The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-03-07
THE CALCIUM LIGHT is ON.

court house square. They have even
gone SO far as to say that by ''careful
concealment'' the title to the court
house square has been kept vested In
the city of Lexington.
Viewing the matter from n common
sense standpoint, the INTELLIGENCER
assured the taxpayers of the county
that such was not the case, and prom
ised them that the law and the records
would be searched, and the calcium
light of truth turned on. The matter
of looking up the records and history
of over half a century was no small
task, and could not be performed in a
day. But true to its promise, the
INTELLIGENCER carries to its readers
this morning a complete review of the
history of the court house square.
Every taxpayer in Lafayette county
has an interest in this property, and we
feel hat we are not asking too much
of them, in consideration of the amount
of work necessary in the compilation
of these records, to read and study
them carefully.
A statement that Lafayette county
does not own this square Is easily
made, but proving it is another
and more serious thing. We do
not ask the taxpayers to tax the
INTELLIGENCER's word for the title.
We do ask them to read the records
we today set forth.
For nearly fifty years no n had
dared to question the county's title to
this property. For the purpose of
aiding Higginsville in her nefarious
scheme. certain citizens and papers in
this county have circulated far and
wide the report that the title was
vested in the city of Lexington.
One of two things is sure-either
the parties and papers circulating
these statements were densely ignorant
and remarkably credulous, or. else they
have wilfully and malIciously borne
false testimony to the citizens of the
county.
They are either honestly mistaken,
or they have wilfully lied. Later
results will tell which.
If they have ignorantly, and for lack
of proper knowledge, made these state
ments, honestly believing them-upon
reading the review in this paper they
will manfully and honestly acknowl-
edge their mistake, and convey to
those whom they have misguided, the
true status of this title. But, IN the
other hand, if they have, in the hope
of obtaining votes to assist them in
carrying out their nefarious scheme,
wilfully and Intentionally circulated a
false statement, because, forsooth, 1t
was false-to which solution of the
question we are inclined then the
of this county who have been
deceived by their reports, need not
a ~retractiOn or a cOnlradlC-
ton of the canard so enthusiastically
To be plain, candid and fair, if
there is one scintilla of honesty IN the
character of the newspaper men who
have circulated this report, they will
examine these silent and well kept
records and give their readers the
truth. They had as we'll do it,
for lying against the records they will
find, an uphill business.
Lafayette county has a clear title to
the court house square. In making
his assertion we are borne out by the
records. ANY other assertion is in
direct contradiction of the law and
The calcium light OF truth has been
on. The INTELLIGENCER seri-
ously regrets that its brilliance shows
dark methods used by Higgins
Vile in attempting to deceive the
honest voters of Lafayette county.
which is mighty, must prevail,
even though it consign to the camp of
falsiiers many who erstwhile wore the
robe of honesty and integrity.
The title to the court house square
not made to fit Higginsville's side
Of this case, or to save the regulations
Of the men who have been circulating
statements concerning it.
The statement in the HIgginsyille :
Leader of the 4th inst. that GsTha IN