News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-02-21
That Stowe Land Case.

it. Our town fathers 1.-TWO of them
are very clever men, if they we're left
to follow their own convictions, and
in order to fully understand the case
it is necessary to know that we have
a ring in this town that is quite will
ing to run things, PROVIDED every
thing comes their way.
II l should attempt to write up
what | know about the doings of that
ring should need a whole page of
your paper. l will only ask for space
for few things in connection with
this case, now.
The first that / knew the ring was
at work on this case Mr.. McAllistar,
himself, told me that W. ]. Bigelow
had been watched in everything that
he had said or done about lumber
land from the start. Perhaps can
best illustrate how the ring do things
by telling a little story. W. j. Bige-
low wrote me that he wanted l should
find out whether there was anything
on the town records in regard to lots
No. At and 46, and also the law in
regard to such lots. [ went to the
office for that purpose and after
had been there awhile | heard the Pc
culiar gait of the head ofthe ring, our
great Capitalist and banker, on
the veranda outside, and in he came,
apparently with some haste. mo
ticed that he looked carefully at some
record books that were lying on the
table, but stepped along to the safe
and took up the grand list and pre-
tended that he wanted to look at
somebody's list. 1t came to my mind
in an instant that be was there as a
spy, but at that time had not learn
ed that the ring we're watching us,
and came out leaving him there. |
have been told that he made it very
plain to the Town Clerk that he was
there to see what | was doing.
The first that | really knew about
it, Mr.. McAllister told me that he was
there to watch me. | saw him at
Montpelier Dewey Day and he admit
ted that Frank Burt sent him in to
see what | was doing. I tried to
make him understand thatT thought
it was just as mean for rich man to
act the part ola cowardly sneak as
it would be for a poor man.
| was present at the first interview
between W. j. Bigelow and the Sc
lPctmen and remember distinctly that
Mr.. Cheney told him that the town
would remember that they were under
obligations to him for making known
the fact that the land belonged to
the town, and Mr.. NJ. admitted to
me that he had acted like a perfect
gentleman in the matter. Since that
time they have seemed to be com.
pletely in the hands of the ring,
and perhaps | ought not to be sur
prised that thev should try to put
idiotic talk in W. j. BIS mouth on
that occasion.
Mr.. c. and Mr.. M. seem to have
parted company with Mr.. wilkins
right here. Mr.. W. told me that -
thought they ought to let the man
have the land that would pay the
most for it. His idea was that they
had not better hurry the sale of it,
but let the matter develop itself for
awhile. If they had done so the town
might have received a handsome sum
for it. | could sell the lumber on those
lots any day for 100000, if it was
mine to sell, and Isupposp it is worth
twice az much as that. G. |. Robin
son estimates the spruce lumber on
the two lots at 1000, 900 feet. Fred
Smith estimates it at 100000. l
understand that Herschel Smith es-
Inmates it the same as Fred, but
have not seen him myself. | sold
some lumber that belonged to A. A.
Warren's estate for 1926 per thous-
and on the stump, before the rise in
the price. The lowest estimate at
so so per Thousand would amount
to $4500.00
In view of these facts it is not so
very strange that the Burt's should
set the whole ring to work on the
case.
In the first place the Burt's claim
ed to own the lots and threatened TO
defend their title. Later on Mr.. M.
SAYS that Frank thought it might
cost $4,000 to maintain their title
aud they thoughtit would be better to
give it to the town than to pay it to
lawyers. And the town fathers think
they we're honest when they pretend
ed to own it. Let us look at it for q
moment. The lots are lease lots and
must remain the property of the
town. The town cannot sell them
but can lease them for "a valuable
consideration" only. The town rec
ords are entirely clean, so far as any
right or title to the lots is concerned
1t is not claimed that the Burt's haC
ever leased them, or had ever paid 8
cent for them, or ever meant to.
Mr. NJ. saws that G. f. Burt sale
that AZ was the Chase lot and that
Mr.. Bingham had given them deco
of the Chase lots. Please look at the
facts The records show that Mr.
Bingham did include the Chase lot
in what they call a quit.claim deco
to the Burts. Mr.. Bingham had ne
title TO the Chase lot and did not Civ,
any description of the lot. not ever
the number. and the Chase lot is No
% and laws on the south side of No