Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-04
MATTH|ESSEN HEIRS.
TRY TO KNOCK OUT.
BOARD OF REVIEW
CLAIM POLITICAL COMPLEXION
OF TAXING BODY NUlLlFlES
ALL ITS ACTS-TWO ARE DEMO.
Gratis AND ONE A REPUB.
llCAN

its right to serve as a determinaive
body and the legality of all its acts
during the past summer were ques.
toned this morning in petition for
quo warranto filed by the heirs OF the
late Frederick w. Matthiessen, La
Sale multimillionaire. whose estate
has been attacked for back taxes az.
gregating 100000 by members of the
reviewing body.
Complainants in the suit are +. w.
Matthiessen Jr, Adele NJ. Blow and
ida Matthesen, as trustees under
the last will of Mr.. Matthiessen, and
F. W. Matthiesen and Mrs. Blow as
executors of the will.
Defendants are named as NJ. A.
Bronson, Matthias Kurscheid and
Hugh Hall, all OF whom were apointe1 1
members of the board of review by
Judge Henry Mayo in the County
Court last April. Since their appoint.
ment the members have served al
most continuously since June in their
official capacities, with Edward j
Burns as Ottawa as secretary Of the
board.
Follow 5000, 600 Tax Claim.
Today's suit is the aftermath of ar
attempt to collect from the estate OF
Mr.. Matthiessen almost ss00,000 in
back taxes, which members of tht
board aver should be paid the county
bu. none of which was given in by
the testator as being among his as
sessable property. The delinquent
portion claimed by the board extends
over period OF approximately ten
years, when Mr.. Matthiessen was Civ
ing in approximately $4,000 as hi
holdings, when in reality his estate
ran to valuation of several time:
that amount
The reviewing board is attacked
through its political complexion
rather than through any of the othel
avenues that might be open to as
sault. The bill is filed with Attorne.
Clarence Griggs as solicitor AM
charges that the three men, NJ A
Bronson, Matthias Kurscheid and Hugl
Ball, have 'unlawfully usurped. he'll
and executed and still usurp, hold am
execute, without warrant, right of law
ful authority the pretended Offices o
chairman and members of the boar
Of review Two of the board ar
Democrats and one a Republican.
Cites the Law.
In the bill it is alleged that 9Th
said pretended organization Of sal
/ alleged board of review is illegal an
void in this, among other things, tha
in and by section 30 of an act entitle
An act for the assessment of prof.
erty and providing means therefore
etc.. provides as follows.
The board of review shall at a
times consist of two members affil
ated with the political party pollin
the highest vote and one member {
the party polling the second highe;
vote at the general election in tf
county prior to the time any appoin
ment is made by virtue of this Sc
ton
The bill cites that in 1916 the R
: publicans polled the highest vote ''ar
in 1918 the board of review shou
have consisted of two members a
filiated with the Republican party
The bill, continuing, states that {
, April %, Henry Mayo, judge of Il
County Court, entered an order a
} pointing Matthias kurscheld, a Dem
. crat, from Ottawa. and Hugh Hall
: Sreator, Republican.
2 Two Democrats, One Republican.
II further states that NJ. A. Bro
son, chairman Of the board, who,
virtue of his office, is a member
the reviewing board, has been for
number of years affiliated with t
Democratic party, with the resi-
It that instead of the board having t'
It Republicans and one Democrat,
II has in reality, one Republican a
II two Democrats.
y Winding up the list of charges, it
n, set forth that the pretended orga
20 zation Of said board of review
ie illegal, irregular and defective and
N wholly without sanction of law a
,r that their acts be declared null a
y, void