The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-27

covering no objections TO them under the
laws OF Missouri. I presented them to
Charles Snow. the Recorder of johnson
County. for record. He at once declined
fling them. especially the deed. as already.
according to his statement. there was o.
file in that Office a deed from Elijah Graves
the grandfather Of Mrs. Mann. TO o Lsf-
ferty for the same land. dated January IL.
1851. long anterior TO the making Of the
will and deed above referred TO.
RECORDER EFUsEs
TO SHOW THE DEEDS.
Mr.. Mann remarked with considerable
force. eff such a deed were on file. it was
a forgery" speaking wiser than he knew at
that time. as his wise's grandfather had
never disposed OF the land by deed or other
wise prior to the will
Mr.. Snow still declined 70 file them. show
ing SO much more than ordinary interest
that / suspected there was some latent
cause back Of II all. and quietly said to
Mr.. Mann, 'Iet the matter rest here for
awhil,."
I at once determined to investi7ate the
re~orSs for the flcts. as they would ineV-
itably show II any other deeds had oeen
recorded 20 the same land. Much to my SUI
prise / found n decd on record from h jan
Graves to John Lafferty. alleged to have
been made January II. 1857. and recorder
January p. 1870. long after the death Oh
Elijah Graves. I also found one from John
Iane " TO Samuel Kali. dated September
q. 1855, filed for record January z. rfO;
also a deed ffom Kali TO John B. Strong.
dated February 5. 1870. hled February h'
1870. and enc from Strong to Charles Snow.
1L0 Qnd
fled the same day.
The Recorder refused positively to give
NJ, the deeis for examinl tion. I then
thought his conduct remarkably strange.
and said to him: There IS something
vr1rg about this whole procedure. and II
l oxs. Mr.. Snow. as II you are connected
with IT"
His acts gave strength to my suspicion
and my words. He seemed restless and
uneasy at my remarks. Lafferty. Kali and
strong. as II afterwards developed. were
always en- the chain Of forged deeds. not
onlv in Missouri. but also In Texas. Ar
kansas and Illinois.
1 knew Mr.. Snow quite wei. and was un-
Willing TO be ieve he would engag IN such
a cloudy transaction with his eyes wide
oren, although. as abcve stated. his bcts
I al through were very suspicious. az he
was an Of ciai. and Should have been VII
ing as required by the law. to make an
exhibit OF his records and flies to all per
sons interested IN them
SELECTION OF POSITION
FOR THE LEGAL BATTLE.
1 at once concluded we had q big fight
on hand and commenced taking the pre-
liminaIy sters for the battle. IN the Sc
e ton of the ~position. and the marnsr IN
VIII CHI II should. be fought / advised Mr.
Mann to take Immediate possession OF tho
land. 'pedls POSSESSIONS" as IL was unoc-
cvpied. to erect a small house IN il. as its
open and avowed owner, pay all taxes then
remaining due. and remain on the premises
until he could find q renter. Snow did not
discover the occupancy until the renter was
quietly lodged. on the premises as his home.
under a written lease from Mr.. MznI and
vie.
Charles Snow. seeing the doubtful position
In which he was placed as an official. cor
veyed. by a quitclaim deed, his interest In
the land to his brother. ". 8. Snow. March
2. 1870. and w. s.. Snow on the same day
conveyed the same land by a similar quit
claim to Henry Snow. another brother. un-