The tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1890, 1890-01-29
DAVIES MARES NEST.

1t seems that one r. G. Davies, late of
Arkansas, has decided to appropriate to
himself the centers of three important
to wns of Montana, viz: Helena, Amazon
da and Great Falls. Whatever else may
lie SAID of Davies, there is nothing small
about him; as shown by his demands for
choice real estate, modesty must be a
quality unknown to him. Almost every
city in the union has had its Davies, who,
under cover Of some supposed flaw in
making transfer of titles, has claimed its
business or residence center, but this is
probably the first instance on record
wherein n person proposes to gather
unto himself the most valuable portions
of three pretentious cities, all at one fell
swoop. But hen we are living in a fast
age and its takes much more to satisfy
men than 1T did a few years ago.
Acting under a decision made in the
state of Arkansas about two years ago,but
which has never been confirmed by the
courts Of any other state, or by the su-
preme court of the United States, this
man Davies and his pals have decided to
appropriate some of the choicest portions
of three Montana cities. This decision,
although known throughout the land, has
created no doubt in the minds of learned
lawyers and ~jurists as to titles of lands
acquired under soldiers additional scrip.
We understand that with the exception
of Arkansas, the decisions of the courts,
notably that of California, have been in
support of titles acquired by this scrip
when located and conveyed by powers of
attorney. The decision of Judge Brewer
as we'll as recent decisions of the land
department are unqualifiedly in support
of such scrip locations.
No n having title under this
class of scrip mead have any doubt
as to its validity and without ques
ton Davies suddenly acquired
wealth Gn his mind) will vanish as quick
ly as have the great prospective fortunes
nf hundreds who have preceded him in
this ~disrepntable business. His scheme
has all the color of blackmail and Davies
is not the only one into the plot. His
chief alder and abetter seems to be the
Helena journal. We ask IN all candor
by what right this journal refers to Da-
vies as ''having acquired title to lands in
Boyce addition in Helena. In more than
n connection it speaks of Davies hay
ing already acquired these lands in
Helena, which, 1t seems, have "vested for
for nine years, without a shadow of
doubt" and during which time transfers
by the dozen were'' made. What right
has the Journal to pass these land un-
qualifedly from the ownership of honest
men to that of Dawes? Is it because of
this isolated decision of an Arkansas
court or does the Journal expect to share
in the profits of the scheme? All the
circumstances seem to point to the latter
view of the matter.
The hubbub raised by the Journal, as
a side partner of Davies & Co., has Great
ed no alarm here. Even the additional
fact that Judge Sterling" has 'com-
promised" with Davies and after r~ustling
with his law books, threw the weight of
his opinion with the Arkansas lawyer,
has not created the slightest apprehen-
sion. This will probably be surprising
to the coterie of title sharks, but it is never |
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