Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1914 [PAGE 91]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1912]

PKOCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

89

Both these sets of plans referred to the Committee on Agriculture for consideration and report.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS WITH REFERENCE TO THE CONKLE PROPERTY.

President James presented also the following report from Dean O. A. Harker, legal counsel, with respect to the proceedings connected with the acquisition of the Conkle property, which was received to be* printed in the minutes.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, July 3, 1912.

To the President and the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois: As legal 'counsel for the University, I beg leave to submit the following:

REPORT CONCERNING THE PURCHASE OF THE CONKLE PROPERTY.

The property consists of the north 8 rods of the west 8 rods of lot 1, and the north 8 rods of lot 2, W. N. Goodwin's addition to Urbana, being bounded on the north by the Illinois Traction right-of-way and on the west by Mathews Avenue. Before the matter was reported to me an agreement had been entered into between the owners of the property and Mr. S. K. Hughes, acting for the University, whereby it was agreed that the University should pay to the owner the sum of $10,550 after the completion of condemnation proceedings. It was agreed that the property should be condemned, and that in the event of the jury fixing the value at more than the sum agreed upon there should be a remittitur entered which would serve to fix the value of $10,550, and that if it should be below that sum it should be raised an amount sufficient to reach that sum. I ascertained that one of the interested parties is confined in an insane asylum in Kansas, and for that reason the agreement, a t least so far as he was concerned, was not legal. After conferring with the attorney for the owners of the property, it was agreed that a bill for partition should be filed, and that the regular proceedings required by statute for the ascertainment of the interest of the parties should be pursued. The partition suit was commenced immediately and resulted in a decree declaring the interests of the parties. Commissioners were appointed to make a partition. The commissioners reported that the premises were not susceptible of partition and fixed the value a t $12,000. After the coming in of the report the court decreed a sale, which was advertised accordingly by master in chancery. I appeared upon the day of sale and bid on the property until I reached $11,001. The parties complainant bid $11,500, and it was knocked off a t that price. The parties were unable to comply with the requirements of the sale, and it was readvertised for sale for the 25th of June. Under .instruction from the president of your board, I bid on the property, and the same was struck off to the board for $10,800. I ascertained on the morning of the sale that an attachment writ had been levied upon the interest of William Conkle on a debt against him. I also ascertained that the sheriff of the. county had in his possession two executions from Cook County aggregating $422. Before making the bid, I informed the attorney for the property owners that the two executions must be satisfied and the attachment released. That was done. On the 29th of this month the master's sale was confirmed by the court, and a deed was executed to the Board of Trustees for the property, and the deed is now of record. The Board of Trustees have right of immediate possession. Respectfully submitted, O. A. HARKERJ Legal Counsel. The Executive Committee adjourned.

W. L. ABBOTT, A. P. GROUT,

C. M. MCCONN, Cleric.

^

FEED L. HATCH, Executive

Committee.

ADJOURNED MEETING OP JULY 13, 1912. Pursuant to the adjournment taken at the session of July 5, 1912, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois convened at the La Salle Hotel, in the city of Chicago, at 12:30 P.M., on Saturday, July 13, 1912. The following members were present: Mr. Abbott, Mrs. Bahrenburg, Mr. Grout, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Hoit. President James and Professor James M. White, supervising architect, were also in attendance. There being no quorum, the board adjourned. W. L. ABBOTT, President. C. M. MCCONN, Secretary.