Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-09-03
EXCITED REMARK.
A TRANSACTION IN RIAL ESTATE WITH
UNUSUAL FEATURES.
An Inmate Of The Ilfmary Signs a Deed to Valuable
Property for a Nominal OonsidsrahOn-An
Investigation by County Commissioners.

For a week or so back some Of the mem
bers of the Board of County Commissioners
have been deyoting portion of their time
to an investigation of little transaction
in the real estate line, had between Mr.. I.
F. Porter and his legal representative on
the one hand, and Morgan Bainbridge, an
aged and infrm inmate of the County
Poor Horse, on the other. SuspectiDg
that Mr.. cambridge, who is about eighty
years of age, and very deaf, had not given
his business interests sufficient attention,
or that he was in partial or complete ig-
norance of tie nature of the transaction in
which be had been induced to take part
the Board, after discussing the matter at a
special session, instructed its Committee
on Poor House and Farm to 90 out to the
Infrmary and make an investigation of
the affair. TIE committee accordingly
went ont on August 26, end ascertained
the following, in substance:
Mr. Bainbridge, who has been an inmate
Of the IufrmaTy for number of years, Is
tue father-in-law Of Mr.. 7. f. Porter, the
South Main street saloon keeper. The ga
loon and residence property stood in Mrs.
Porter's name, and as she died very sud
denly, several months sgo, the property,
in the absence OF heirs, reverted TO her
father, Mr.. Bainbridge.
The committee ascerisined. on the au-
- hars If fha pnard that
Thursday, August 22d, Mr. Porter, Mr.. S
o. Boyce, and Mr.. Mooney, the latter also
a son-in-lsw of Mr.. cambridge, went out
to the Infrmsry. Mr.. Porter remained
outside, but Mr.. Boyce and Mr.. Mooney
sought Mr.. Bainbridge, and told him they
had paper they wanted him to sign. Mr..
Bainbridge asked what the paper was. He
was not informed of its contents, it is al
legged, but he consented to sign it, and a
nominal consideration was given him.
A short time after the visitors departed
the Superintendent was told MIR. Balm
bridge had some whisky and some money.
The Superintendent went to him, and
found him counting some bills on his knee.
The Superintendent went over them, and
found there was twenty dollars. He al
lowed Bainbridge to keep two dollars, and
put the remainder Of the money away for
him. He then reported the matter to the
Commissioners.
The committee made q report to the
Board, recommending that Mr. Porter be
summoned TO appear before the Board, and
to produce the paper in order that il might
be escertained what sort of document the
inmate Of the Iufrmary had been
induced TO sign. This report was
approved by the Board, and at yes
terday's session the members looked for
Mr.. Porter. That gentleman did not ap-
pear, but legal representative did appear,
who as ked the Board by what authority
they had summoned Mr.. Porter. The le-
gal representative said Mr. Porter would
not appear, and said the Board could not
compel either his attendance or the pro-
duction of the paper. II was admitted,
however, that the paper was a deed for the
Main street property, by the terms OF
which Mr.. BAinbridge transferred the
property to MIR. Porter; or that, at least,
vas the understanding Of the members OF
the Board.
This being the situation, and the Board
having no authority to compel MI FOR
ter's presence, the matter weg deferred
until the next regular meeting, when fur
Their steps. it is said by members Of the
Board, will be taken.
A gentleman who had knowledge of the
other side of the case; said last evening
that the property in question was puTcased
by MI Porter for S., 600; that 81, 600 was
paid in cash on the property, So, 000 by
Mr.. Porter and 81, 900 by his wife. That
it was always her intention, after the
property was placed in her name, to make
a will leaving it to her husband in case Of
her death; that an appointment had actual
ly been made for the preparation of such
will, bat that her sudden death inter
vened before the will could be drawn, and
hence at her death the property passed out
of Mr.. POrter's control and into that Of
Mr.. cambridge.
These are about the facts, as near as
could be ascertained yesterday, and the
matter has excited good deal of comment
among those hearing of it. What steps
will be taken By the Commissioners in the
matter are not now apparent, but members
of the Board asserted yesterday that fur
Their investigation of some sort would fol-
low, if il was possible to get at it.