutter. in our last interview
said, / think that his rife had brOOded Opsr TIE
sale Of The homestead somewhat, as was natural,
but IL was the Only way ont Of the difficulties
which. surrounded them. Ny part in the trans
action was helpful 10 him. as advanced the
money which saved him several thousand dollars,
which otherwise would have been entirely lost 10
him. as there was no sale for real estate at that
time. ! served him faithfully and to the best Of
my ability. have since spent over $4,000 on
the property"
Does not this strike the reader as an ex-
traordinary expense to ''save homestead''
when the law permitted Mr. Cutter TO hold
his homestead, no matter what its value.
against all claims and judgmentsl Mr.. Gil
fllan explains that he bought the judgments
''noarly OifilacoI'' 10 accommodate his
friend What nice scheme. In a few
months the judgements would be outlawed
and Cutter have his property free but his
good friend kindly bought up the claim so as
TO keep them alive. That was because he
was a friendl
Mr.. Gilfllan does not say that be notified
Cutter that he could retain his homestead by
filing a certain notice with the register OF
deeds. That wasn't his way. He was
friend CD Of Cutters.
But he does @b,k that Mr. Cutter told him
that ''his wife brOOdod Ouer he sale Of De home
stead" Aud the result was she was driven
to insanity and suicide.
Why does not Mr.. Gilfllan call on ex-Gov.
Pnisbury or Geo. d. Perkins to vindicate
himl They are reputable gentlemen who
know the facts.