The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-11
FRIelo TOPIC.
Contest for R hts Between o'eara and
Bond of Worcester.

Leicester, Jan. 10.ZThe work of filling
John O'Gara's ice house, near the dam,
on the east side of Waite's pond, goes
merrily on. The E. NJ Bond Ice Com
pany of Worcester have filled their ice
house on Water street., on Sargent's
pond, and there promises to be keen RI
valry between the two firms next year
Last year the Worcester company sold
their ice at a higher rate than was
charged in the city, and on petition Of
several residents the Spencer Ice Com
pany, of which O'Gara is president ran
cart to Leicester and sold at lower
rates and secured considerable trade
This year O'Gara bids fair to hurt
Bonds trade much more with his SUP
ply of ice near at hand. There is a Giis-
pute over the ownership of the land
near the dam, on which O'Gara's ice
house is built. Mrs. Catherine Hanlon.
who lives on Waite street and owns
land adjoining, claims the land belongs
to her, while O'Gara leased the ground
from the estate of G. W. Olney. The
plot in question includes five-eghtls of
an acre of land and is of little value. 1t is
stated on good authority that e. NJ.
Bond had secured the rights of Mrs.
Hanlon in the property, and it was re-
ported that O'Gara would be obliged to
get off the land in consequence
From several sources, The Spy man
learns facts today which disproye the
idea that O'Gara can be forced off the
land.
The property comprised part OF the
estate of Samuel L. Hodges, and was
bought by George w. Olney when he
bought the mill in Cherry Valley, about
80 years ago. Mrs. Hanlon's huband
was employed by Olney in his mill, and
she claims that Olney gave the land to
Mr.. Hanlon after he had hurt his arm
IN the mill, to help soothe his feelings
This was between 1910 and 1850. Rec
ordS have been searched, tand it has
been found that Mr.. Hanlon, who is
now dead, paid taxes On the same
amount of property, both before ard
after the alleged transaction, and that
| he had never paid taxes on the prop
| erty in question. Mr.. Hodges and the
later owner of the mill, G. w. Olney,
have always paid the taxes, and the
heirs of G.. w. Olney appear to have a
clear title. Hodges allowed Mrs. Han
| Ion to pasture her COW on his land sew
eral years, and this is the only founda-
tion that her claim appears to be based
| on.
Mr. OGara has leased the land fol
II years from the estate of q. w. Oh
ney, and secured the right to cut ice
on the pond for IL years, so that even
If the Worcester company has secured
Mrs. Hanlon's rights in the land, il
would seem that O'Gara is secure in
his possession.
The Topic Club held a social meet.
ing with Miss NJ. E. Joslyn this after
noon Miss Elida Capen of Spencer
gave an interesting account of the Ba-
varian peasant life. Miss Capen spent
two years abroad, and told many ex-
periences among the people in south.
ern Germany. About % people were
present, including two or three friends
Of Miss Capen from Spencer. The
company were also entertained by mu-
sic by Mrs. A. w. Harrington, Miss
Laura H. Stone and Mrs j. Sydney
Whittemore.
The Leicester National Bank held
its annual meeting this afternoon,
and the old board of directors was re-
elected-Charles A. Denny Dexter
Knight, Theodore e. Woodcock, John
| N. Murdoch, Edwin l.. Watson and P.
T. Denny. The board elected C. A.
Denny president.