Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-29
iAINES DEMoLiSHES
TRUMPED UP CHARGE.
Continued from Page One.)

t1bDIInueu from rage One.)
Shaw and still have 1903 acres, which
is &c acres more than you say | failed
to show where | got.
Now. in selling this town, it was
sold for a gross price, and in order to
get at the part of the purchase price
which the owners of the Woodman
lots were to have, and we were to
have. there was given TO them the
proportionate part for the acreage
they claimed to have and the balance
was given to us. Both we and the
owners of the Woodman lots sold all
the interest we had in the town.
We sold with the understanding that
the purchasers take a quitclaim deed,
and nothing else. Our acres were
reekoned as the balance of the whole
town after taking out the Woodman
lots. we assuming that we owned it,
or had better title to it than any
body else who had appeared thus far.
and the purchasers understood what
they were buying. They took 1t, both
the Woodman lots and our lots. with
all the title defects, and were to take
their chance in the future as to its
title. How much defect there was in
the Woodman lot titles. | do not know.
as never examined them. but | as
sumo that they are relatively defect
i've in the same way as cur lots. The
purchasers understood it and bought
it with that understanding. They may
have trouble i'll the future.
There is great deal Of wild land
=.
just this way. principally upon the
| fact of possession. For many years
wild land was worth SO little that
many did not pay taxes on it. and tax
| titles were bought up. and upon these
| tax titles now rests a great deal of title
| to the wild lands Of Maine. The stat
| ute of 1895. which took effect in 1900
and which may be called "a statute oil
| limitation is thought by many to cure
| these defects Without that statute
| the present owners of wild lands woulo
| be in constant litigation.
| Now, il seems to me that this eX
| plains enough so that YOU and the
| public ought to understand pretty vel
about the title to Soldiertown and the
dealings with the same by myself and
| others.
| Don't forget. in all this discussion
| thar the Governor and Council and the
Land Agent were selling this land to
! me and my associates, the deeds al
| which We're taken in my name, w. T
! IIaines, and not the Attorney Genera
| Of Maine; that they were deciding me
/ something that no one else would buy
| that il was not worth a cent to anyone
else. and that what we bought it, for
was to clear the title and to avoid law.
suits and litigation, if possible; and
| that they are avoided is not sure ever
now.
| Don't forget that as Attorney Cen
eral l had nothing to do with it. The
office of Attorney General does not
enter into the transaction in any way
| There was no misunderstanding on
| the part of the Governor and Council
about the title to it, There was nc
| question of law that the State was
| Interested in, and the fact that ms
| letters were written on Attorney Cen
eral letter head paper should not fig
ure in the transaction. And you know
| 1t is not fair to me to present it il
that light. Don't think that Llewellyr
Powers, who was one of the best
posted owners of wild land in Maine
sold me and my associates any wild
land for any less than it was worth
He was representing the State oil
| Maine in this transaction, and VIZ
were the purchasers
Yours truly.
WILLIAM T. HAINES.