Morris tribune., 1901-06-08
THE SAGE CASES.
Russill sases gives out an Interest.

RussilI Sages gives out an Interest.
Eing'' Interview on His Victory. ?.!
The following syliabuassof the Sage
land cases, which are of interest to.so
many farmers of this county, the
interview of Mr.. Sage, and the re-
marks of Mr.. L. &C. Spooner on the
two, are kindly furnished us by the
Times.
SYLLABUS.
Russell Sage, as assignee in trust of
the Hastings & Dakota Railway
Company, respondent, VS.. Dave
Crowley flour other cases), appel
ant.
Under the act of Congress of July 4,
1866, the Hastings & Dakota Railway
company completed it's railroad within
the time as extended by the MINES ota
state legislature. When the road was
finally completed, there was found
deficiency in the primary limits of
about 800,0 acres, and only 10000
acres available to the indemnity limits
to make up the loss, therefore all the
lands within the indemnity limits were
selected. After such completion and
selection the company's franchise was
forfeited by a Judgment of this court,
but within the three years provided by
chapter 3431, G.. S. 1894, because sof
inability to otherwise dispose of it's
property the company transferred it to-
the respondent, in trust, for the bene-
fit of it's stockholders. Held,
First-That appellant, who entered
upon part of the lands after they
had been withdrawn from settlement
and after the lands had been earned
by the completion of the railroad, is
not in position to attack respondents
title
Second-The acts of congress of
Sept. 20, 1899, and of the state of
MINES ta by chapter 165, Laws of
1895, did not affect respondents title
in such lands, the same having been
earned by the completion of the road.
Third-The transfer of the lands to
respondent, in trust, was a valid dis
position of the lands, as provided by
chapter 3431, G. S. 1894.
Fourth-The complaint states a
good cause of action Order affirmed.
Lewis, J.
Relative to the above Supreme
Court decision, Russell Sage was
interviewed in New York June
1st, 1901, for the Chicago Record
Herald and the substance of the
interview is given below:
Russell Sage was elated to-day ON
receiving a dispatch from MINES ota |
saying that five cases affecting the
ownership of 10000 acres of land in
Stevens county, MINES ota, have been
decided by the supreme court of that
state in his favor; but when asked if
he would summarily evict the hun /
dreds of persons who are settlers upon
the lands insquestion, replied-"thatis
all poppycock. I am the rightful
owner. These people are only squat
ters,-with no rights at alias the
court has just declared. They must
my ownership-they must
treat me as the owner. There are
abont 30, 600 acres some worth $500
per acre-some not worth $500 per
acre. $1,000 an acre would be an
average. have just paid $1,000 an
acre. in taxes. wouldn't pay taxes
On property I didn't own, would T."
Mr.. Lewis G. Spooner Of this
own, one of the attorneys for the
defendants in the socalled Sage
cases, asked what he cared to
say about the above, said;
''If Mr.. Sage made the statement
hat he has paid taxes on the lands
eferred to to an amount averaging
1000 per acre thereof, he did not
tate the truth for Mr.. Sage has really
,aid no taxes thereon-or if any, but
title, In many instances since the
uits above referred to land other
imilar suits against other defend ants
we're commenced, Sage has made 1
transfers. Of many quarter sections to
, considerable variety of land specu- ,
ators, at nominal values, some OF
7hom have paid some taxes, but
'thers have not; and all such trans
ers have been either schemes or
POPULATION of more or less question: I
bile character. II
IF Mr.. Sage said that the supreme
curt has declared him the righJful
wner of the lands in question-and
hat the settlers thereon are only :
then this statement is
learly erroneous because the supreme
curt of Minnesota has declared no
UGH thing. The five cases which were
efore the supreme court were the
blowing:
~. David (Dave) Crowley, sr. d
~. David Crowley, Jr. L
~. Thomas Crowley.
(4). Lars M. E. Bomstad.
(5). Ole Lofthus, Jr.
1sRussell Sage as assignee of the