Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 04.pdf/441

 The Green Bag, The next tale is a longer one : — [2] Petition to Shinomoto Hikojiro, Reeve of Koma Shire. The undersigned respectfully represents as follows : — Uhei, farmer of this village, has laid the follow ing matter before us. A certain Cho, the daughter of Jirozayemon, farmer in Kiwara village, was a farm-servant in the family of Asayemon, a fellowvillager, during the past year. On the 2d of this month this woman Cho, accompanied by her father, by Yazayemon, farmer of that village, and by Tomoyemon, farmer of this village, came to my house, and made the claim that my son Umakichi should marry her, inasmuch as their previous rela tions had made it honorable for him to do so. I asked my son if her assertions were true, but he denied it. I told them of my son's denial, and requested these persons to leave the house imme diately. But they did not do so; and in my opinion their object was merely to extort money from me by false assertions. On the 4th of this month these persons came again, and threatened me with violence if I did not yield to their de mands; but the neighbors intervened, and per suaded them to depart. On the 5th they came again. This time I went with the woman Cho to an inner room, and questioned her sharply, and was convinced that the demand was a trumped-up one. We are watching Cho day and night with four men; for, being a woman, she is more likely to trick us. But all this is very annoying, and I am obliged to beg you to summon these persons and order them to desist. My perturbation of mind incapacitates me from performing my duties as a farmer. I therefore make this respectful re quest. If you grant it, I shall be forever grateful. Tempo, 10th yr. 2d mo. (1840). Farmer Uhei, Complainant. Warrantor, Asayemon, Headman of Village. Countersigned, Ichikawa, Under-reeve of Sliire. [3] Petition for Dismissing a Case. In the matter of Cho, already reported, we beg to file the following petition for dismissing the case : — Cho, daughter of Jirozayemon, farmer of Kiwara village, asserted certain illicit relations with Uma kichi, the son of Uhei, in this village; and a de mand was made upon Uhei, who reported the

matter to your office, and you began to investigate the case. But the affair turns out not to be an important one, and the whole matter has arisen from some foolish statements made by the woman Cho. She has returned to her home, and all the parties are now satisfied with the result. This settlement has been brought about through your influence, and we are very grateful. We beg there fore that you will shut your eyes to the case, and not give it any further consideration. Tempo, 10th yr., 2d mo. (1840). Ichikawa, Under-reeve. Farmer Uhei, Complainant. Headman Asayemon, Warrantor. Farmer Jirozayemon, Defendant. Farmer Hichibei, His relative. Farmer Masabei, His company-chief. Headman Shirozayemon, Warrantor. Approved : Shinomoto Hikojiro, Reeve of Koma Shire. The next case exemplifies the principle of customary law that where a tenant or occu pant had continued in uninterrupted posses sion of a plot of land for a number of years (varying in different regions), his tenancy became perpetual, so long as his rent was duly paid (nearly the emphyteusis of Roman Law). [4]

Deed of Settlement as required by the Court.

A few years ago a dispute arose in regard to the possession of a piece of land in Gokurakuji village, producing fifteen bales of unhulled rice, the complainant being Sakurabayashi Samayemon, patron of the Ubata (Shinto) Temple, in Miyawara village, and the defendants being Gartei, chief priest of Anraku (Buddhist) Temple, and Kinrei of Zoko (Buddhist) Temple, in Gokurakuji village. This complaint was first brought before Sasaki Michitaro, Esquire, the late reeve, and the defen dant filed his answer; but the case was afterwards transferred to Morita Okataro, Esquire, the present reeve, and the investigation has been going on. In the mean time the persons mentioned below have mediated between the parties, and have brought about the following settlement, which we hereby communicate to the court : — The statement of the complainant was that the Shimmei Shinto-temple of Gokurakuji village was from time immemorial an appurtenance of Ubata