Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 217, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1911 — QUARRELED OVER TREE [ARTICLE]

QUARRELED OVER TREE

IT HA» COST 50,000 RUPEES AND 1 A DOZEN LIVES. 1 <■ v - * fjjSk Long Series of Feuds Between Two Bengal Estates Ended by Calcutta Business Man. A certain mango tree, It appears. In growing up would not observe the boundary line between two Bengal estates and distributed its foliage and fruit Impartially over both. As a consequence the owners of the estates have spent about 50,000 rupees tn litigation, killed a dozen people and fought the bitterest armed fights. During the bearing season the tree was productive of many mangoes. The first quarrel seems to have started among the wooden folks of the two families, who insisted that the mangoes belonged to one, then the other. They even resorted to picking tbs mangoes at night until one party happened to catch the other poaching. A fight followed in which. It is said, two were killed. After this quiet reigned for some time, when the two principals met one day In a neighboring village and participated In a free-for-all fight over the Innocent tree. They were separated in a bloody condition and were fined by the police. Then followed a long series of feuds and battles covering a period of many years, during which the tree yielded Its luscious fruit to the one who happened to be cunning enough to pick it first Finally both sides established armed guards around the tree and kept watch on each other'night and day. This went on with occasional fights for several years. It was a case of one trying to wear the other one out Thousands of rupees were paid out for these special parties and fines, for burials of victims, court expenses and ammunition. It was not until Just recently that a prominent business man of Calcutta was able to settle the dispute. He asked the two land owners to Jointly deed the tree to him In return for many favors he had rendered both of them. This was finally done and he has caused a large cement circular wall to be erected about the tree, to which he has acquired full title and possession. The quarrel has not only been expensive and fatal, but has kppt a community In a constant state of hostility for many years. Any* one traveling In eastern Bengal can easily hear the story and visit the scene the feud, if sufficiently Interested In the case. The gentleman whose strategy saved the situation desires that his name should remain unknown.—Calcutta Englishman.