Iron County register., 1904-11-03
From Arthur Huff.

ouPpoItIuS GIiC ly OIlu ClChcG Ill
Iron county appeared an article
entitled ga Peculiar Case" where
in certain charges and insinuations
are made against myself and two
other citizens of Ironton. This
article seems to have been written
with total disregard for the facts
in the case, and is an insult to the
intelligence of the citizens of Iron
county. Every charge or insinu-
alton in this article is as untrue as
the allegation that the land was
sold "about six years ago."
On the 2Sth day of April, 1896,
about the time the sale of lands
for delinquent taxes commenced,
at the east front door of the court
house, in the city of Ironton, Mr..
M. T. Goggin came to P. w. Whit
worth and myself and stated that
he would like to acquire title to 800
acres of land about to be sold in a
tax suit entitled State ex. rel.
Collector Iron county, Mo-, VS..
David Fleming and all unknown
interested parties. had intended
to buy the land myself, but was
willing to give way to Mr.. Goggin
and told him so. A calculation
was made as to the costs, taxes
and other expenses incidental to
the sale, and it was mutually
agreed that. if we could get the
land he would pay the sum of S100
for it. We undertook to accomp-
lish this and were successful, and
when Mr.. Goggin got his deed we
loaned him S85 OF the purchase
money, taking a deed of trust back
on the land to secure the same.
This deed of trust stood against
the land, and was not paid off until
June s, 1899, and for more than
three years we assumed nearly the
whole risk. and still you are told
that this land was not sold at the
sheriff's sale. I hope the people
of Iron county will give me credit
for having more sense than to loan
money on land under such circum-
stances. 4
Mr.. Whitworth cried the sale of
the land for the sheriff, and as l
was busy in the courtroom Mr..
Joseph A. Zwart was employed to
look after the matter, which he did.
The sheriff's deed to Mr.. Zwart
bears date April 2S, 1895, was duly
acknowledged in open circuitcourt
May 2, 1895, and is Of record in
book 43, page 13, Iron county land
records. This sale was regularly
made by the sheriff, and in con-
firmation of this fact will intro
duce the afidavits of three men
who were personally present at
the time and in position to know
what was done:
STATE OF MISSOURI, g
COUNTY OF IRON,
Walter H. Fisher, being duly sworn, on
his oath makes the following statement: On
1.-THE 2Sth day Of Apr /, 1896, acted as clerk
for the sheriff of Iron county during the sale
Of land for delinquent taxes, which occurred
at the east front door of the courthouse, in
the city of Ironton, Mo- 1t was my duty to
keep account of the various tracts sold and
record of the names of the purchasers
thereof. Upon the execution in the case o
the State ex. rel Collector Iron county, Mo-
VS.. David Fleming and unknown interested
parties, appears notation in my handwrit-
ing made on the 2Sth day Of April, 1896
that Joseph A. Zwart w:s the purchaser o.
Sc &r, sec. 20, and ne .qr, sec. 20, twp g.
range | e. remember making this record
land further that the land was sold to Mr.
Zwart at public outcry. ~
WALTER II. FISHER.
Subscribed and sworn to before me thi
lst day Of November, 1904.
]. M. HAWKINS, Clerk
] Circuit Court Iron County, Mo.
STATE OF MISSOURI,
County or ST. FRANCOIS, 90
On this, lst day Of November 1904, befor
me personally appeared Jos. A. Zwart,r Esq.
! Of Pennington, Mo-, formerly Of lronton
Mo-, who being by me duly sworn, atate
the following: On the 2Sth day Of April
1896, was present at a sale Of tax Ian,
4 conducted at the east front door Of the cour
| house in the city Of Ironton, Mo-; that o.
Said date under and by virtue ofFa tax suit
entitled State Of Missouri ex. rel. Collecto
Iron county, Mo-, VS.. David Fleming AM
all unknown interested parties, the Sc qr
sec. 20, and ne ar sec. 20, twp 34, range
east, 7cas put up and sold at bnblie onteyy
and 6eeame The purchaser of Tie sa0ie, be
ing lie hiphest and best bidder Meyefoy,.