Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-11-19
OUR SAN FRANCISCO LETTER.
SAN FaANcIgco. November II, 1870.

!
Gowan, whom every supposed was dead
long ago, has turned up in that city at his old
game of ballot-box stufing-or rather at the
modern improvement on that old game-repeat-
| ing. His expulsion by the Vigilance Committee
and the long hunt he led his pursuers through
! the southern counties, will still be fresh in the
recollection of many readers. Charles P. Duane
and MCGOWAN must be nearly the last survivors
of the evil doers who were expatriated by that
celebrated organization. 1t would be interesting
! to know what became of them all. As the Alta
is about to republish John r. Ridges story,
q The Life Of Joaquin" in Sunday morning in
stallments it would not be out of place to devote
few chapters to the events that laid the basis
of its own prosperity. Duane is always an OBJ
ject of curiosity on the streets. He partially
paralyzed some years ago and walks with a stick,
but is still a well preserved good-looking man.
Nearly his whole time is now spent in litigation.
There is hardly a session of the Law Courts that
does not have a case of &C. p Duane Plaintiff,
u.s. Somebody Defendant or % Somebody Plain
tiff, Us. c. P Duane, Defendant" lie is largely
interested in the disputed lands on the Potrero,
and once in about every six months gets mixed
up in the squatter riots that periodically occur
in that locality.
PoTRERo LAND DIFFICULTY.
These Potrero land difficulties that have fur
nished so many exciting and murderous items
for daily journals, likely to be less fruit
full of violent deeds in the future than they have
been in the past. The owners of Potrero prop
erty formed leauge short time ago for mu-
tual protection and are so determined to resist
all lawless attempts at dispossesson, that it is
not probable they will be interfered with. The
formation of similar associations for the purpose
of making common cause against
BLACK MAIL TITLES.
has also had wonderful effect in frightening off
the adyenturers who make speciality of that
business. There arc still plenty of pettifogging
lawyers and moneyed land sharks ready to COM
mence suit against any property that has the
misfortune to be saddled with a dubious titlo, or
to take advantage of any legal quibbe that
be scented out, but the great drawback to the
success of these schemes is that they no longer
| pay. Property owners prefer to pay ten
dollars in defeating the claiments rather than
pay five to tonciliate them. An instance in
point is
THE FREDERICK ESTATE SUIT.
Two women arrived here about year ago
from Australia who claim to be heirs of the late
Senator Brodcrick. Not content with setting up
title to the land which he owned at the time
of his death, they also served summonses upon
those who had purchased real estate from him
during his life to which they could not possibly
have the shadow of right. As soon as action
had been commenced, came an offer to compro-
mise. If | recollect rightly they would be con-
tent with five per cent. of the assessed value of
owners at once formed a leauge for the purpose
Of contesting the claim. The late A. p Critten-
den was engaged to defend the suit and after a
careful examination, gave an opinion that the
plaintiff had neither legal nor equitable title to
the property. The case is still pending but the
Australian heirs are very anxious for an adjust
ment on almost any terms.
MR.. cRITTENDEN's MURDER
You will have already heard of the murder of
the Hon. A. p. Crittenden-the gentleman men
toned above-on the Oakland ferry boat by the
bad and notorious Laura Fair. The immoral in
timacy existing between him and his assassin,
had long been a matter of notoriety The ac-
quointance was first formed at Virginia City in
1864 when Mrs. Fair was on trial for the crime
of shooting her pardner because he had the pa
trotc audacty to hoist the natioual flag over
the Tahoe House Mr. Crittenden's political
sympathies being in accordance with that of the
prisoners, he volunteered to act as Counsel for
her defense and with such success that she was
at once acquitted. From that time his relation
with her has been open and acknowledged but
he had latterly been desrous of severing the
connection, and with that object in view, made
a proposition to allow her very liberal annuity
| on condition that she would leave the State
This offer was refused and she continued to
harrass her victim both at his residence and of
! fee. At length, learning that he intended to
rejon his wife, she determined to prevent it by
his murder, and succeeded too well in her re-
vengeful purpose. Mrs Fairs career ON this
COast-a career that has been marked by vio-
! lence passion, and defiance of civil and moral
! LAWS so well known that it is unnecessary to
rccapitulate it. She has been the direct cause
OF sending four men to bloody graves, and now
climaxes a bad life by "murder most foul"
ANOTHER BANK IN DIFFICULTY.
The City Bank which two or three weeks ago
considerably offered the creditors of the Moon
ey concern dollar for dollar if they would agree
TO consolidate the two institutions apparently
acted on the principle that the amalgamation of
two bankrupt bodies would create hourishng
business. To no ones surprise Except the de-
postor's) this offer has been followed by an Of
fetal announcement that the bank is in delicate
position, and that an extension of six months
time will be required from depositors in order