Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-01-20
---------------'--7----
NRA. COLTONsH nCor.


MIS-. CULToS's scar.
nGlsaory 81 the Asae0ps - Dsssaoe
her Uas q Sles 0ssssnd's share 10
the Cesssal Pael0e-Wbas she kes.
tiausssn viii Be.
A San Francisco correspondent OF the
a. Louis Globe Democrat says tie way
the Huntington Cotton letters saw the
light was thus
!" Coltori's death vas very sudden. II
when all the Central Pacific
magnates were away from the cisy.
His widow AZ once took charge oil BIS
private papers, which included Q large
number Of letters from Huntington and
A few from Charles Croker. when
Colton's estate came TO DO settled up
the Central Pacific managers surprised
the widow by declaring that her bus
band WAS dsfaulter to large amount,
and tn Il il all his debts were paid she
would have nothing left. She naturally
doubted this, al Cotton had pat good
deal of money into the road, and had
also given it his services for several
years. So she appointed q friend
10 90 over the railroad accounts
and ascertain the truth OF the
The friend selected was
N. Wilson, a prominent lawyer.
Wilson could make nothing out OF the
tanQle of the railroad books: he got no
clear idea of the relation Of the West
eru Development Company, of which
Cotton was President, to the main
roads; he was forced to accept all his
facts from the railroad employees. Bat
With what he learned he game to the
that the railroad company
ought 70 give the widow a round million
dollars and Gall the account square.
The railroad managers objected. They
threatened that If suit Vas begun by the
widow thew would expose the disho aesty
of Cotton. Finally both sides agreed to
leave the work Of oOmpromise TO Lloyd
lewis, tho Manager Of Wells, Fargo q
Co.'S express, and one of the keenest
business men on the coast. Tevis de.
voted some time TO An examination OF
the matter, and his judgment vas
that the railroad compromise should
be- accepted. Mrs. Cotton held
bonds and stocks valued at
S2,OOO,000. These che surrendered, and
IN exchange vas to have 20 shares OF
Southern Pacific, which the company
value at $50 share. on the pr0visO that
they were not TO 10 sold for ten years
she simply drawing the interest On
them. But she did not get all the bonds
fifty being given to lewis for his own
services in bringing abont the compro-
IN se-rather fat fee fer even such dis
agree lble work. The widow was evi.
IDENTITY not content with this arrange
ment, but it was only recently that she
decided to have the matter dug up and
q decision rendered In the courts wheth.
or she had been fairly treated by tbs
railroad millionaires. SO q suit Wal
brought against Stanford, Huntington
Croaker, Of al, and tho trial BY common
consent was transferred to the httl,
town of Santa koea, In SOnoma county
and tho decision will rest with JudR,
Jackson Temple, man of singularl,
impartial mind, who gained reputa
ton by his decision in the IA.
mous debris CASE about u yea
ago. TIE case has been on tria
nov for more than fortnight, tn,
abiest lawyers on the ooast being repre-
ssnted. The railroad, in spite Of its in
genious lawyers, has suffered severely
for the facts brought out show that Mrs
Cotton was not treated fairly. The
most striking fact extortod FROM unwil
ling Witnesses was that six months afte
the settlement With Mrs. Cotton, tn,
company was called ON to make a sim
liar settlement with Mira. Hopkins
whose husband had died suddenly worr
out by exoe ssive work. The securities
such A. Rocky Mountain Coal Company
Western Development, and other,
which the railroad managers had place.
ON Mrs. COlton's account as having NJ
market value. were put down ON Mrs
Hopkins schedule six months after, ant
In the same year, at from Is 10 IS cent
on the dollar. This would not repre-
sent very much for a few shares, bu
whom Cotton held tn ,usands of shafs
the result vas very material loas to / Il
heirs. The evidence has also shoe
that several Of tho charges Of defalca
dimsy, vouchers having been discovered
for payments Vii ID Il was alleged b,
had never made, but had pocketed tn,
proceeds. Still, there 10 no question b.
was indebted ~ the company, but NO
to the extent that they claimed.
Huntlngton's pet scheme was 10 con
ccal the intimate connections bet eer
the Central and Southern Pacific. ans
trv aud demonstrate that tho Southern
road would bs oOmpstinR line and 4
great advantage TO the people of Oh,
Pacific Coast. He also coolly discusses
she probable cost Of the purchase Of tn,
vote Of ths Arixoaa Legislature for Oh,
approval OF their lsud grant and othel
schemes Ia that Territory. He first o.
Inmates that the virtuous Arixonisnl
may be bought for $4,000, but finally
After much discussion, he comes to ths
conclusion hat they are q poor, hungry
loe, and that 5000 will be ample to sat
isfy their demands.
IL II the opinion Of competent Law
yefs Who are familiar with Judge
Tsmple's decisions. that be will ave
the widow \ very fair sum. Shs ID
bound 10 make out ~ strong q case "A
poesible. for she hates Crocker and
bears no lsve 70 the other members OF
the Central Pacific triumvirate. She
ilvca directly across the street from
Crecker, In . lar.e mansion. built in
the classical style, and surrounded by
. high iron fence, the palin2s being
made in imitation Of spears and the
peees OF the Roman fasoes. The eject
whom the bAtsle-axes Of the fasoss and
the tips OF the spears are gildel 10 very
nne. The houss. unlike its nsishb ors,
10 only two stories high, has none of
the bulbous bay windows or other
gsudy architectural devices which spoil
20 many Of the costly palaces on Nob
hull. II 10 simple, severe and rich in il
eject the houas which all select a. the
hAndsomest on this hill. She lives
there With her only daughter, Who mar.
ried Srth Cook. . mining millionaire.
and Who 10 now widow, With an I'm.
settled estate which promises soon TO
be dragged into the co0rta, ~ the bro
Their Vt the dead man claims t5O0, 600
more than the widow 10 dispoeEd 70
aliow or the the probate Judge 10 grant.
aorEA ARR1VAlA
NEW ENGLAND.