Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-19
ARNOLD CLAIM
Occupies Attention of
City Fathers in Joint
Convention

The city government voted Monday
evening to refer to CITY Solicitor Mel
yin +. SaWtelle an order introduced
by Alderman Anderson, providing for
the reimbursement Of Greenwood c.
Arnold TO the amour, vi $500 for mon
ely which Arnold paid the city six years
ago Tor Il worthless title to land. Coun-
" Attorney William r.. Fisher address
ed joint session in benaT o. Ar
nold's claim and both Arnold and Will
liam Ballard who was partner with
Arnold in the original transaction. gave
testimony. II was brought out that
Arnold was nearly 81 years old and an
almost life long resident of Augusta
1t appeared that small piece of land
near the line separating Augusta from
Sidney and at one time owned by a
man by the anne of Doyle, was ad-
vertised 70 be sold for taxes in 1872.
The assessed valuation Of the land was
SIPS. The heirs of Doyle had for u
while paid taxes but had at length
ceased to make payments. lr;or 10
1912 T.. W. Whitehouse acted as guar
dian for the heirs OF Doyle. Mr.. Ar
mold and Mr.. Ballard went 70 the tax
collector, Mr.. Perkins. to negotiate for
the purchase of the land. They were
told that $l25 had already been offer
ed. They offered $500 for the land,
the offer was accepted. and Mr.. Arnold
paid over the money. This was in
March. On May s the city government
authorized the sale and on the eth
of that month City Solicitor Mclean
notified Arnold that the deed was ready
for him. 1t was a quit claim deed and
designated the property as II acres of
wooded land near the Sidney line. Lat
or Miss Doyle. an heir OF the former
owner, claimed the property. sold it,,
and the timber was cut off Arnold
found that his title was no good.
Mr.. Fisher stated that the CITY had
neve: had a lawful title to the property
and urged that il was Mr.. Arnod.s legal
and mora right that the money be re-
funded. He argued that even should the
city repay the money il would be much
better off than il would have been had
the transaction not been made. as the le-
gal interest on the money for the six
years would amount TO s12, greater part
OF the amount which was owed the city
on unpaid taxes on the property
Since Miss Doyle sold it the property
has changed hands several times
Alderman Parmenter presided in the
absence Of Mayor Swift.
Regular roll o! accounts No . fror,
REQ to Feb. u. amounting in the ag-
sreeate to s23,347.si, was read and passed
as was also supplementary roll amount
ing to S0,T4.07
reports to January, 1915. from the fol-
lowing were accepted; Stree, commits
sloner. trustees Of Lithgow library. CHIEF
OF the hre department. milk inspector,
seaier OF weights and measures city So
Motor plumbing inspector, board or
health. health offcer superintendent O.
earlals. city treasurer, poor departn1ent
Cabdrivers and public auto licenses were
granted the following by the trafic com
nittee. to which petitions had been re-
ferred with mower to act c. w. Chap
man j. II. Roy, Lee W. Richards, John
~. Blanchard. Sumner Ward. Charles A.
Chase, j. S Mckenney. Frank Spear.
Charles Bickford, Gideon Halloweii, r. o
Trask. Alfred Patnaude Emile Lemieux.
W. {. Jackson, J. Il. Bickford J. A.
Doyon, Henry Doyon, J. J. Tarrio, c. r
Davis Stillman Blsisdell William z. BIZ
bar, Everett K. Merrill F. V. Stevens
Jasper O Bumford. Dell Bubar. ". g.
Walker. A. II. Sylvester. Jonas =. HALO
well. Harry $. Pullen Ralph l.. P,I,ler.
W. II. Austin.