The Somerset reporter., 1907-12-12
The Corner Controversy.

A contention has arisen as to the
line Of the highway on Water street
from the westerly corner of the Mer-
rill block to SIMPSONS corner, and
from that point on Madison avenue
to Russell street, and the matter is
brought to an issue by Messrs John
G. Griffin and Geo. E. Sampson, own
ers of the lot formerly occupied by
Simpsons drug store.
In the consideration of plans for re-
building, following the fire of last
September, Messrs Griffin and Samp-
son had their lot surveyed and find,
as they claim, that they own a strip
something like five feet in width on
Water street and two and one half
feet on Madison avenue, beyond the
limits of their building as it formerly
stood. They wish to make certain as
to limits of their lot before commence
ing building operations and, after ad-
vising the selectmen of their purpose,
taking legal counsel on the matter,
they proceeded last Monday forenoon
to erect a fence along the outside
limits as claimed by them.
The attention of the selectmen was
directed to the fact that fence was
being built, and after comforting with
the town agent and other local attor-
neys, they decided to regard this
fence as an obstruction to the high
way and proceed thereupon to re-
move it. The labor was performed in
person by the three town fathers, R. F.
Parker, A. H. Wyman and s. H. Brad
bury, and the fence was taken down
and neatly piled up on the Sampson
drug store lot, before one O'Clock, not
more than three hours after it's cree
ton.
The position of Messrs Griffin and
Sampson is that their deed gives
them title to the entire lot, the por-
tion originally occupied by the Samp-
son drug store and also the part
which has been made use of as a side
walk, to the limits they claim. They
simply wish to maintain their title to
all the land they own and a knowl-
edge of their rights in the matter is
prerequisite to their ordering plans for
new building. The town officers
feel it their duty to defend such rights
as the town may have to the land in
question. Their position is that the
strip in controversy has been used by
the town for from so to 80 years and
the title of the town, good as they be-
lieve after 40 years, advise possession
was confirmed long since.
The bitter feeling which often char
acterizes disputes as to boundary lines,
are entirely absent from this case
Each side appears confident as to its
rights but seeks only to have the issue
determined. 1t seems that, if the
matter is ultimately settled in favor
of the owners of Simpsons corner
the title of the town to the strip along
Water street and on Madison avenue
as mentioned in the first paragraph
above, will also be affected.
Suit was brought Tuesday by
Messrs Griffin and Sampson against
R. Francis Parker, Augustine II
Wyman and S. H. Bradbury, as in
dividuals, for trespass, and the case
will be entered for trial at the Deem.
Der term of the Supreme Court fol
this county. Butler & Butler anG
Edward F. Danforth are Iattorneys
for the plaintiffs and S. w. Gould
town agent, is counsel for the defence
While the action is brought against
the three selectmen as individuals
they will justify themselves by the
statement that they were acting il
their capacity as town officials anc
the town of Skowhegan will be the
real, though not the nominal, defen-
dant.