432 



Q. You procured affidavits to show the land was occupied, and 

 through the occupancy the title of the original owners was not cut 

 off? 



A. Yes; did not procure any affidavits in the $30,000 transaction; 

 before we got to that we found the affidavit would do no good. 



Q. In regard to the suit, to go back to the first case, did you carry 

 out the deal with Garmon, or did you fight the suit out ? 



A. We fought the suit out. 



Q. And the suit is still pending ? 



A. The suit is . still pending; there is further to that, in this 

 southeast quarter the State acquired title to it from the 1887 tax 

 sale; through Garmon, or through the forest commission they served 

 a notice on me as occupant, and from the 1881 tax sale I redeemed 

 it and paid about $1,365 to the Comptroller's office ; in the 1885 sale they 

 served another notice on me as occupant; I redeemed it and paid $1,200 

 to the Comptroller's office; the same occupancy has existed for the 

 last twenty years, was proven in the suit aDd the Comptroller has 

 told me repeatedly he would willingly grant the redemption and have 

 the suit thrown out; but under some deal with him and the forest 

 commission he didn't care, nor could not or did not want to meddle 

 with their business while it was in suit.- 



Q. That is in substance the three deals which you had with Garmon 

 with regard to the various lands ? 



A. Yes. 



Q. Was there any other tract of land in Franklin county that you 

 purchased and ( afterwards discovered a defect in title through the 

 forclosure of some bonds in the State Engineer's office ? 



A. Yes, sir; I had a certified search from the Comptroller's office 

 showing the title to lot 41, township 12, Richard's survey to be perfect. 



Q. This is the fourth transaction now ? 



A. Essex county. 



Q. You had this Comptroller's search showing title was a good title? 



A. Yes, sir; perfect title. 



Q. Did you purchase the lands ? 



A. I also got a search from the Essex county clerk's office, the two 

 searches showed the title to be perfect. 



Q. In whom was the title under these searches ? 



A Appeared to be in the State. 



Q. You bought of the State ? 



A. No, sir; I bought of individuals. 



Q. Had ihey bought of the State, did they hold State deeds under 

 this search ? 



