Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-08

Lean Of Augusta is attorney for the
defendants.
The first witness was Henry D.
Gordon. now Of North Pittston, hus-
band Of the plaintiff. Olga NJ. Cor
don. He testified that in 1912 his
family consisted of his wife, his
mother and four, children and tn :
lived at West Sullivan, where his
wife owned a farm of 20 acres. He
testified regarding the catalogue
which he received from the w H.
Hutchins Co. describing the farm
"Sunnyside." at Whitefeld, and re-
garding correspondence he had with
the w D. Hutchins Co. He had come
to Augusta to Mr.. Hutchins' Office
and had talked with Mr.. Hutchins.
who had introduced him to Mr..
Barnes He and Mr. Barnes had look
ed over farm that day and the fol-
lowing day they went to "Sunnyside'
farm at Pittston. II was a very wet
and bad day. They were on the
premises about half an hour. MI
Barnes had answered his questions
and had told him about the wood
and lumber on the farm. Witness
testified that Barnes had told him
the farm had cut Is tons of English
hay the year before. 1911. Mr.. Cor
don had told Barnes that he could
not pay down any money at that
D. Hutchins Co. and Mr.. Gordon was
introduced. Witness testified con-
corning Mr.. Hutchins visit to West
Sullivan and their conversation
about the farm "Sunnyside." Mr..
Hutchins saying that the farm cut
70 tons Of hay, that he had cut IS
tons of hay and sold at Boston the
year before, and that the orchard
paid $50 or $50. Witness said his
mother had been opposed to making
the change. but that his wife and
mother had agreed to give a mort
gage for $1,000 on their property at
West Sullivan. They had later moved
from West Sullivan to the farm
"Sunnyside" at Whitefeld.
Mr.. Gordon testified that $500 was
10 be paid upon the farm and that
the other $500 of the $1,000 was to
go toward their starting operations
at Whitefield. Witness then described
the farm 'Sunnyside" as he had later
come to see it, that the nearest tele-
phone was two miles away. that there
were SO squares Of glass needed in
the house, that the kitchen floor was
badly worn, that the stable sill was
decayed, that the barn floor was in
such a condition that his cow broke
through and was injured. that every
room in the house needed painting
and papering. that the orchard was
dying fast, that the maple trees were
hollow. and that there was z cherry
tree there. He had later seen Mr..
Barnes and had complained to him
and Barnes had told him Mr.. Hutch
ms would be out there later and adj
Just the matter. That year witness
had cut eight tons of hay on the
place. He had later seen Barnes.
who had told him that Mr. Hutchins
would later be out TO see him.
Witness testified that when Mt.
Hutchns had introduced him to Mr..
Barnes, Mr. Hutchins had said that any
business Gordon did with Barnes would
be satisfactory to him. He testified
that after the hay season he went to
see Mr.. Hutchins and Hutchins had re-
ferred him to Barnes. Mr.. Gordon
had told Barnes that the hay crop and
apple crop had been failure and he
was unable to make the payments. Dir.
Barnes said it was bad year. Nr
Gordon had later asked Barnes to have
Mr.. Hutctins go over to the farm and
look over the situation.
Ernest E. Dun,on of Woodfords tes-
tilted that he formerly resided at White
field and tina. is uncle and his cousin
had formerly owned the farm In oues-
ton at Whiteheld He testified that he
was an assessor there ewo years. that
he was acquainted with real estate
values in that town in 1912. and ne con-
sidered a fair market value OF the farm
in 1912 to be s15l0. and a fair rental 80
a year if the man paid the taxes. He
testified as to the wood on the place.
He said that he did not see much OF
the crops growing on the farm there
while Mr.. Gordon occupied it. He said
that as he passed by the place the or
chard did not look thrifty Eron
cross-examination by Attorney Mclean
ephcne poles there. He knew that Mr.
Hutchins had maze some Improvements
on the place. He thought a man Shout
receive per cent. on his investment
there. Witness described the character
of the land on the farm "Sunnyside.'
William B. Jewett of North Pittston
was the next witness. He had been
cunning over the farm and knew the
farm. He gave his opinion that the
fair market valu; in 1912 for the farm
was s14oo or $500 He testified that the