The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1892-03-25
AN INTERESTING LAND CASE.

How John F. Triggs and Others Conspired to
Beat a Poor Woman Out of Her Land.
The local land office has received the
decision of the commissioner in the case
OF Arbertina Grafstrom Sneye vs. John
F. Triggs. 1t sustains the rulings OF the
Rapid City land office.
The plaintiff, Mrs. Sneve, either
through mistake Or through the con-
~nivance of other parties, made a wrong
description OF the land she intended
taking, when making her entry. This
led to endless trouble, which was aggri-
waited by the attempts OF Triggs and his
lieutenants to deprive her of it. A few
OF the facts are as follows:
About February, 1886, said Triggs
who had then recently made a pre-emp-
ton cash entry Of some adjoining land,
took possession OF a part OF this land,
against the remonstrance and protest
OF SAID Grafstrom and driving him and
the men he employed to pillow on said
land, therefrom by force and threats of
personal violence.
About July 4, 1886, said Grafstrom
left (abandoned) his wife and three
small children Zone Of whom was born
on this place. in destitute circumstan-
ces, and never returned.
In 1888, protestant procured a di-
vorce and married a man named Sneve.
About a month after her husband
left, being entirely destitute OF food, and
nearly SO Of clothing for herself and
children, and having no means to pro-
cure any except by her own personal
labor, and as she could get nothing to
do in that vicinity she was obliged to,
and did go to Rapid City, intending as
soon as she could get a little something
ahead to return to her home on the
land. She rented a small place and took
in Washing. Shortly latter she left the
land said Triggs took possession OF all
the buildings and improvements thereon
and upon being demonstrated with, he
declared his determination to hold the
land at any and all events, and he has
ever since, notwithstanding the repeated
demands Of protestant, refused to allow
her to re-occupy her home. To give
color Of right to his possession. it is
claimed by Triggs that the father Of
protestant owned one-half OF the i'm
provements, which he had purchased.
But I fail to find anything to justify
such a claim, on the contrary itisshown
that he could not acquire any legal IN
terest in the land, and this I think was
known by Triggs, and from his own tes-
timony l think he knew that Grafstrom
claimed the improvements and the
right to the land, aud it's boundaries, as
at the time he took possession OF a part
OF it, it was known what section it was
or would be in, and the subdivisions of
the section. He also knew that the pro-
testant had no intention OF abandon
ing the land, but intended to return in a
short time, which in fact, she did, but
found him in the possession and occu-
pancy OF her house, barn and other i'm
provements, and has ever since insisted
upon retaining the possession thereof.
He also knew that the protestant in
tended to make H. E. OF the land as
soon as the plat was filed and the land
opened to entry, and for the purpose OF
forestalling her and to make the first
entry, he made his affidavit and his ap-
fplication therefor on Oct. 10, 1887, be
fore the clerk OF the district court OF
Custer CO., which was delivered to a
clerk OF the land office by the name Of
McKibben, who wa fully advised OF the