National Republican., 1880-08-20
DEFRAUDBD oUror MEN PROPERTY.
The Charges Brought by AN old Lady Against
n Mnn who Gnlned Har Canflhence.

The Charges Broughtby an Old Lady Against
Man who Gained Her Confidence.
MIRA Elizabeth A. Houser, through her so.
licitors, Mcssrs. Darlington & Carrington, ves-
to-day filed = bill in equity against William
n. Keenan,, Margaret @. Byrne and Mary G..
Byrne to set aside decd. Tho complainant
states that she Is widow, soveuty.hv years
Of age, and since tho doath Of her husband,
which occurred many years ago, she has lived
in service aud by hard work and economy
saved $4,000, with which SHE purchased lot IL {,
square SO, and erected thereon house costing
81 900, making the total expenditure $4,000.
About two years ago slo became acquainted
with Keenan, who secured her confidence.
Shortly aftcrward she was taken sick, aud
having no relatives, Keenan, proposed to take
charge of hor, undertaking to furnish her a
home, board and all the comforts Of life and
after her demise to defray her funeral ex-
penscs, provided sho would execute decd Of
her property to como TO him after her DEATH
In her ignorance aui weak condition, and
trusting in Koouan, she agreed to execute the
paper. Shortly afterwatd Keenan, told her that
the property was eucumborod with taxes aud IL
was absolutely necessary to pay them at ouce
or tho property would bo lost Ho could OBJ
tain sufficient money for the purpose from
building association, which could be repaid In
small sums, and at his request she siguod some
papers for that purpose. She never received
Huy money, DuJ subsequently discovered
that the papers signed by her were
a bond aud deed of trust to secure
some 500 to tho Twelfth Building asso.
citation OF Georgetown. Keenan received the
money, but what disposition he made of IL
she docs not know. In August, 1879, Koeuan
presented the paper purportiDg to be the
transfer Of the property to him after her death,
and sigued under the previous conditions
made betweon them. Since the execution Of
the deed Keenan, has bccn collecting rent from
tho property and refuses to give her any por-
| ton of it, or in any manner to provide for her
wants. Notwithstanding her advanced ago
| and weakness she was compelled to go again
into service, and has been so employed until
| recently. Becoming suspicious OF Keenan, sho
consulted with friend, and upon an ox-
animation being made it was found
that the paper she had signed at the
request of Keenan,, dated August, 1870 is re-
corded in the land records of the District, and
ceived by her tho property was transferred to
him. Sho denies ever having received one
cent from Keenan,, and declares that her sig
nature to tho paper Was obtained through
false and frauduents representations
The land records further show shat in June,
| $780, keenan,, for q consideration of 81 600
| transferred the property 10 Margaret @. and
Mary G. Byrne, cousins Of Keenan,. The COM
pauaut says that the lass conveyance is but
q part Of the conspiracy between the defend
ants to cheat and delraud her our of her prop
crty, as the Byrnes had full knowledge OF the
| fraud pracliccd upon her by Kecnan and they
| paid nothing for the property.