The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-08-26
ATTORNEYS IN :
THRUSTS OYER
PROPERTY SALE
Price of Lot Which Is Boosted
to $4,000 Is Subject of
Debate in Court
FRAUD HINTED; DENIED
Judge Finally Ends Argu'
ments by Accepting High
est Bid Before Him

Exchange Of verbal thrusts be-
tween attorneys marked the conclu-
sion of the hearing before Judge l.
C. Davies in probate court late yes
terday on the sale price of the build
ing lot at the corner of Broadway and
Second streets, for which E. A.
Hughes and E. G. Patterson were
bidding.
The building lot was finally sold
to Mr.. Hughes for $4,000, or $4,000
more than he had agreed to pay the
administrator of the R. H. Treacy
estate for the lot. Protest was en-
tered against closing the proceed
ings by William LANCER, attorney
for Mr.. Patterson, he declaring that
there should be resale within two
or three weeks and adding that il
certain reports could be obtained by
Mr.. Patterson he would bid $4,000
for the lot. .
E. B. Cox, attorney for Mr..
Hughes, opposed the contentious Of
the attorney for Mr.. Patterson Wig
orously Mr.. LANCER, resenting what
he deemed intimations that his eli
ent was not acting in good faith, de-
clared that Mr.. Patterson's bid in
the morning had resulted in Mr..
Hughes increasing his bid from $780,
900 to $4,000 thus making $5,0OU
for the heirs Of the state.
Situation Tense
The situation was more tense be-
cause Mr.. Hughes had already ex-
cavated and put in some foundation
work on the lot before title was OBJ
tanned. Judge Davies said that he
wanted to be very careful in his pro-
ceedings because he did not want to
furnish q title which might be ques-
toned successfully in the courts.
MI. Cox held that under the laws
the court could accept the highest
bid before him or II he believed .
better bid could be obtained read
vertising hold new sale. Mr.. Lam
ger declared a new sale ought to be
made and said that more money
probably could be obtained for the
lot. A protest against acceptance Of
the Hughes bid also was made by the
guardian for the minor heir of the
estate.
The history Of the morning ses-
sion was restated. Mr.. Hughes had
agreed to pay August johnson, ad.
ministrator, $4,000 for the lot, and
began work before the confirmation
was held in court. Confirmation day
was Yesterday. E. G. Patterson ap'
peared with a bid Of $11,1O0. Mr.
Hughes put in bid of $4,000. Both
bids were submitted to the judge
without knowledge Of the other
there being no auction.
Hints 7.Story Building
Mr.. LANCER declared that Mr.. Pat
terson had not known Of the posi-
bility of buying the site until short
" before the confirmation in court
assuming that Mr.. Hughes had al
ready bought the lot before he be-
gan work on it. He said that if Mr..
Patterson received favorable reports
from engineers he would bid $2O,O0O
for the lot and erect 7-story apart
ment- office building.
August Johnson, administrator @
favored acceptance of the $15'oOo
bid. George M. Register appeared
as attorney for him.
Judge Davies said he did not want
to let a good sale get away at the
time and if there was chance to ge'
more money for the lot later ne
wanted to do so.
When the court had indicated his
determination to sell the property
Attorney LANCER entered objections
stating that the property had beer
appraised for $4,000 and that the
advertisement was to low that If it
were not fraudulent the court woulo
presume fraud, that his client had
offered S11,100 in cash and that nj
belived that there was prospect o.
the estate obtaining more money
for the lot. Mr.. LANCER declared an
appeal would be taken.
Mr.. Cox retorted that Mr.. LANCER
;ntimations were an insult to the
court and without foundation.