The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-01-07
HER HOME IS SOLD
MRS. LEASE BECOMES A TENANT
BY THE OPERATION OF Law.
Under the Hammer Yesterday by the
Sheriff to Partially Satisfy the Judg-
ment OF ForecIosed Mortgage-The
Sheriff Grows Eloquent in a Vain Effort
to Stimulate Local Pride, While Farmer
Doolittle wept salt Tears-Houss Sold
to the MortsAree

10 the mortgages
Women have house-cleanins davs
butchers have killing days, men have
shaving and bathing days, and sher;hs
have selling Gays. Yesterday was sale
day al the court house and Sheriff Rufe
Cone was very busy. One could see that
something unusual was about to happen
from his preparations He shined his
s1oes. put on his headlight diamond and
sailed forth, like a Marius or Cata-
hne, TO the steps Of the court house and
stood directly under the blind-foldei
gaze OF the statue of justice. He held a
bundle of sale notices in his hand and
While he read them Farmer Doolittle
stood like a statue Of Ramesus on the
newell post of the balustrade with his
dog, Don, crouching a his feet Farm
sr looked SAD and. evidently, Dan re-
echoed his feelings, for he had a far
away look on his eyes that indicated it,
Nothing melts the heart OF Farmer Doo-
little like a SheTiff's sale, for il usually
means the visitation Of some disaster 20
suffering humanity like Mrs. Mary T.
Lease. for instance. Indeed, the sale of
Mrs Lease nome was the star feature
of the day. 1t was destined tnat on TIE
that sheltered the heads of her family
should pass tato other hands to satisfy
the rapacity of the man who loaned
sl.4o6 on II. 1t is another case OF the
mortgage taking the home; another vii
famous outrage of the money power. To
oe orief Mrs. Lease, along about the wear
1890, borrowed from one ]. Marsh of Kan
sas City the sum of 81 400 and gave a
mortgage on her home as security for
1a nf
fay-day came in due time and Mrs
suit was commenced
Lease did not liquidate Foreclosure
SUIT was commenced, a judgment secur-
ed and the court ordered the sheriff m
sell the property to satisfy Mr.. ]. Marsh
OF Kansas City, or mis- heirs, assigns or
executors. The house Of Mrs. Lease over
which the gloomy shadow of this mort
gage rested is situated at 335 Wabash
avenue, and is well known to the people
Of Wichita
When Sheriff Cone came to this sale
yesterday, after having sold a dozen 9TH
er people out of house and home, he be-
came eloquent. This he said. lis the
nome OF the most distinguished woman
IN American history or politics 1t is the
home that shelters her family and the
nome MAT she expected TO retire to in
her old age when she becomes too feeble
IN the service Of her country to longer
champion the cause of a people over
whose PROSTATE forms the money power
Is riding in chariot of gold.''
This is not exactly the speech that
Rufe made, but it is the sentiment he
expressed, and he told the reporter for
the Eagle to adorn the sentiment as he
pleased.
Mr. Cone continued his remarks by
making a strong appeal to local pride
in hopes of stimulating the aggregated |
iaWyers to bid on the property. why, |
gentlemen he said, 1.-The man who buys |
this property will have his name herald |
ed throughout the world by the Associ- |
eted Press, and if he is in business it /
will be worth $4,000 to him as an ad-
vetisement. I look for the day when ev-
cry shingle on that roof will be worth
slo to the relic hunter"
Two janitors, a bailiff and Douglas |
Donnelly cheered the elouuence of the
sheriff and Farmer Doolittle, who claims |
10 be the first man to discover great
ness IN Mrs. Lease. puckered up his |
mouth and wept like an ANCIENT shep-
herd weeping over the fall of Israel.
The lawyers present never moved their
eyehds. They were as cold and urren-
as the statue that held the
scales evenly balanced over their heads.
How much am l bid for this prop
erty?" inquired Sheriff Cone.
Three hundred dollars" said Lawyer
Dean Gordon.
Three hundred and five dollars" said
another man.
Five hundred dollars said a third
man.
Six hundred dollars said Dean Cor
don.
Local pride came to a standstill right
there, and wouldn't bulge another inch.
1t was evident that Mrs. Lease had not
yet reached the fame of John Brown or
oarbaria Fritchie. and that the market
value Of local pride and local real estate
runs about the same. Sheriff Cone tried
hard 10 enthuse the crowd by sundry
of his sad-lookng eye, tired
and labored respirations and disgust
ID yawn now and then. but all in vain
Local pride had backed up into its shell
ana remained there. ;,
And sold for six hundred dollars, to
vhom?" said Sheriff Cone.
ITO j. Marsh, Of Kansas City, Mo-"
aid Mr.. Gordon.
Farmer Doolittle put a few hen tracks :
n his notebook, punched Don up with !
he point Of his shoe. stepped down from :
us pedestal and walked slowly away as !
he was contemplating suicide
Thus ended the sale of the residence
u Mrs. Lease and no member of her !
homeless family was present to witness
he final act in the drama that will make
hem the tenants OF J. Marsh or some
'ther landlord.
Mr.. J. Marsh by his attorney, Dean i
GORDON. did not end there. He Quietly c
ook Judgment against Mrs Mary +.
ease for about 81, 100. which repre- L
ents the differolce between the purchase :
rice OF the home and the original sum /
oaned 10 her, with accumulated inter-