Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-09-17
'"Ns7fTfrs afafSfITssNT NVSWERs FILED ID COLLIER PETITION
  Bridge District Attorneys File Demurrer and Make
 Denial of All
 Charges. FREE BRIDGE CASE Application fer Writ of CertiOrari tO Be Heard on Septem.
 Der 30.
FREE BRIDGE CASE

Attorneys Danaher and Danaher and Coleman and Can't, counsel for the Jefferson County Free Bridge Dis trict, yesterday filed an answer to the petition of T. H. Collier, filed in the Jefferson circuit court several weeks ago against the District, in which the plaintiff seeks to secure writ or certiorari and review by the court of the findings of a majority by the commissioners for the Free Bridge. Under an announcement made by Judge A. B. Grace when the petition was filed, yesterday was the last day upon which counsel for the Bridge District had to file an answer. In the answer the attorneys deny in toto the charges made by Collier in his petition They ask for the dis missal of the petition and demur to it because of insufficient facts to l constitute a cause for action, or l grounds for the issuance or q Wrll Ol certiorari, or injunction.
 The attorneys further state that the circuit court is without jurlsdic- tion to hear and determine matters asked to be determined in the peti- ton.
 The answer denies that the direc- tor of the district fraudulently and falsely found majority for the bridge; that finding is irregular; that the board is without authority; that the facts do not support the finding and that a majority in number and in value have not signed for the bridge or that the finding on it's face shows that it is not in keeping with the special act.
 The answer further denies that many of the signers on the petitions are not owners of real property with in the district; that many of the names were not signed by the par ties whose names appear on them and forgeries; that there are repeaters or placed there without authority; that many persons have asked the with drawal of their names; that protest ing petitions were filed on the day the board met and before any steps were taken; that taxpayers were not gvien a fair hearing.
 Counsel for the Bridge District ad- mits that the polls were closed on the first day of the hearing, but add that same was done at the request of the plaintiff A denial is also made to the charge that the board refused to count or examine the withdrawals in the presence of the taxpayers or that they refused to consider protests or alleged forgeries; that the board re- fusd to conside misrepresentations or to furnish any list of taxpayers; that the polls were closed without giving the taxpayers time to prepare their protests.
 The denial is also made that there are 6.006 names of property owners on the assessors books; that there are 25S pieces of property with un- known owners; that there are more real property owners than is shown by the assessors books; that the property of railroads was not consid- cred by the board or that the value of said property is about three million dollars. They deny that all churches in the county are not shown on the 1 list nor value considered.
 "As to whether or not all the real
 property in said district will be as
 sessed the defendant cannot at thi' time say" reads the answer, flor the reason that the assessment of bene 1 fits as provided under the Act creat ing said district is to be made by g l board of assessors separate and apar from these defendants, who will as sess the same according to the bene
 fits received, and the assessment 0
 real property is therefore dependen
 upon whether or not such propert.
 is benefited by reason of the i'm
 provement contemplated"
 The application of T. H. Collier fo
 the writ of certiorari is to be hear' hv Judge Grace on September 30.