St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-03
WHAT'S IN The FENCE
The Levee Commission Gets
Down to Some Bed
Rock Facts.
IS There a Diminutive African
Concealed in the Wood
Pile?
Owners Of Levee Property
Just Begin to Find a
Few Things.
Testimony Which Develops
an Awakening Of New
Ideas.

now being adjudicated upon by Arch
bishop Ireland, eX-GOy. Ramsey and
Hon. Henry NJ. Rice, in accordance
with the request of the legislature.
There can be 10 doubt whatever that
there is ''nigger in the woodpile,"
after hearing the testimony of certain
witnesses who were produced yesterday.
The petitioners endeavored to prove by
these witnesses that they were all very
much dissatisfied when years ago they
had parted with their property to the
city, but the case was broken down
completely when the attorney for the
city, MesSrS Phillips and Murray, put
them through their facingS. AS on the
previous days the lawyers wrangled
very much, and at one time were very
personal, but Bishop Ireland. both i'll
his character of chairman and peace
maker, restored the feeling of good
fellowship.
Az old Wan Tripped Up.
The first witness called was Frank
Hart, an old man who was doubled up
evidently with rheumatism and walked
with the aid of clutches. Examined by
Mr., Ovitt and Judge Wood he stated
that he once owned lot and house on
the levee. and that believing what he
had been told as to levee being built
he had parted with his property. but
did not receive full compensation
from the city. Assistant Corporation
the witness to hot fire of
questions, and elected the fact that he
considered his lot was worth $500, his
house $500, and that he had received
from the city 5000 in cash. He denied
that he had parted from his property
willingly, and insisted that it had been
wrested from him by the cruel hands Of
the city government.
Judge Wood and Attorney Ovtt
smiled with joy at the witness evil
dence, but their faces became very long
when Attorney Phillips produced doc
ument showing that the city had made
an offer to the witness to give him $3.50
If he abandoned his house, but if not
would pay him $3.50 to have it removed.
The Endorsement on the back of the
document showed that the witness had
agreed to abandon his house and take
the larger amount.
As the witness limped away, Mr.. Muir
ray asked him question which opened
the eyes of the commissioners as to the
inner working Of the whole agitation.
The witness stated that he had agreed
to pay his lawyers a good round sum
If they recovered his lot for
him, which was now worth
athousand dollars for every hundred he
received from the city for it. MIR. Muir
ray quietly said That is all" when the
witness finished his answer, and sur
Veyed tile dismayed faces OF the OppoS-
ing counsel with satisfaction.
Knew Her Business.
Great amusement was furnished by
the next witness, who was an elderly
lady dressed in black, and stated by
counsel to be Mrs. Ellen O'Connor. She
took seat at the table, and a buXom
young woman, evidently her daugh-
ter, sat close beside her and
prompted her in her answers.
In reply to Judge Wood she stated she
was the wife of All old soldier, and sold
a lot to the city on condemnation pfo-
ceedlngs two years ago. She had paid
$500 for the lot and kept it four years.
improved the property, put two houses
upon 1t. which she rented at Sc aud 81 a
month each. She was not willing to
part with her property. but gave it up
believing that a levee would be built
She had also paid levee assessments
upon othor property she owned.
The witness had evidently been posted
as to how she should answer the attor-
neys for the city, for when Attorney
Phillips said, Your name, believe. is
Mary Ellen OCOnnor," she turned
round, and in an excited manner SAID in
her Irish brogue: "Well, sor, and
Shupposin' it is" and proceeded to state
she was lady, and wanted to be treated
as such, and that she was born inno-
cent, and did not intend to tell a lie.
When the old lady had calmed down a
little, she proceeded to answer the CUES
tons of the city attorney. She had
brought suit against the city to recover
her property. but did not know what
the Judges name was who tried the
case. She did not know that her case
was dismissed, for she was raised in
nocent, and knew nothing of law or
lawyers name" She was paid $3.50 for
the lot, and went over to the city hall
toreceive her money. She bought two
other lots at that time on Fairfield ave
nue. for $1,000: she spent $1,000 IN i'm.
provementS, and purchased from the
city one OF her condemned houses for
$50, and put it up on her new property.
She had worked hard all her life. and
did not see that she should be cheated
by the cily.
Attorney Phillips endeavored to get
an answer from the witness as to how
much the property she now possessed
was worth, but beyond stating there
was mortgage for $1,000 upon it, she
protested perfect ignorance upon the
subject, and once again started her
TRADE about being a LADY and wanted ia
being treated ''as sich.' She finally re,
tired after bowling TO Bishop Ireland
and his cOnfrereS.
All Interested Attorney.
Judge Wood who is taking leading
nanu ID the proceedings, at some length
stated how he had parted with a very
large number OF lots on condemnation
proceedings. The lots had cost hin
Sll0 each, and lie had paid heavy
assessments for building the leyee
The city had not paid him the
value of the property. He gave
history OF the agitation for building :
1evee IN which he was prime mover
Though the matter had been brought
before various common councils. moth
ing had been done at all upon the works
The history OF the appointment of the
levee commission by the last Legislature
was then gone over at wearisome length
FACTORIES and the Kansas City roaC
were now located upon the lands Dough
for building levee, and he submitted
copy of articles OF incorporation flee
in 1885 by the West Side Unior
Transfer company, which was anx
louS to put in terminals ant
sidetracks and build warehouses
When cross-eXamined by Attorne7
Phillips the witness frequently lost hi.
temper at the questions put to him. ii,
stated that when the council in 1855
passed an ordinance giving the Kansa
City road certain rights on the ievee h,
did not oppose it, but when the citizens
union. of which he was a member
found that the Kansas City road hal
not carried out It's obligations, the uniol
went to the common council and aske,
that the ordinance be amended.
By Mr.. Phillips-Then, if the railroa
had carried out its obligations. 70
would not have presented the petitio
to the common council?
The Witness-That is a matter @
opinion.
Continuing, the witness stated h
knew the values of property on tn
West side, and did not think the cit