Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-09-17
Eos Auaeles aterala.
VIM. M. Lent Cowhided.

VIM. M. Lent, the California
stock operator and millionaire, who
is now a citizen of New York, was
cowhided on Montgomery street,
San Francisco, Wednesday after
noon, by James M. Classen. well
known broker of that city. The
parties were walking along the
street in earnest conversation,
when Classen suddenly seized Lent
and drawing rawhide, belabored
him over the face and head very
vigorously. Lent recovered him.
self and made for Classen, but be.
fore he could reach that individual
outsiders stepped in and separated
them. Mr.. Classen gave the fol-
lowing story of the causes that led
to the assault to q reporter:
Mr.. Classen said that he had been
in California thirty-one years, and
that the whipping which he had
administered to Mr.. Lent was the
first and only personal encounter
he had had In all that time. He and
Lent had been intimately aequaint-
ed as young men in New York, and
the acquaintance had been centiu-
ued here. AS, however, he had had
no business transactions with Lent
he had, up till 1857, no reason to
doubt that Lent was an honest and
honorable man. Lent was then
comparatively poor. Lent induced
him to 60, on May l,aS67, to Idaho
and move stamp mill twenty
miles upon mining claim owned
by George Hearst, and there to
work the mill in partnership. Lent
had then only $4,000, all of it In
mining stocks. Classen had SIS, 900,
also in mining stocks. AS the
market was then rising one, Lent
induced Classen to make the form
er the latter's atterney--in fact to
manage his stocks.
A POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Classen executed the power of at.
torney upon the express condition
that Lent was imm edlately to in
vest the money received from the
dividends and the sales of his
stocks In city real estate. Within
sixty days after Classen's departure
his stocks had doubled in value.
He shows letters from Lent to him,
one saying that Lent is about to
buy for Classen for over $4,000
property at the corner of Montgom-
cry and Summer streets, and an
other that he is going to buy the
Academy of Music property for
over $4,000. Classen was milling
In Idaho nine months, when the
work not paying, he stopped it and
came to San Francisco. He WAS
then informed by Lent that he was
80 nearly insolvent that IL Ciassen
insisted upon the payment of his
indebtedness to him which Clas-
cen estimated at Sl50000, as Lent
had sold all his stock-that he
(Lent) would be compelled to take
the benefit OF the bankruptcy lawe.
But Lent told Classen that il the
latter would release him from his
legal responsibility the debt would
then become q debt of honor, and
Lent would we'll pay Classen for it.
ADEBT OF HONOR.
Classen had very difficult Hob.
sons choice, and he executed the
release, though he knew, he said,
that the man whom be had loft
nine months previously with only
$40, 900 in mining stocks, bad, on
his rapid way to insolvency, pur.
chased Ia the name of his wife and
for $S5 900, the property at the
northeast corner OF Montgomery
and California streets. The mat jer
has thus remained until this last
return of Lent from New York,
where he now lives. AS Lent is |
now q millionaire, and is wealthier
than he ever was, Classen demand
cd the redemption of Lsnt's prom
ise and the payment Of the long.
standing debt. Lent evaded Cias-
sen as much as possible, but CIas-
sen was persistent. Yesterday
Classen was standing on the east
side of Montgomery street, near
California, when he saw Lent cross
disgonally over from the Nevada
block. Classen Joined him, and re-
newed his demand, knowing that
on the next day Lent was to start
on his return to New York.
THE WHIP APPLIED.
They walked to the corner and
then down the south side of Cali
fornia. Lent still avoided decis-
i've reply till the angered Classen
asked him, Silent, are you really
going back to New York without
paying me back any of that money
you stole from me?" Lent then
grew desperate enough to declare
that he did not owe Classen one
dollar legally, and he would never
Day one. Then Classen suddenly
switched Lent round to face him,
and drawing the rawhide, went to
work on bis face, head and neck.
Lent had cane, but Classen kept
him so busy shielding himself that
he could not use it Extensively. A
friend of Classen's rushed in and
bore him away from Lent, and
Lent did not disarm him. AS
soon as Lent was freed from Clas-
sen the former called frantically
for revolver with which to kill