Land Conspiracy - 1878

About the middle of August, 1878, the little town of Beatrice was thrown into

feverish excitement over the discovery of a conspiracy formed by a few of

its respected and honored citizens.  Early in the organization of the town, the

Mayor had the power to grant to actual occupants who had put at least

twenty dollars worth of improvement on any lot, a title to the same.  This had,

however, gone out of force in May, 1875.

The 17th of August, Mayor Hale had a large number of the Mayor's deeds

printed at the Express Office.  Mr. Hale issued to several prominent

citizens, about two hundred and fifty, deeds of the most valuable lots in

Beatrice.  The discovery was made when twenty-six of them were filed for

record in the Clerk's office.  He did not record them, as the fees were

not paid.  Public indignation ran high, and many were fearful of fatal results.

But the conspirators pursued the better course when they were discovered.

A citizens meeting was called to convene at the court house.  Here all deeds

were read over by one of the citizens, after which a motion to effect that the

Mayor write the word "cancelled" across the face of each deed and sign

with his official signature, was carried, and complied with by Mr. Hale at once.

The City Counsil was requested to meet at once, after which it was moved

that Mayor Hale and City Clerk Bates resign their positions of honor and

trust.  The former wrote out his resignation on the spot, but the young Clerk

was not to be found.  But the affair suddenly stopped, and these men are

left the consoling legacy of living with a burden of regret for their fatal public

error.