Norwich bulletin., 1911-08-02

Clement G. GriscOm, who has large
holdings at Watch Hill, is now claim
ant of section of property that has
been abandoned by the government,
and to which Frank Larkin claims
ownership. 1t was upon a part OF this
property, presumably to prove occu-
pancy, that a pigpen with real, live
pigs therein was placed recently, but
from which the animals were removed
in compliance with popular protest.
When Frank Larkin conveyed to
Clement c.. Griscom what was known
az the Larkin house property, 1t was
supposed that he conveyed all of the
land he then owned on Watch Hill
point, the deed given describing the
land as bounded on the south by land
of the United States government It
was discovered later that the original
deed to the government did not IN
clude all Of the land occupied by the
government, and as some of the orlgl-
nal monuments has disappeared it was
q difficult matter to determine the ac-
tual north boundary of the govern
ment's property Attorney Samuel HI.
Davis took the matter up with the
government officials on behalf OF Mr.
Iarkin and Attorney John w. Swee-
ney later took it up on behalf of Mr.
Griscom. After several months OF ne
gotiation between attorneys and Off
Gals. the government entered into
separate but similar agreements with
Mr.. Larkin and Mr.. GriscOm, by winch
a new line was established. marking
the north boundary of the government
land about forty feet south of the
former supposed boundary line. THESE
agreements signed by the parties anc
filed in the land evidence records OF
the town of Westerly, are not intend
ed to operate as deeds from the gov
eminent, for land which it had occu-
pied for over twenty years, and to
which it had thus gained the right OF
title by adverse possession, but 1t is
specifically declared that these agree
ments are to operate simply as a DELI
milton of the agreed boundary line, in
asmuch as the old line could not cas-
lily be determined.
During these negotiations and be-
fore the agreements were executed by
the government, Mr.. Griscom had his
sea wall extended and his south boun-
Diary fence removed to the new line so
as TO enclose this valuable forty-foot
strip, extending from the ocean to the
Sound, with his property. Mr.. Lark1n
lid not move In the matter at that
time, further than to serve notice for
bidding the extending OF the walls and
enclosing the strip by Mr.. Gr1scom.
Tuesday, however Mr.. Larkin pro-
ceeded to take possession of the dis
puted property. and having secured the
serVjoee of the H. T.. Kenyon company.
builders, commenced to erect strue-
uaa9cn. IS lodgings, of some of the
young men employed by him at the
bathing pavilion. He, also had row
of stubs placed on the old north line,
or formerly supposed north line, of the
government property, with the lnten-
ton of replacing the fence which Mr..
Griscom had removed to the new line.
This work was scarcely under way
when it was ordered stopped and short
ly afterward Mr.. Larkin was summon
ed to appear in the September term
of the superior court and answer to an
action of trespass.
Attorney John w. Sweeney is acting
for Mr.. Griscom, and Attorney Samuel
III. Davis for Mr.. Larkin. Mr. DAYS.
will have associated with him Attor-
ney Harry p Cross of Providence, who
sailed Tuesday for his vacation in
Europe but expects to return late IN
September.
BY agreement of counsel the building
operations are suspended pending the
decision Of the courts as to the title
to the property, the question of title
The question of title to this valuable
strip of land is a decidedly intricate
and interesting one, as the land in
question was in the adverse possession
of the government when the Griscom
deed was executed, and though that
deed described the property transferred
from Larkin to Griscom as extending
to the land Of the government, and as
bounded on the south by the land of
the government, the stone monuments
referred to and indicated on the plat
which was referred to in tho deed, and
through which the southerly line was
described as passing, were located on
the old line or former assumed line be-
tween the land of the government and
III