The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-12-10
An Open Letter.
Editor of Ardmoreite.

Owing to the fact ,Lat you have aid
ed in circulating the report that the
Arkansas a Choctaw Railroad com.
pany was about to abandon the right
of-way through Ardmore, on which 1t
took options short time since. and
owing to the further fact that some
meddlesome individuals have misrep-
resented my connection with the
right-of-way controversy, ask you to
publish this statement
The trip | made to Denison some
six weeks ago to confer with the
Arkansas & Choctaw officials. with a
view of settling the controversy. was
in its results TO the people whom rep
resented. one OF the best and most
satisfactory trips | ever made. | ac-
complished for my clients by negotia.
tion what | had previously endeavor-
ed to secure for them through the
courts In the injunction suit. Judge
Townsend had refused TO decide
whether or not the owners of the i'm
proved lots had an equitable interest
in the lots. | believed then and still
believe. that under the law he should
have held that they owned the equ-
table title to the lots and that they
were entitled to pay for the lots from
the railroad company before II could
take them. Judge Townsend expressed
serious doubts as to the rights of the
lot owners TO demand pay for their
lots. and the railroad attorneys threat
ened to litigate the question through
out all the courts. which would have
involved much expense and delay 70
my clients.
After talking the matter over fully
with the railroad officials an agree.
ment was made whereby neither
nor the railroad attorneys were requir-
ed to abandon our views on the law
but my clients were enabled to secure
full pay for their lots. agreed to urge
the people whom ] represented not 70
demand eXorbitant prices for their
property and also agreed that |
would advise them to execute options
upon their property at fair valuation.
This agreement | have kept faithful
ly. and every person whom | repre-
, sented in concluding the options with
the railroad company will get full
price for his property. | am informed
by Mr. Soper that the delay in taking
up the options has been unavoidable
on the part of the railroad company
| have no doubt that Mr.. Soper and
Mr.. Perry are acting in perfect good
faith in this matter. make this
statement because certain liars in
Ardmore have insinuated that have
forsaken my clients in this controver
sy, and that am now working in the
interests of the railroad to the detri
ment of the people whom / advise
!, to give options on their property.
advised no man to execute an optior
for less than a fair and reasonable
price for his property, and every mar
G whom | represented will get a fa'l
g and reasonable price. Some of then
who made purchases with the expec
tation of getting the money from tt'
a railroad company at once. will ge
their money this week. The other
- will get their money between the 25tl
day of December and the 9th of Jan
uary.
d There are some parties along tL'
Q right-ofway whom 1 did not represer
in concluding options with the rail-
% road, who will not get the prices stat
n ed in their options. The prices demand
ed by them are exorbitant and unreas
opable. la mglad that they do nto eS
ceed three or four in number and tina
p | do not represent them.
' In this matter, as in all other lega
:, matters entrusted to me, shall repre-
: sent my clients to the end with all TN,
y fidelity and vigor possess ;and ever
q man who has insinuated anything {,
It the contrary may consider that
o have denounced him as a common lieI
n Very respectfully.
W. A. LEDBETTER.
n l. Boyer at Ramsey's Drug Stor
4 Store If you want fine watch C