Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-31
FREE FROM DEBT.
SomerviIIe Syndicate Buys Up Out
standing Executions.
Lincoln County Town Happy Over
Outcome Of Debt Difficulties.

The property owners in the town OF
| Somerville, Lincoln county, are now in
happy mood. For many years the
| town has been in sore financial straits.
Debts to TIE amount of $31, 900 were
outstanding against the town: suit af-
ter suit has been brought and several
executions have been issued. These
executions, amounting to the sum of
5000, some time ago same into the
possession of the well-known law firm
of Williamson & Burleigh of this city.
Through their labors the people of
Somerville have been able to purchase
these executions ut nominal price and
have thus relieved their town from all
danger of an enforced sale of individual
property, as has been contemplated by
the former holders of the executions
According TO the best legal advice OBJ
tainable it is believed that the pur-
chase of these executions by q syndi-
cate of Somerville citizens clears up
every valid claim against the town. AL
though there still remains a nominal
debt of some S25.0G0. it is asserted that
there is now no legal. valid claim out
standing: that this debt was not con-
tracted in conformity with law and
that therefore the town is not holden
for it,
The only legal claims against the
town of Somerville. are the executions
referred to above. Now that these
have been passed into the hands of the
citizens of the town. whose property is
holden for their payment, there can be
no further trouble caused.
IT, 10 of
sion of these executions 20 citizens of
Somerville formed a syndicate. contrib
uted $50 each and purchased them. The
deal was completed, yesterday after
noon. Eight of these gentlemen came
to Augusta and in short time trans
acted the business which brought them
here, and went home with the execu-
tons tucked away in Ineir inside pock-
cts.
The gentlemen were Parker f. Mari.
a Ray Turner. John f. Bartlett, John
NJ, Turner, Noah Bruce, l.. w. SOule,
Samuel Bartlett and Arthur Dodge.
They met Williamson & Burleigh and
it did not take them very long to COM
plete the trade. They paid over the
thousand dollars and the executions
were given into their possession. Then
they went home happy and delighted |
at the outcome of the transaction.
Now, whoever brings claim against |
the town will be obliged to stand a |
lawsuit before it is allowed, for the |
gentlemen comprising the syndicate |
propose to fight tooth and nail for the |
preservation of their property; not be- |
cause they desire to repudiate any just |
debt. but on the ground that the pres |
ent alleged indebtedness is illegal and |
invalid. |
Another incident in connection with |
the transfer Of these executions to |
friends OF the town is most pleasing to |
the Somerville gentlemen who were |
here, yesterday. 1t is this:
Some time ago Deputy Sheriff For
rest f. Ware of Whitefield, seized two |
road machines from the town on one OF |
the executions included in the recent |
transaction. 1t was a part of the trade |
that when the springtime comes again |
Deputy Ware must bring back those |
machines and place them in the pos |
session of the Somerville syndicate. |
When the time comes it is the intention |
of the syndicate to have a big celebra- |
ton in honor of the event. The whole |
town will turn out, the machines will |
be decorated with flags and bunting
and the populace will join in vociferous
acclaim because the town is at last free
from debt