The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-10
Prosecuting Poor People For Trespassi
on Land He Would Not Use Himself.

Prosecuting Poor People For Trespassing
on Land He Would Not Use Himself.
Mt. VERNON, Oct g. = Especial - Posey
county, notwithstanding the ''hooppole" stories
which have gone abroad, is one of the best
counties in the state and produced larger per
centage of wheat and corn during the last two
years than any other county in the state.
Every township but one is fully cultivated
by thrifty farmers. That one exception is
Point township, located in the peninsula
formed by the meandering and con-
iuence of the Ohio and Wabash
rivers. Here q semi-primeval wilderness
stands n contrast to the comfortable dwell
lings, red barns and schoOlhouses of the more
favored townships. Favored, not by nature,
for there Is no difference in soil and timber of
Point and the other townships. But the hold
ing of lands in large tracts by few men has
cursed this township the same way that land
lordiSm curses Ireland.
Any one looking over the county map will
see that the name OF one A. p. Hovey
appears over an extensive tract of
land, extending from the west meander-
ing of the Wabash, six miles due north
of the Forks" TO the Ohio, two miles above
the UniOntOwn (Ky.) ferry. This tract en-
braces parts of secs. 81, %, 80 and most Of
secs. 20 81. 81, 80, "a and So of {. S., r. IA
W. Also most of sec. 2, 8, 8, 6, 10, IS, A.
%, "a and parts OF secs. II, 10, % and q Of
t. s., r II W.
This A. P. Hovey is the same Gen. Hovey
who is being exhibited over the state by the &.
o. p. the poor mans friend"
Gen. Hovey purchased this land from the
canal company, and has held il Tor more than
twenty-five years. He will not sell or lease any
part of it on reasonable terms to people who
would clear and cultivate il. Thousands
of acres remain uncrltivated and
unproductive where more than hundred
,fo-f obl =
mans friend" allowed il TO be redeemed from
the wild cats. An examination of the county
map will show that Hovey's domain extends
from northwest to southeast, seven miles, and
is five miles wide at one point forming the
shape of eross-and a heavy cross il is to the
poor people of that township. Adjoining
HOvey's wild lands are number OF poor
people owning from twenty 10 forty acres. all
willing to increase their small holdings, but
the poor mans friend" will not sell.
The stock law is enforced In this county and
no stock is allowed to run at large. Hovey's
land is not fenced in. Cows could do no dam
age in pasturing il. But Gen. Hovey, true to
his record as "poor mans friend" will not
allow even hen to cross his lines He has re-
peatedly prosecuted these poor people for tres
passing. OF for letting cows eat his wild grass
A poor, old soldiers widow has the misfor-
tune to have her little g-hut adj joining Hovey's
land. The poor widow, whose name is Lorenzo,
having no land of her own, pastured her sol
lLslTl COW III llOfty NOOO. DcluE threatened
with prosecution she offered to pay for the use
of few acres, but the general, as soldiers
friend" would not permit her to DO so, and the
poor old soldiers widow had TO stake her COW
TO save Hovey's oak and sycamore trees from
her ravage.
lie has prosecuted people for cutting logs to
build miserable huts, and for cutting a few
sticks of wood to burn In their freplaces in
winter Hovey lake is within his domain. He
will not allow the boys to fish in IL, but sells
the fishing privilege for 500 year.
Lately Gen. Hovey has sold the railroad-tie
timber of 5000 acres for $4,000. The timber
men have filled the roads with tree-tops, max
ing the roads impossible for Hovey's poor
friends" No doubt this sale would not have
taken place If Illusions demand for Doodle was
not so urgent.
John w. Jenkins says that for twelve years
he guarded Hovey's timber and was to receive
deed for forty acres.
John has not received dollar or an acre Of
land from the poor mans friend"
JAIN.