The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-10
A CLOUD ON TITLES.
Many Contracts For Purchase
of Farms on the Sound.
HOW ONE FARMER GOT HIS BACK
Peculiar Dealings By Dunn d Co.-Lons
Term, Small Confederation and
Payment for Release.

A great deal Of disquiet has been caused
recently among the farmers of Thurston
and Lewis counties by the operations OF
/. NJ. Dunn d Co., the real estate agents
of this city, who have been obtaining a
large number of contracts for the sale OF
farm land, generally for long terms. The
same firm had previously been operating
in the same way in this county. The
effect of such contracts is to tie up the
property so that If the owner should get
an opportunity to sell before his contract
expires he cannot do so without securing
release from Dunn Il Co.
The firm seems to make speciality OF
securing contracts On farm land. Usually
Zeph G.. Dunn, son of the principal men,
Der of the firm, goes out into the country
and secures batch of them. Those Sc
cured in the vicinity of this city were
mostly for the sale of the property to
Dunn IL Co. direct, and not contracts au-
thorizing the firm to sell at certain price
as agents. Thus on October q. 1891,
contract was entered into by Charles O.
Rudd and Lucy A. Rudd agreeing to sell
TO Dunn & Co. the northwest quarter of
the northwest quarter of section 81, town.
which 81 was paid down: 81. 500 was to be
paid on January 1, 1892. and the balance
in five years, with interest at the rate of 6
per cent per annum. On November q,
1891, w. Il. Gemmill made a contract to
sell five acres near Black river for $500, 81
cash and the balance on January 1, 1898,
but on November %, 1891, satisfaction was
given by z. q. Dunn, though not as attor-
ney of fact. An idea of the number of
such contracts entered into with this firm
can be formed from the total number
recorded within short period. On Octo-
Der Is, 1891, there were Z, on October %
there were II, on November 6, s.; on No
vember q, 10 on property within the city,
and on January 6, s more. In order to
complete the purchase of all this property
the firm would require immense capital,
the aggregate price under the twenty-one
contracts recorded on October % being
$55. 1856, and the contracts obtained in King
county alone numbering about twenty a
month for considerable part of year.
From King county the firm extended its
business up Sound and z. G. Dunn and w.
4. Cromwell, a notary, have been travel
ing through Thurston and Lewis counties
obtaining contracts from many of the
farmers and remote settlers and their
movements have received unfavorable
notice from the local papers of that sec
ton. The contracts are remarkable both
for the length of term of the option, the
smal,ness of the consideration and the in
sertion of proviso for the payment of q
certain sum to Dunn & Co. for a release.
The Olympia Tribune thus speaks of them;
h,s,.
county auditor show that a Seattle real estate
firm, unde- the title of Isaac NJ Dunn e. Co,
real estate and investment, is engaged in tying
up olympia and Thursron county property by
the wholesale. The business is being trans.
ac.ed and agreements drawn in the name of T.
6. Danl.
To agreements have attracted much atten-
ton among atstractors, who are not inclined to
look upon them in the most favorable light for
the reason that they are altogether one-sided
fo- D :1r only. Fer q consideration of 81 acres
and acres are tied up, and can only be released
upon the payment by the owner OF considera-
ton- In this manner property valued
at $3.50 has been tied up for the
Insignificant sam of si2 In one instance
Eirinci Iongmire has tied up 2,o00 acres being
a, the land owned by her in Thurston county.
and valued at s50ooo. Dunn pays 81 and agrees
TO pay $4,000 before May Is 1895, and the bal
ance in one and two, not saying years or CEN
turtles. James Longmire, her husband, does not
sign. In other cases the amounts tied up range
IRON 700 TO $4,000. The contracts are drawn
mp In a loose manner, and prominent abstrac-
tor said that it was just enough to make a cloud
on the title OF the property in case the owner
wan-ea to dispose of or mortgage il before the
option expires. Where the rub comes in the
transaction is the third section in the terms of
the agreement, which reads: "This contract 10
be released only with the consent OF said
second party, and the payment TO him of $"
In the case of Mrs. Loagmire she agre.s tn nav
&l.o,e for the release of her property, which was
tied up for five years for the 81. In some cases
ments.
Dunn tied up all the property with the assist
ance OF w. T. Cromwell, notary. who travelled
with him and attached his seal TO each svres
ment The twelve agreements on record were
made between May II and p. ana while II q
not LOT one mosnent int mated that the grantors
In THESE cases did not know what they yere
about. II viii certainly set them 10 thinking
TWO OF the agreements are made more uotire.
able from the fact that the grantor evidently
had some thought for his own interest in stinn
lating an amount W hich he was 70 nav Dunn in
case he the grantorl should desire 10 dispose in
some other way of his property. They read;
"George y. Manviile ct Tx. TO z. &. Dunn. los
seres, township 10 north. range west. s,.-5o
Cash payment, 81; $50 20 be paid before De.
cemher /, l>ge. balance three and half wears -
Then follows: This contract To be released
only with the consent OF said secoad party, ana
payment TO him OF $50" Mr. Manvillc for hi,
protection and evidently ignorant OF the rreset.
Ing clause, writes on the margin OF the agree.
ment. "owner reserves the right to sell by nav
Ing said Dunn Si&" Closer investigation shows
however, that this sentence is not in th, grant
or's handwriting, rs IL is the same as II similar
Dt trsF efaFes ans
other part OF the county
Another reads: r. A. Yoakum et NIX 10 2. G.
punn, lilo acres, township = north, ranr, .
east: SNSsG Cash payment. sl-halance le{or,
December /, ls92 No interest, graator TO 10 -.
leased on payment Of $50 Thea, in the ssD,s
handwriting SIS occurs in the ManyilIe asre,.
inent IS the sentence: "0wncr reserves m,
right to sell by paving said l,unn So
The last is James Lougmire aud Virinta lone.
mite, although James does nos Sign the sr-,s.
Rent and Nlrinds puts her mar. 10 L. Itfs fo-
Aeo0 acres, being Intended 10 cover all Land
ewned by said FIRST parties i'll Thurston countv
Cor ssa,e0; cash payment, si-ssa oN 10 b., mai
before May Is tS9a, balance one and two; grartor
60 be released ior ,,ooo.
Some settlers who knew that such . co,.
tract would constitute a cloud m thei-
title refused 70 have anything TO do Viii
the business, and one man, Daniel Shansr
OF Messy Rock. had a warm discossio,
with young Dunn and compelled him -
give mp the contract his wife had SIGNED
MIR. Shaner writes 10 the Posr-Ixrrftfo
cgs under date Of June 5:
On Nay ., iS9e. couple ~ men renrsSa7, ill.,,
themselves IL he Mr. Z. C. Dunn, Of the a., -
Isaac N. Dunn & Co. real estate ana inv..t,,,,,,
brokers, sud Mr.. J. 7. Clsywogth. rotsrv .,
Seattle. visited our county and the uejchhoot
l.
options on farm land. They would draw en-,
srsrss soN hsva The ssr.an si..nr.i 81 -,