Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-06-10
MRS. MRLLsrrH.s HOMESTEAD.

The following from the Yankton
Gazette gives in concise and accurate
way the leading facts involved in the
matter Of Mrs. Mcllette's homestead.
AS the legislature definitely instruct
ed Gov. Lee to execute the deed, his
delay and arbitrary assumption of SOY.
ereignty is all the more reprehensible:
''Gov. Mellette possessed an estate
reasonably worth more than one hum
dred thousand dollars. In defraying
the expense of the old statehood and
division fight running over eight years
time, and the expense of which almost
wholly fell upon him, he incurred a
debt Of GA 900 for which he mortgaged
his property. Mrs. Mellette possessed
an independent estate which included
the family homestead and tract of 40
acres OF land. part Of which was subdi-
yided into lots, on lake Kampeska,
In 1889 and 1890, during Gov. Mel
lette's first term OF Office, he found it
necessary to protect some investments
to borrow some more money, and he
secured from the Northwestern Mort.
gage company, of which w. w. Taylor
was president, $1,000. This was be.
fore Taylor was elected state treasurer
and was fair, open business transac-
tion. OF this sum Gov. Mellette paid
almost u, 600 to the assistance of the
destitute drOuth sufferers of this state:
his donation for that purpose being
more than One-tenth Of the whole sum
donated. Later, early in 1895, at the
close Of the last term, he borrowed an
additional ~, 600 from the North west.
ere Mortgage company and as security
therefore, and for the previous loan OF
$1l 900 he gave common warranty
deed Of all his own property and Mrs.
Mellette joined him In deed of her
separate estate which was given in
trust as security for the amounts
stated. When Taylor defaulted Gov.
Mellette was his bOndsmen for the sum
of $50, 900, and he promptly made over
to the state everything he possessed
going further than the law, or ordinary
good cOnsciences would demand ia
such matter, for as was truthfully
said by Rev. S. G. Updyke In his
wonderfully eloquent funeral address
over the remains of Gov. Mellette.
the china in his closets, the carpets
upon his floors, even the finest dresses
which his wife did wear everything
which his money purchased he freely
made over to the state, but his wife's
property he left with the same con.
science which Induced him to sacrifice
his own estate-that he had no right
to touch, and he made written stipu-
lati0n with Attorney General Craw.
ford that Mrs. Mellette's property
should be released from the lien OF the
Taylor trust deed and restored to her.
When Taylor came back he turned
over to the state the 9l5 900 note of the
Mellettes and decided the property to
the state, 50 that all that remained to
be done was to carry out the stipula-
ton between Gov. Mellette and the
state. by the terms OF which the state
was TO return Mrs. Mellette's property
after satisfying the note, but no one
has authority to make the deed. conse-
quently the late Legislature authorized
the governor to do 30. It is this reso-
luton which Gov. Lee has up to date
refused to obey. II may be necessary
for Mrs. Mellette to 60 into court to
obtain her rights, but 1t will be alike
disgraceful TO the state and to Gov.
Lee If she Is compelled to do 80"