Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-07-16

hey. But the monks of Xminster were
swept away in the Reformation under
Henry WILL, and of course that right of
heriot disappeared. Still the masters of
Glinn continued to exercise their claim
upon every ccasion !or rather over two
hundred years, at the expiration of which
time, in consequence of the decay of the
Wilson family, Mannersley fell, by pur-
chase, into their hands, where it remain
ed till sold to Mr.. Pearman twelve years
ago. The curious thing is, this right of
heriot still exists; the owner of Glinn is
still entitled to demand whatever beast he
may choose upon the Mannersley estate
upon the death of an owner thereof, and
the successor can but submit to the claim.
Do you follow me, Mr.. Pearman?"
Pretty well. l thenk. May ask when
was this right of heriot last enforced.
and in what shape?"
I'm 1874 Stephen Denison, ESQ, of
Glinn, received the sum OF TO in lieu OF
the right of heriot on the death of Mat
thew Wilson. That was the last case. 1t
. was his heir and successor that sold it
to the Denisons-that being Stephen, be-
fore mentioned"
well, gentlemen" rejoined Pearman.
of course | am not quite prepared as
yet to acknowledge this right must
consult my solicitors first on the subject
Still, it looks plausible enough. l am
afraid" said he, laughing, money don't
go quite so far as in Matthew Wilson's
day. What, may ask, do you assess me
at?"
"Ten thousand pounds" replied Gren-
vile Rose, quietly taking up the parable
as had been agreed between himself and
his coadjutor beforehand.
"Ten thousand! Why, you're mad !"
But there was no laugh now in his re
joinder. His quick intelligence gathered
at glance what a desperate position he
was in; and, moreover, that the opposite
side were pretty well aware of it.
Were certainly not mad. l don't think
we are foolish. 1 don't pretend to know
much about these things myself, but the
veriest tyro knows the first favorite for
the Two Thousand, ten days before the
race, is worth big sum. Mr.. Denison
Is in difficulties; money is an object to
him. We give you the option of paying
10000 fine or letting us make what we
be- plenty of people to bid for him, either
one way or the other-I mean either to
try and win with him, or to take very
good care he don't"
Sam Pearman's turf training stood him
in good stead. He had learned how to
lose. He swallowed the ferocious execra-
ton that rose to his lips. You will al
low me to look at that deed?' he inquir-
ed land, of course, you cannot expect
an answer till have had time to COM
municate with my solicitors
Certainly" returned Grenville; "and
your solicitors may also peruse it at the
offices of Messrs. Hawk, Sparrowbille and
Co. tell you fairly we have had coun-
sells opinion upon it, and there is no
doubt the right of heriot still exists. We
mean to make the most we can out of it,
and either take Coriander\ or a 10000
equivalent"
Sam Pearman ran his eye rapidly over
that old deed, which stated, after some
technicalities "And whereas Hugh Will
son, yeoman, did render good and secret
service last time Ralph Eversley did lay
claim most sacrilegious and outrageous on
lands appertaining to us, abboS and chap
ter of minister, in the year of our Lord
1856, we do hereby grant to him and his
body's heirs the fee-simple of the manor
of Mannersley, in perpetuity, on the right
of heriot of three beasts, to be delivered
as token of fealty to us the said abbot
and chapter of minister; with further
right of heriot on the part of Sir James
Denison Of Glinn, and his heirs, to claim
one beast in acknowledgment of allegi-
ance to him as lay-baron and secular
leader Of the retainers of minister Alb
bey. The above Acknowledgements of fea-
ty and allegiance to be paid on the death
of the then holder by his successor and
heir male.-Signed, Edmund Gervoise, |
Abbot of Xminster, March 10th, 1856"
"All very well !" said Pearman; 'but
if this is all you have to so upon, you
can scarcely expect me to pay much at
tention to the claim, more especially when
fixed at such a preposterous figure"
mo, of course not we never thought |
you would. Serve the writ of seizure |
Nightjar, and then l think we need in. |
trude on Mr.. Pearman no longer"
''Two questions, please, before you CO." |
replied the owner of Mannersey, as he |
accepted neat legal document from the |
solicitor. First, time is an object, at all |
events to me, in this case. Have you any |
objection to say whose opinion you have
taken on that obsolete parchment?'
"Not in the least. Rumford's. Refer |
your solicitors to him"
Good man; getting a little old, per-
haps but still safe. Liable to mistakes,
as they all are, of course"
"We consider him good enough. Any
thing more"
"Well, yes are you aware Of my pecu-
liar relations with Mr.. Denison's family
just now?"
perfectly; and equally so with the
causes which led to that result"