Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1901 — Newton County Has Made Legal History. [ARTICLE]

Newton County Has Made Legal History.

Newton county has made history in congrerf, before the legislature and the courts. As one element of title, the'state taxed the Bright lands one cent per acre for road purposes. The acre tax was declared void. .Thus a principle of constitutional law was declared because of an attempt to tax water as land (27 Ind. 232) My first case in the Supreme Court arose over a contest as to the amount due on a note given to Jacob Markies, . swamp land commissioner, by George W. Spitler on August 8, 1856; wherein was established the Connecticut rule for counting interest. '(2B Ind. 488.) The law of escheats first asserted against the heirs of Major Andre was approved in this state in a case which originated in Newton county, (24 Ind. 252.) The denial of riparian rights in meandered lakes was asserted in a Beaver Lake case. (106 Ind. 435.) Congress was appealed to, and to v fid further trouble but claimed Beaver Lake to the state in 1873, from thence until 1889 the matter was much in evidence in every legislature. To William Darroch, and his brother, a member of the hduse from Allen county, much credit is due for quieting tbe title to said lands, and also quieting the spirits of the people. Acts 1889. page 355. — Judge S P. Thompson in Newton County Enterprise.