476 



Q, The one that is before Judge Hand now; in every instance of 

 these actions after the action -was commenced, you have made appli- 

 cation to cancel the State title, and have succeeded in every one 

 but one ? 



A. Yes, sir; there was a law passed in 1885 by the Legislature 

 giving people six months to file with the Comptroller's office applica- 

 tions showing irregularities in assessment-rolls, or a cancellation of 

 sales; for instance, we would find in any of these back towns where 

 the assessors had completed their assessment- rolls prior to the third 

 Tuesday in August; the statute held it was an illegal assessment 

 an*d where any of these lands were sold for any of these taxes it was 

 an illegal sale and could be cancelled; but after the tenth of Decem- 

 ber, 1885, that law legalized it and we couldn't go back of it, and 

 these applications were all filled prior to the tenth of December, 1885, 

 and the Comptroller acted upon them and cancelled them in every 

 case in townships 9 and 10. 



Q. That was not in reference to the application filed only last 

 year for cancellation upon the ground of occupancy, was it? 



A. Was there one made? 



Q. I ask that? 



A. I ask you. 



Q. Tou said you made an application on last season for a cancel- 

 lation ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. You have spoken of a law in which applications must be filed 

 before the 10th of December, 1885? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Haven't you made application since that time for cancellation of 

 tax titles upon the ground of occupancy? 



• A. No, sir; upon the payment of a highway tax and the proof is 

 furnished to the Comptroller's office. 



Q. Haven't you made more than one application since the 10th of 

 December, 1885, for cancellation at the Comptroller's office ? 



A. Possibly, I don't think so. 



Redirect examination,: 

 By Mr. Adams : 



Q. There were some settlements before 1886, lots 176, 177 and 84, 

 $150; what explanation is there to that? 



A. I settled with the State agent and paid that amount of money 

 and since the sales have been canceled; they have $150 of my money 

 that don't belong to them. 



