The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-10-19

E lTl ONE years ago an old resi-
@GI dent of Philadelphia died
childless, leaving a small
-O-I estate which he directed
E9h EsIi by his will to be equally di-
yided between his widow
and his only sister. The estate con-
sisted of a substantial home in the
city and an acre of ground in the coun-
try, besides some money in bank and
few well-invested securities. The sis
ter resided in distant State, and in
order that her interests might be prop
erly cared for. she engaged the services
of an attorney at Philadelphia; the
widow in like manner, being ignorant
OF such matters, employed me as coun-
sci to see that she also was protected
in her rights under her husbands will.
The personal estate of the testator
was easily divided, but it became nee
eSsary to sell the real estate and divide
the proceeds. For the home place we
soon found a purchaser who paid for it
in cash. The lot of ground in the coun-
try was not so easily disposed Of. It
was situated in pleasant part OF
West Philadelphia, out on the Darby
road, not far from the Schuylkill, and
was at that time lad out on the city
maps as a building site between two
streets, but the streets were not much
travelled aid the country round about
was thinly and poorly settled. Long
AFTER the money and stocks which the
old gentleman left had been shared be-
tween his widow and sister, and long
after his old home had been sold ard
the proceeds Of its sale distributed as
he directed, the country lot remained
on our hands. The sisters attorney
and myself advertised it in all the city
papers. as for sale, cheap, to close an
estate;" we mentioned it to real estate
agents, who also advertised it as "A
special bargain in suburban property
but all to no purpose; it would not sell.
For more than two years this little
acre of land remained to perp.ex anu
prevent us from effecting final settle
ment of the estate. when one day it
occurred to me to buy the ground my
self. I did not want it and had never
seen it. but if I could purchase it at
price which ali the parties Interested
might agree upon as fair, the estate
could be settled. and some day the
Door acre which had so long begged q
,s1~l,A
children.
Who knows?' said I. stranger
things have happened and happen
every day I made the proposition
of purchase first to the attorney OF
the sister, mentioning the amount
which 1 would pay and all the details
of settlement. He wrote to his client
and in due season my offer was accept
ed by her. Then made the Same
proposition to the widow. my OWL
client. advising her before accepting tc
make thorough inquiry among hel
friends as to the propriety of so dong
1t is a position Of extreme dellcac!
when an agent or attorney undertakes
TO purchase for himself the property
which he is employed to sell to others
and no one can safely occupy that 10
sition without inviting the fullest Scru
tiny and letting in the broadeSt Gay
light upon the whole transaction. Sht
considered Ey proposition fully. con
suited many persons acquainted Will
the value of country real estate (Wh'
afterward mentioned to NE that tie.
had beer consU,tel), and finally accept
ed MY offer. In the autumn o. 1SS-