The Havre herald., 1907-04-26
H0L DS HOMESTEAD
The United States Land Office at Great
Falls Decides the Contest Against
III. J.Meili's Homestead i'm His
Favor. Case One of In
terest to Milk River
nonesteaders.
SPECIAL AGENTS ARE AGAIN IN WRONG

the ranch and Meili in town. ]
could not swear that he was living
here
.. Could not swearthat he was
living on ranch?
a. How could I swearhe lived on
ranch. I saw him going out there
with team several timestjust as much
as any other rancher as far as [ could
see. Ofcourse, he had a place here
as he had business here. Several
rancbmen whohave business in town
nave a place to stop at nights
Q. Do yoYknow whether MI. Meili
was living here in town a greater
part of the time during these years?
A. In my,judgment he lived longer
on the ranch
Z. Do you know whether Mr.. Meili
mad maintained residence during the
years 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901 and
1902 inclusive Of his residence and
home on his ranch?
A. Wen I would not like 10 swear
to that, for l don't know the length of
time required to live on a ranch. I
understand he lived on the ranch.
MY idea Is that he was out ttcre and
put in a majority of his time there
and refused to vote in city elections
hero
Michael r. Sheehan went by ranch
frequently, never saw him on ranch.
never knew of his living there, de-
lsndant lived in Havre, never was at
S1 house to know who was living
there Is the same person who wrote
to ftle Hon. Commissioner Of tho Cen
,eral Land Office letter Exhibit D. :"
The fact that he is not particularly in
love with Mr.. Meili is not the reason
he wrote letter, but he is unfriendlv
to defendant.
oliver st. Germain, Defendant al
ways lived in Havre as far as witness
Knows, sold them ice in town once
In a while, but not regular.
Q. Do you know if Mr.. Mel: ever
lived out on his homestead? A, No.
could not say, mover was there and
don't know where it is.
George w. Hall. Came to Havre
January Is, 1902. Thinks defendant
lived in Havre from Jan. 1902 on, de-
fendant might have gone to his ranch
oo times and witness not known it.
Exhibit F. shows that defendant had
leave of absence for six months from
January 1902
q. From July 1st, 1902, do you
know whether Mr.. Meili was living in
Havre ormaking his home upon his
A. Well, my understanding was
that he lived in Havre I wouldn't
swear that he didn't put in lot of
time on the homestead, as / don't
know. l didn't know he had one.
Defendant being called ON behalf of
the Government testifies that he es-
tablished his residence on this land
in Sept. 1897 and continued it until
1904, and that it was his only home
during that time, is still living on the
land, has sold the land conditionally
It really being mortgage. Defend
ants homestead was in the township
of Havre and he was authorized und-
er the Montana statutes to hold the
offices he held, was never elected
% the offic of police magistrate and
'ever voted in town election.
The above evidence upon the part
If the plaintiff must be summed up
Is follows: George Bick1e and Mich
lei K. sheehan testifying positively
hat to the best of their knowledge
le1endant never resided on his claim,
'ut at all times resided in Havre.
oseph Gussenhovens Frank B. Church
IL and Oliver St. German, while not
estlfying positively, always thought
'e lived in Havre. George ". Hall
ecame acquainted with the land and
he defendant at such a late date that
is evidence is of little value. especi-
lily considering the fact that defend
Mt had leave of absence for six
1onths of that time. Dr.. J. s. Almas
nd the defendant himself testify full
and positively that defendant re-
ided upon the land and fully COM
lied with the homestead law as to
esidence, as to cultivation and i'm
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