Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 4.djvu/126

 i12 FEDERAL REPORTER. �9. Same— Same— CoTTVETANCE.— A conveyance of "ail the right, tîtle, �and iaterest of the state" in certain lands, by virtue of a forfaiture for the non-payment of taxes, is not authorized by a statute directing a sale and conveyance of such lands. �10. Same— Same — lEfiEGULARiTiES — CuEATiVE AcT — Buch Irregularities cannot be cured by a subsequent act of the legislature, where the for- mer ownera still retain their title to the lands. �Slocum V. Œty of Boston, S. C. Mass. Oct. 1880. �11. Same— Same — Fedbeal Courts— State Courts. — It is the duty of the federal courts to follow the decisions of the state courts on stat^ lawsregulating proceedings in cases of tax sales. �Raymond v. LongwortJi, 14 How. 76, 78. �12. Same — Same — Construction. — Proceedings creating a forfeiture and sale of lands for the non-payment of taxes are to be atrictly con- strued. �2'olman v. HobU, 68 Me. 316. �Bradhury, Madigan e Wehh, for demandant �Albert W. Paine, for tenants. �Fox, D. J. This is a writ of entry for the reeovery of town- Bhip No. 8, in the third range, west from the east line of the state, in the county of Aroostook, containing 23,040 acres. On the first day of the first term the respondents filed a dis- claimer of certain specified lots, and pleaded the general issue as to the remainder, which disclaimer was accepted, and the pleadings joined and case submitted to the court for its de- cision. It is admitted that this township is, and always has been, a wild township, -without inhabitants, and not taxable in any city, town, or organized plantation, and that no news- paper was published in Aroostook county prior to Deeember, 1857. March 17, 1835, the legislature of Maine, by its resolve, declared that certain officers and soldiers of the revolutionary war, and widows of deceased officers and soldiers, should b® entitled to receive 200 acres of land, to be selected from cer- tain townships, one of which was letter D. The land agent was, by said resolve, directed to cause said townships to be surveyed into convenient lots of 200 acres each, and to execute a conveyance of one lot to each party who should prove hia claims, to the satisfaction of the land agent, on or before March 4, 1838. ����