.MTA4MA.NzMwOTM

time that he paid this amount in lawyer fees, for drawing up quit claim deeds, warranty deeds, and deeds of trust &c to property which did not certainly belong to him, Prince Maksoutoff or the Russian fur Company; if it did not belong to the United States. The only possible disputants to the ownership of this property with the United States Government, according to the treaty, could be only some "individual" citizen, who held the title in fee simple prior to the date of treaty; all others were extinguished by the terms of the treaty. Yet a petty foggying lawyer a "ring" or two of other persons besides could be so deceived in these matters, in "good faith too", as to purchase from Prince Maksoutoff a greater part of the valuable buildings in Alaska. I often wondered why these parties, desiring to purchase homesteads "in good faith" in Alaska. did not at the time refer these questions of titles to the authorities at Washington? - they could have had my assistance in this matter.- This man's claim is, according to my judgement a fraudulent one ab initio (Signed) Jeff C Davis Col: 2 B Inf Supdt