The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-07-28
RmED TO TEETH,
men STAND GUARD
OVER PROPERTY
Grab Back Land Included in New
Michigan Central Station Site When
Supreme Court Annuls Condemna-
ton Proceedings.
Pair Live in Tent on Plot and Vigil
ance Is Never Relaxed for Moment,
Day OF Night.

big as gun, Burr Lobdell. No 81
4 Smith-aye.. and Edwin Miller, d
Birmingham. Mich. are guarding TO-,
800 square feet OF land ON the site OF
the new Michigan Central station IN
true western style. They are en-
scounced In a tent, on the top oi
which, at the south end, flies small
American flag. which seems 10 wei
come an attack as IL proudly fiutters
4 In the breeze. The two guardians
took up their position lass Sunday
morning and thus far no one has
seen 1T 10 question their right to the
property over which they are keeping
watch.
Lobdell and Miller have laid claim
20 the land, in spite OF the fact that
the Michigan Central now has 1t ex
cavated. Lobdell, in explaining the
situation. Tuesday afternoon, said:
I'm March, 1909, purchased
through an agent, the property, which
consisted of four frame houses and
lots. from Elizabeth Ferguson, paying
$11,250 for II. / wanted the sit for
factory which I planned to erect
Tor the manufacture OF automobile
parts. The land was near the rail-
way, and that's why I wanted it, AT
that time I knew nothing OF the plan
OF the Michigan Central to build its
station on the site 1t has chosen.
However. / didn't hold the property
very long. having sold IL to Edwin
Miller, OF Birmingham, for $4,000, in
GLIDING stock In the auto company.
He paid me $4,000 and took mort
gage for the balance. Walter Phipps.
now Of the Phipps- Massnick Manu-
--fncturing 6o., was rfsu 10 be fteutf-
ned with the company. However. the
& trouble over the land arose and the
factory never got started.
After the transfer OF the Ian
from me TO Mr. Miller the Michigan
\ Central began TO buy uu the property
. I'm Seventeenth and neighboring
streets for the new station. a repre-
sentative OF the company came to me
and said he would give $4,000 or
there abouts for my property. I re-
fused. and explained that Mr.. Miller
was really the owner of the land. A
somewhat similar offer was after
I. wards made TO Mr.. Miller, and, OF
course. he declined 1t Finally the
Michigan Central started condemns.
y lion proceedings In the circuit court
and the Jury awarded me $4,000 and
Mr.. Miller 81. We refused TO accept
the decision and our attorneys, b. J
Orr for me and Albert McClatchey
Z for MIR. Miller. appealed TO the SUI
preme court. with the result that the
appeal WAS sustained and the proceed
iugs IN the lower court dismissed.
ghe supreme court gave this decision
ION July "a.
Following the decision. Mr.. Miller
and planned to take possession of
= the property We found that the
Michigan Central had detectives
watching the land. but on Sunday
morning we came with our tent and
rot II pitched while the guards were
on watch. We got peaceful posses
zion, and here We are. We're going 90
stay, too. Anybody who molests us
will have the biggest fight that ever
happened. The enemy will have 70
take down our American flag before
We surrender and, tell you, IL Will
etay up as long as we are able 10
fght. We feel that we are the right
ful owners OF this property and Wen
die before we'll let the Michigan Cen
trail or any other corporation get II
without paying us what II is worth.
We value It now at much more than
\ &25.00O'
LobdeIl had FIRE in his eye while
ne spoke and there Is no doubt that
ne meant every work he said abort
the defense he and Miller plan TO put
up In case an effort is made 10 dis
lodge them. They have had their lots
surveyed since the eXcayating took
place and their boundary Is nov
wired on. Thus far the Michigan
Central diggers. who are working A.
the Immediate vicinity of the ten
have not tried to put a spade or PICK
on the forbidden ground. They are
I foreigners for the most part and they
almost drop their shoveis and run
every time they look over to the tent
and see Lobdell or Miller doing sen.
try duty with the trusty Winchester
all ready for business. The tent Is
well-guarded at all hours of the day
and night. the two guards alternating
on the night watch. With the guard
fans on Tuesday was Judson Lobdell,
\ 6-year-old son OF Burr Lobdell, who
was visiting the camp
The tent is located on the part OF
Seventeenth-st.. about two blocks
from Michigan-ave., which the rail-
way Is using for It's new station The
X M0ubtS winch OuCc SlOOu Oh the laIlu
were torn down last fall and a big
pit now marks the spot. In connec.
tion with the tearing down of the
houses, Lobdell says the Michigan
V Central took a mean advantage OF one
\ Of his tenants, George Warner. While
\ the latter was away last Thanksgiv-
ing day, Lobdell says the company
took possession OF the house and dis
mantled it so that II was necessary
for Warner TO vacate on his return.
80 After the decision OF the supreme
court was handed down. Attorneys Orr
and McClatchey secured tenn
porary injunction TO prevent the Mich.
igan Central from interfering Wit
their clients while the latter were
guarding the property In question. but
"Wednesday morning the injunction
was dissolved, and the railway may
now, nj Its own risk seek to regain
possession Of the land.
II Is absolutely essential that the
Michigan Central should have the
land in dispute. and II is expect
that the company will start new con
dcmnation proceedings. II peacefuI
V settlement cannot be reached rho
supreme court reversed the verdict OF
the circuit court jury in the mattor
Tor the reason that there was an error
n IL the proceedings, The railway com.
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