The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-03-23
TESTIFY FARM
WORTH $4,000 IN
NEWPORT COURT
But Blias Paid Petry Sum
of $4,000 for Farm on
Legal Tangle

Orleans County court at New
port was occupied all day Wednes-
day with testimony in the case, A.
r. Petry vs. Archelas BlaiS. The
farm bought by Blais from Petly,
the value of which he claims was
misreprcsented was formerly
known as the old Holmes farm, in
Holland near Tice's mill and sub
sequent owners were Henry Ray
me and A. T. Petry. According to
some testimony, it contains 318
acres.
Among witnesses called We'd
nesday was J. M. Page, town clerk
whose testimony showed up re-
cords of appraisal in Holland.
Ernest Moulton also OF Holland
was recalled for further testimony
in appraisal of this and Other prop
critics.
Myron Scott, ST., and Myron
Scott, Jr., adjoining farmers gave
testimony regarding property val
ues in that vicinity. No one of the
witnesses called the farm worth
over $1,000, and some put it at
$4,000.
The examination of c. v Ladd
revealed an imnortant bit of teStl-
mony as he has lived within two
miles of this farm for 20 years,
and should be d competent Judge
of its value and productivencss.
Mr.. Blais was placed on the wit
ness stand early in the afternoon
and his testimony was not finished
when the court rested at 5 o'clock,
and is being continued this morn
ing. Blais, also required the ser
vices of Ernest LamOthe as inter
prefer although he undertandS and
speaks a little English.
BlaiS testified that he was 43
years old, that he first saw the
petly farm Sept. 18th 1920 in com
pany with a Mr.. Duhamel, a notary
and real estate dealer of Stan
stead and his cousin, Ulrie Grenier
also of Stanstead. Blais said Petry
told him the farm contained 318
acres, that it kept 26 cows and
could keep 80 if he had help to
take care Of them, Ia or 1J young
stock and five hcrscs. PetrY also
told him that he had 80 loads of
hay in the barn, and, when asked
if they were not pretty big loads,
said that he had the best pair of
horses any where around and they
drew a ton to a load.
On second visit two days la
ter accompanied by his wife and
agreement was made, the purchase
price being $4,000. They returned
to their home in Canada, sold their
farm and in three returned and
took possession Oct. 9 1920, agree
ing to pay $4,000 by May 1921.
Blais testimony. as brought out
by his attorney +. d. Thompson.
showed that the property had been
misrcpreSented, that he had not
enough hay to winter 20 cows, that
they come out in the spring poor,
as he had not the money to buy
more hay, that the grain, most of
which had not been thrcShcd, fell
short several hundred bushels of
the amount stated and that the
sugar orchard was not as repre-
sentcd. Fully ten per cent of the
trees were in dying condition,
though the sugar tools were fairly
good. He also claimed misrepre-
sentation in acreage and condition
of the stable which was very wet
and namD at times
In .cross-examinaton by T.. A.
Cook who together with w, Ii.
Cleary represent Petry, Blais was
closely questioned, in an effort to
show that Blais had ample oppor-
tunity to inform himself of the
value of the farm and stock. Mr.
Cook had not finished when five
o'clock stuck and court was ad-
iourned for the day.
In answer to one of Mr.. Cook
questions as to why he accepted
Petry's word instead of making
sure, Blais replied that where he
come from "you believed a man
because what he told you was the
tuth."