Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-09-07
Developments Show Rich Ma
son City Mans Dexterity
In Escaping Taxation
HIS METHODS SOMEWHAT SHADY
Burning of the Forest City Court House
Believed to BE Closely Connected With
His requirement of the Deed to VAL
liable Property = Tax Fereets at
Work.


in the Day case, on account CT which
was given in these columns Saturday
reveal methods to evade taxation which
would do credit TO a graduated detec-
tive. Henry Days estate is beng sub
jected to a searching examination and
slowly the court is discovering various
personal property and monies which
for years has evaded the tax s.atherer.
The story of the Day fortune has its
romance. Years ago Henry Day left
New York and came to Blue City when
Minnesota was yet inhabited by the
Indians. He opened general nlerchan-
dice store and accumulated some mon
ey. When civilization pressed its way
over the Minnesota prairies he pulled
up stakes and removed to Forest City
where subsequently he was made coun-
ty treasurer and soon had access to the
Information concerning lands and other
real estate which made more than one
county treasurer in the early days rich.
Mason City was promising city and
suddenly Day became large holder of
property in its corporate limits. He
acquired nearly half the northern part
of the present city now known as Oak
Park addition and other valuable in
side property including the site of the
present slightly E,lks block and the Site
chosen for the new postoffice building.
When people began to gossip about the
sudden requirement of this property
the court house at Forest city was
burned and everything in it Of record
was destroyed. Day had the deed for
this property and no one could prove
otherwise and the heirs of the former
claim and never could ascertain where
the money paid by Day, IL any, ever
went. There was a popular belief that
the late capitalist knew much about the
fire which RACED the Forest City court
house, but nothing was ever proven.
When he purchased the Elk property it
contained house. The purchase price
was $1,000. He insured the house sub
seqently for $1,000 and soon after 1t
burned. He secured another piece of
property in the heart of the city at the
corner of the park and for years the city
has endeavored to compel Day to build
fire proof building and lay a cement
walk, but by repairing the board walk
and Smuggling the roof OF the old build
ing he was able 70 keep the OH property
in its original condition and escape re-
building modern building receiving
for the old shanty a fabulous rental.
When a few years ago he soil the Oak
I0uy .lr ayfv ip6 In lop
real estate transfers as $4,000 for the
transfer and 1t was given out that the
whole amount was paid in government
bonds. A couple of years ago he sold
the present site OF the new post office
building and the sale was reported as
$4,000 and again he gave out that the
consideration had been three per cent
government bonds. A few m onths ago
he died leaving will givin., the pro-
perty In the heart of the city, known
as the Yellow Spot. worth $4,000 or
more, to his sister. Mrs. E.attie Day
Ogden, who cared for him N his last.
illness. $1,000 was bequeathed his sis
ter, Mrs. Betsey Williams, ard $4,000 to
other heirs. The heirs believed there
was more of the estate than the Yellow
Spot property and the $4,000 provided
for the heirs. They had heard thu.
stories Of the government bonds and.
they brought action to SCI. aside tht
will and began to investigate the mat
ter in the courts. Today the evidence.
revealed some startling disclosures A
box was found with $1,000 worth of
notes and securities which Mrs. Ogden
says her brother gave her before his
death. The testimony Of banker dis
closed that the story about the bonds
was simply a hoax SO that the tax
gatherer would not assess the PERSONAL
and monies. Another box was
found in the safety deposit vault Of one
OF the banks with $4,000 in money and
the investigation has brought forth
about $4,000, all of which as escaped
taxation for years. How much more
will be discovered is a pro olem. Day
was reputed to be worth 100000 and ifl
this much is disclosed there will be IL
NICE snug sum for the tax ferrets who
have been extended contract for two
years and who with the county treas
ury will receive a big amount for back
taxes. Nearly every legal firm in the
city is engaged on one side or the other
and the case is exciting tremendous at
tention.
WHOLE FAMILY DEAD.
Bodies of Mother and Two Children
|. 4 4 TN~Is