The Swindle of the Polk County Farm

A peculiar and complicated case has been presented in the District Court by Captain W. H. Andrews against Augustus Elliott and Samuel G. Bailey. It is claimed by Andrews that Bailey approached him with the proposition to buy Elliott’s undivided half interest in a farm in Polk County, owned by Bailey and Elliott, to be subsequently transferred to Bailey by Andrews for $1,400. Bailey told Andrews that Elliott would not sell his interest in the farm to Bailey, and urged Andrews to buy Elliott out for him, agreeing to advance the necessary funds. Andrews made a trade with Elliott for the half of the Polk County farm, giving therefor two lots and houses in Gale’s addition, valued at $1,400, and undertaking to pay the balance in money. Bailey advanced $1,100, taking Andrews’ receipt therefor, which sum Andrews paid over to Elliott and received a deed to the Polk County land. Upon applying to Bailey to pay for the Elliott half of the Polk County farm, Andrews was told by that gentleman that he did not want the land. An investigation revealed the fact that the 160 acres belonging to Bailey and Elliott in Polk County are worth about $2 per acre. Andrews avers that Bailey and Elliott conspired together to defraud him of his property, and prays the court to order Elliott to deed the town lots back to him and pay costs and for damages.