Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-24
Pottawattamie County Farmer
Claims to Be Victim of
Fraud
TITLE TO FINE FARM INVOLVED
Claim is Made That Forged Writ of
Ejectment Was Served and He Was
ousted-suit Begun at Avoca to Re-
cover Possession-A Strange Pro-
ceedins.
Special to Tlmes-nepuplican.

Council Bluffs, Oct. 24-To lose ones
farm, and then to learn in far off Alas
ka, that the loss was due to a trick Of
the law, is the interesting feature of
lawsuit coming on at the next term of
district court at Avoca, which reads
upon the docket George Armstrong ct
al. vs.. Mary Ann Campbell. The case
involves the ownership Of $40 acres Of
rich land in waveland township.
Incidental to the story Of this case,
it has come to light that an informa-
ton was filed last summer in the dis
trict court at Avoca, charging promi-
nent and wealthy Illinois man with
perjury.
About thirteen years ago, Alexander
Campbell was the owner of the farm
in controversy. Thru dealings on the
board of trade he suffered considerable
losses, and becoming involved was
compelled to borrow money. From
Robert Armstrong, wealthy resident
of Stark county, Illinois. Campbell Sc
cured $4,000, giving Armstrong deed
to the farm and receiving in turn q
contract which provided that the land
should be reconveyed to Campbell on
payment Of the debt
Campbell claims that he repaid $4,-
900 Of the sum, and that Armstrong
executed deeds which were sent to
Griswold, this county, to be \ turned
over to Campbell upon payment of the
remaining $4,000. He also claims that
when he went to Griswold to make the
last payment, he was met by George
Armstrong, a brother of Robert Arm
strong, who told him that his brother
was too i'll to attend to his business
matters, and that he had been sent out
to close up the deal, adding. however,
that the payment required would be
$1,000. While he was trying to raise
the additional sum, Campbell claims
that suit was filed asking for re-
ceiver and enjoining him from interfer-
ing with Armstrong in the occupancy
of the farm. This led to further COM
plications, and eventually q deputy
sheriff by the name Of John P. Stuhr
appeared on the place and elected
Campbell and his family under pre-
tended writ of ejectment.
Campbell, losing hope Of ever re.
gaining possession of the, place. and
casting everything to the winds, later
went to Alaska, where he was sur.
prised to again confront Stuhr. But
this time, Campbell claims, Stuhr was
more friendly, and the remarkable
story is told in which 1t is related
Stuhr declared to Campbell that the
writ of ejectment was a fraud and that
1t had been manufactured for the in
tended purpose without any authority
of the law.
Armed with this evidence, Cam pbel1
fastened back to the states and soon
after his arrival, acting on the advice
of his attorney, took forcible possess
sion of the farm, later again relin-
gushing it to await the result of the
present action in the courts.
About the time Campbell took pos
session of the place he filed with JUS
tice Rohlfs, at Avoca, an information
charging Armstrong with obtaining
possession Of the property by perjury,
false pretenses and conspiracy. The
warrant issued on the information has
never been served, and it is stated
Armstrong has never revisited the
county. Campbell and his attorney, w.
FL. Ware, are confident Of winning their
case.