Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-06-23
The City of La Crosse Will Try TO
Change the Old Yer
diet.
Prominent Attorneys Engaged on
Both Sides-A Fight to the
Finish.

| IiIei III Tue OHlleu oCates circuit court,
Judge Bum, presiding. Daniel Cam.
eron, the plaintiff, having been
awarded verdict two years ago, the de-
PENDANT is allowed new trial by statute
If willing to assume the expense. The
pending suit will probably settle the mat
ter.
The case was called at o'clock yester-
day and preliminary arrangements con-
sumed the whole Afternoon
The suit is one of considerable fame and
Importance, having been In the courts for
twenty years, and involving property now
valued at about $4,000 The history of
the case is remarkably interesting, both on
account of its long pending and as it in
wolves many pretty points in law.
The property in question is located in
the city of La Crosse and consists of a
large square, commonly known as the
fourth ward park. The point at law
involves the ownership of the land, Cam
eron claiming it and defying the city to
prove any dedicated right to it. The city
claims, on the other hand that, in 1852,
the land was plated by the owner through
whom Cameron claims title. On the
original plat, they assert, and also on
the recorded plat, the words public
square were written about the lan1 in
question. There are no records of a for
NAL dedication. The original plant has
disappeared and no trace has been dis
covered of its whereabouts; it either hay
ing been destroyed, misplaced, lost or
Intentionally concealed by interested per-
sons.
The recorded plat is the source of dis
agreement. 1t undoubtedly bears evil
dence Of alteration. The land in question
has been at some time marked off into
streets by lines which nave been after
ward erased, and the words "public
square" inserted in their place The
city claim and has in ex-Deputy Regis
ter Laird, witness who testifes that he,
In making copy of the original plat,
inadvertently marked the whole property
off into regular streets; then, seeing his
mistake, erased the street lines in the
park property and interlined with
the words public square," Mr.. Laird
testities that this was all done at the same
time, but Cameron claims that the words
public square" were added subsequently,
and the streets, as specified in the origi-
nal plat, were then erased, and charges
the perpetrator with fraud, obviously at
attributing the deed to the city.
The city claims that, during the inter
val between the original plating of the
property in 1852 and 1872, when by rig bit
OF twenty years undisputed tenure it
might claim the property, no claim was
set up by Cameron in any form as owner
of the park. The taxes were never as
sessed to him, and when the streets
were macadamized and other park
Improvements made, Cameron maintained
the strlctest silence, never offering by any
Indication, objections to what might be
called trespassing, or a claim to the prop
erty, On the other hand the city has in
troduced witnesses who testify to con-
Versations with Cameron in which he in
timated directly his recognition of the
city's right to the park. These conversa-
lions Cameron denies.
Just before the expiration of 20 years
after the original plating, Cameron at
tempted to fence in the park, and in other
ways manifested indications of claim to
the property. This was, it is claimed by
the city, positively the first in
dication on Cameron's part
of any claim to the land The matter
was at once taken into the courts, Cam
eron bringing suit to recover. Cameron
being resident of La Crescent, which is
on the Minnesota side of the river, neces-
STATED taking the suit into the
United States courts. The plain
tiff received verdict in the
trial of two years ago, but the city
has offered to stand the expense Of a new
trial, which is now in operation. M.
Cameron's attorneys are ]. Y. Quarles, Of
Milwaukee, and George Fl. Gordon, of La
Crosse. The city has retained its city
attorney, G. H. Schweizer, and Losey and
Woodward.
After the jury was examined and duly
sworn Mr.. Quarles began his preliminary
address before the jury for Cameron. He
gave the early history of the case, of the
plating of the ground by its first owner,
Peter Cameron. He insisted that Daniel
Cameron never had any intention of Civ.
ing the property in question 60 the
city and that he had at every
possible opportunity set up his claim,
which he was too poor to establish By Ie-
gal process, and he was ignorant of the
words public square" on the recordej
plat, but as soon as he learned of their
existence he began processes to recover.
Mr.. Losey began his preliminary ad.
| dress at 4;30. He claimed that statu-
| tory dedication was intimated. A party
named Dousman and the Dunn brothers
| associated with Cameron, did not claim any
| right to the property II Cameron was
unable to pay taxes or bring legal action,
it was not so in the case of Dousman or
the Dunns He claimed that tho 11ordo