Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-21
A Big Damage Suit.

Icopyighi, 1883, the California Associdted Press.l
STOCKTON, January 20th.-Mrs Sarah A.
McCurdy to-day sued August Muerter, a
rich Stockton attorney for $50, 900 damages,
and alleges that while employed as her at
torney in the estate of her deceased hus-
band, Muenter Joined with a holder of
mortgage to cheat her out of her property.
The estate, including 5000, property of
her own, was worth $4,000, and part of it
was mortgaged for 1000. The complaint
alleges that Muenter induced her to deed
away her own property, without remuner
alton, and drew a complaint for the mort
gagee foreclosing on the mortgage, and
drew an answer for her. acknowledging
everything. That he kept the truth from
her for the purpose of consummating his
fraudulent designs; tnat in the complaint
drawn against the estate he prayed that
$500 be gwen the mOrtgage-holder's nomi-
nal attorney who did nothing but sign bis
name to the complaint drawn by Muenter;
that the mortgage-holder drew fees from
the estate in foreclosure, and with Muent-
ers knowledge, withheld from her the sur
plus of the sale; that Muenter, while her
attorney, was secretly acting as the mort
gagee's legal adviser for the purpose of
forcing the estate into a foreclosure sale in
order that the mortgage might buy it
cheap, and that by reason of his fraudu-
lent acts she was cheated out of her prop
erty, and was moreover put to great ex-
pense and trouble in recovering portion
of it.
This is the case, for commenting on
which, the Mail is charged with criminal
libel in saying that Muenter ought to be
disbarred.
Completely Ice-Bound.
lCopyigAt 1885, by the California associated Press
ASTORIA (Or.), January 2oth.-The steam
ships Columbia and Walla Walla left here
this morning, endeavoring to force pas
sage through the ice to Portland. The Co.
lumbia river is frozen solid from Portland
to Cathlamet, twenty miles above Astoria
The steamship Oregon is frozen in at Port
land. River navigation has been sus-
pended nearly two weeks, and Astoria is
completely locked out from inland commu-
nication, no mails having been received or
dispatched during that time. Vessels ar
rive from sea without delay and anchor
daily in Astoria harbor. Thirteen grain
ships are blocked by the ice. A railroad to
Astoria would save this heavy expense and
delay TO shipping, and prevent the stagna-
ton local trade and obstruction to COM
merce. 1t is confidently expected that this
freeze. up will hasten the construction of
such road before another year. Reports
received this evening state that the Colum-
Ola dllu w dtid w nave OAAAS AOoShCd
Westport, thirty miles above here.
A Question of Fees.
SAN Francisco, January 20th.-A letter
has been received by United States At
torney Carey from Attorney General Gar
land, in which the latter disasrees with
the recent decision of Judges Sawyer and
Sabin as TO the amount to be charged in
habeas corpus cases. He holds that the
fee should be SIS. and that 81 in each case,
which vas retained by Clerk Sawyer. is
due to the Government. Judge Sawyer
decided in the test case that the proper tee
was SIi. and the balance should be re-
turned to the petitioner. Judge Hoffman
states that IS between the instructions of
the Attorne5- General and the decree of the
United States Circuit Court, Clerk Sawyer
must necessarily obey the mandates of the
latter, until reversed by higher tribunal.
Accidentally Drowned.
fc.pyigat. 1883. by the California A,sociaed fressl
REDWOOD CRY, January 2Oth.--A young
man at work on the pipe line being laid
between Ravenswood and Calaveras creek.
slinped from barge and was drowned this
a1ternoon, The body was recovered and
nrore TO be-that of E. j. Doyle, aged 20.
-, American. His mother resides IN
San Francisco, to which place the remains
vii be sent Tomorrow. The c2Soner's