The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-01-25

A few days ago the supreme court
Of South Dakota handed down de-
cision OF considerable interest to the
citizens of Hand county In the case Of
st. Lawrence VS.. Peter Gross, relative
to the removal Of brick building from
st. Lawrence to Miller The decision
of the court was favorable to Mr..
Gross. in that il sustains the circuit
court refusing TO grant an injunction
against removal This decision now
removes the only legal bar to the dis
posal and removal OF buildings from
ST. Lawrence.
The singular and very unusual fact
of town striving to preserve it's ex-
istence by application 10 the courts
has attracted wide attention to the ex-
perience of ST. Lawrence, and the his
torical feud existing between that
town and it's rival, Miller. which has
now nearly absorbed the former.
A recent incident in the strife be-
tween the two towns which attracted
attention throughout practically the
whole Of the United States was the
effort to prevent the removal OF
building to be used as n Methodist par
sonage from st. Lawrence. and the
final triumph of Miller, notwitbstand-
ing that the town council of st. Law
renee had passed an ordinance prohi-
biting the removal of the building from
that town.
In the Courts.
The prolonged fcun between Miller
and st. Lawrence. which has many
dramatic features, and in which
number of prominent men from gov
crnor down TO township officers have
appeared as actors. extended beyond
its local environments by securing Il
place upon the calendar Of the supreme
court Of the state. This case is the
outgrowth of an attempt of County
Auditor Gross to tear down brick
block he had purchased in ST. Law
renee and move the same to Miller.
He is opposed by State Senator John
NJ. King and the remnant Of st. Law
renee upon the claim that the property
could not be removed until the bonded
indebtedness for which St Lawrence
Is obligated shall have been paid.
A temporary injunction against re-
moval of the property was first cb-
tanned from Judge Campbell. Of the
Aberdeen circuit. during the absence
of Judge Gaffy. resident judge of the
towns are situated Contempt pro-
ceedings were also instituted against
Auditor Gross for having broken open
the doors of his building with sledge.
not having yet obtained the keys from
q former renter. The contempt case
was dismissed by Judge Gaffy. and on
August , last he dissolved the injunc
ton after full presentation of the case
hN Sfotn'S " Christ for
Mr.. Gross, and State Representative
Wilmarth and Judge Simmons OF HUI
ron for st. Lawrence A bond to in
demnify Mr. Gross against loss was
Immediately put up by residents Of 81
Lawrence. and the case was carried
to the supreme court of the state.
An Interesting Drama.
AS intimated the history of these two
towns has been an interesting drama,
dating from the beginning in the early
eighties. 1t has continued more or less
ever since. passing through two bitter
contests for the county seat OF Hand
county. i'm which Miller was victorious,
and often being the basis Of strife be-
tween political parties and factions.
These rival towns are located only
two miles apart on the Chicago *
Northwestern railroad between Huron
and Pierre. and at one time laid aside
their rivalry long enough to aspire for
location Of the state capital between
tie two towns, for which purpose a
large body of land was to be granted
the state. But the old feeling Of bit
terness would not down and the enter
prise lacked the necessary concerted
action. It's principal sponsor was ex-
State superintendent or School G. L..
Pinkham, whose farm lies between the
two towns and was included in the pro-
posed grant.
The town of Miller was laid out by
Henry Miller and sons w. III. and T..
j., in the fall of 1881. They came from
Benton county, Iowa, with colony of
twenty-six people. The father aud
oldest son, w. H., have both passed
away from the field where they la
bored so actively. II. j. Miller still
lives In the town bearing his name,
and realizes his cherished hopes IN the