The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-07

ESTATE IS GROWING
How Henry Day Piled Up Wealth
and Fooled the Tax Gatherers
for Years.
His Start Made at Blue Earth City
Money and Securities Com
ing to Light. -,
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Mason City, Iowa, Sept. Tone of the most
interesting cases revealing methods to eyade tax
alton which would do credit to a graduated de-
,tective, is being tried in district court here
Henry Days estate is being subjected to a
searching examination and slowly the court is
discovering various personal property and moneys
which for years have evaded the tag gatherer.
The story of the Day fortune has its romance.
Years ago Henry Day left New York and went
to Blue Earth City when Minnesota was yet in
habited by Indians. He opened a general mer-
chandise store and accumulated some money.
When civilization pressed Its way the
Minnesota prairies he pulled up stakes and re.
moved to Forest City, where subsequently he was
made county treasurer and soon had access to the
information concerning lands which made more
than one county treasurer in the early days rich.
Mason City promising city, and suddenly
Day became large holder of property in It's cor
porate limits. He acquired about half Of the
northern part Of the present city, now known as
Oak Park addition, and other valuable inside
property, including the site OF the present slightly
Elks' block, and the site chosen for the new
postoffice
When people began to gossip about the sudden
requirement Of this property the courthouse al
| Forest City burned and everything in 1t
| Of record was destroyed Day had the deed fol
this property, and could prove other.
wise, and the heirs Of the former owner never
| could substantiate any claim and never could
| ascertain where the money paid by Day, If any,
! When Day purchased the Elk property 1t con
tanned house. The purchase price was $1,6OO
He insured the house for 81, 600 and soon after
| it burned. Two years ago he sold the present
site of the new postoffce building and the sale
was reported $4,000, and again he gave Out
that the consideration had been 8 per cent gov
| ernnent bonds. 4 few months ago he died, leav
| ing a will giving the property In the heart Of
| the city worth $4,000 or more, to his sister
Mrs. Hattie Day Ogden, who cared for him II
| his last illness; $4,000 was bequeathed to hs
sister, Mrs. Betsey Williams, and $4,000 to othe1
heirs. The heirs believe there was more to the
estate They had heard the stories of the govern
ment bonds, and SO brought action to set aside
the will and began to Investigate the matter II
the courts.
| To-day the evidence revealed some startling DIS
! closures box was found with $11, 900 worth O.
notes and securities which Mrs. Ogden says he
brother gave her before his death. The test
mony of a banker disclosed that the story abou
| the bonds was simply hoax SO that the tax
| gatherer would not assess the personal propert.
and moneys. Another box was found IN TN
safety deposit vault Of one of the banks Wit
| $4,000 in money and the Investigation ha
| brought forth about $50, 900, all of which ha
escaped taxation for years. HOW mucn IDOL
| will be discovered is problem
| Day was reputed to be worth 100000, and l
| this much is disclosed there will be nice snu
| SIM for the tax ferrets who have been extende
| a contract for two years, and Who with IN
county treasury, will receive big amount 10
back taxes.