The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1945-07-03

case VI TIC tWiSCPolQ-IOT lois,
believed to have reached salts
factory conclusion three months
ago, is still far from a happy
ending, Martin Chrysler, princi.
pal figure in the near-tragic
comedy of errors, revealed to-
day.
Chrysler has his lots back but,
so far, he's out a total of S178.35
in cash plus the pay for two
days work that he lost while
digging into the case.
The story of the Chryslers'
strange experience was revealed
exclusively in the South Macomb
News April 20, l945, when it be-
came known that despite the
fact that they had purchased two
lots, thanking each side Of their
home at 1928 Essex avenue, at
the 1910 state tax sale, they
found the same lots sold out
from under them in February,
1945, although they had meticu-
lousy paid all taxes each year
since the date of purchase.
RUDE AWAKENING
The hryslers discovered
their plight on April 16 when a
salesman for a real estate COM
pany called at their door and
asked Mrs. Chrysler if she would
be interested in purchasing the
lots on either side of her home
The astounded housewife gulp-
ed and then said, Wonderingly,
why, we already own them"
Investigation, however, showed
that although the Chryslers had
paid taxes for the years, l94l,
1912, 1943, 1914 and 1945, the
state had re-sold the property
without notifying them - be-
cause S5.18 in 1910 taxes (accum-
ulated prior TO the Chryslers'
purchase Of the lots) had not
been paid! o
The enterprising salesman,
who's firm had picked up the
lots at the 1945 "scavenger' sale
said he wantesl4$5OO for the lots
(His company had paid $85 for
them at the state sale.)
$50 COMPROMISE
BY dint of much persuasion,
and because they feared further
expenses, the Chryslers finally
compromised and paid $50 Ia
get back the lots they had al
ready owned!
Following publication Of the
circumstances, in the South Ma
comb News, William G.. Miller,
Macomb county treasurer (Who
was not in office when the 1910
transaction took place. steppeS
into the breach and volunteered
to "straighten the matter up"
Miller said that, obviously, the
real estate firm was unaware
tina the Chryslers believed their
title TO be unquestioned when
they, in l945, bought the lots
He said, however, that as mat.
ter of courtesy he had arranged
with the real estate firm to turn
back the Chryslers' money
(S15O) upon their surrender oil
the new title TO the property sc
that a new deed to the Chryslers
could be issued by the State
Thus, in effect, the Chryslers
would have received their pro.
perty-plus the second "pur-
chase" price-back in full with
the exception Of the $5.l8 owing
on 1910 taxes.
PREMATURE ENDING
In its May 3 edition, l945, un-
der the caption Happy Ending
TO Case of the Twice-Paid-For
Lots" the South Macomb News
revealed the supposed solution
to the problem.
Today, three months later
Chrysler-the father Of 49,
year old soldier on foreign serv.
ice-still hasn't received his
money back!
Here's how Chrysler tots up
his lass on the strange transac-
ton:
Second purchase price $3.50;
four dollars for attorneys fees
in executing the title; plus 81 .35
and l, respectively, for convey
ing the property twice.. e. first
TO himself from the real estate
firm, second from himself back
to the realty concern; and $10.48
in 1910 taxes that he doubts he
should ever have had to pay. In
addition he is out two days
wages Approximately $22) as a
result Of time-off he was requir-
ed to take in getting at the facts
of the case!
WOULD WARN OTHERS
The Chryshrs want their
money, quite naturally, but -
far more than TO protect them
selves-they say their primary
interest in bringing the matter
again to the attention of he public
is desire to 'warn other peo-
ple' so that they will nat be