United States v. Hill

LEWIS, District Judge.

This is a suit brought to obtain a decree cancelling patent to 320 acres of coal land on the ground that the same was obtained by fraudulent practices of the entrymen. The answer denies the fraud and sets up the defense of a bona fide purchaser for value. There is some criticism made on both sides, in the briefs submitted after final hearing, of the pleadings, — the defendant claiming /that the proof does mot make out the case stated in the bill, and the complainants that the answer does not contain all of the elements necessary to constitute a defense under the claim of…