St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-17
DEMANDS HIS DUCATS
Allegations of Fraud Against
a Leading Real Estate
Firm.
Property Purchased for a
Syndicate Results in a
Law Suit.
Death Lurked at the Bottom
Of the Hill for a
Coaster.
Beat His Wife Until the
Neighbors Interfered for
Her Protection.

A suit was filed in the district court
late yesterday afternoon which appears
to be the initiative step to be taken by
a dozen others equally interested in the
transaction. 1t was that Of c. Robert
Schurman, of the state of Illinois,
against Bushnell & Bushnell, promi-
nent real estate firm Of this city. Plant
if claims that April 20, 1887, the defend
ants stated that they were peculiarly
situated in their business, and could in
vest certain amount OF plaintiff
money in such a way as to be
able to realize the principal
and a large profit out OF the
deal in which they should invest the
funds within one year. They agreed
what they would do with 1t in
particular, but that they would
remit the same to plaintiff one year
from that date with a large per cent OF
profit. Further representations indi-
cative of the high ahd influential posi-
ton defendants held in the real estate
market led the plaintiff to leave $1,000
with them. to be invested according to
the agreement. A short time after the
money had been so placed with the de-
PENDANTS, they invested the amount i'll
piece of property in block 2 of Hoyt'S
addition to st. Paul, with the funds of
eleven other persons to whom they had
made other or similar representations.
At the time of placing the $1,000 with
the defendants it was agreed by and
between plaintiff and defendant that
plaintiff should have a form of their
agreement and a receipt for his money.
This, however. the plaintiff claims has
never been rendered him, although
often demanded. The alleged and pre-
tended price paid for the property was
$4,000, one-third being paid cash as
defendants represented, and mortgage
was given upon the same for the bal
ance, by Randall F. Hurd, to whom the
property was decided Hurd, it was
represented, should hold the prop
erty for the so-called syndicate"
Ever since the spring of 1887
the plaintiff has been inquiring
into the deal and learns, as he claims,
the following details, which prompts
his action and which he sets up as a
special cause for the damages asked.
The property in question was owned at
the time of the alleged and pretended
purchase by Boston parties for whom
the defendants were agents. The de-
PENDANTS having the funds of the
twelve persons for investment, bought
the property from the Boston parties
for 500, 900, receiving commission from
such sale, which was made to and in the
name of Hurd. Then it is charged
the defendants made a pre-
tended deed back and forth
to Hurd for the consideration of $4,000,
and they represented that Hurd exc
cuted mortgage to the original own
ers, whom they named as being other
persons, for thirty odd thousand dol
lars on the balance of the transaction.
After while the interest on the mort
gage became due and demands were
made upon the members of the ''syndi-
cate" Assessments came floating in at
them and again demands were made
upon the interested ones" The plain
tiff states that after mature investlga-
ton, he verify believes and knows
that the property at the time
of the alleged purchase was
worth but $4,000 and that it is not
worth that now. He charges that the
defendants were personally interested
IN the matter. and that the purchase of
the property and the application of his
s., 0G0 were a fraud. He asks that his
interest in the property be annulled and
declared void and wrongfully, fraudu-
lently and unlawfully obtained, and
asks that his $1,000 and interest be re-
tured, and 1000 as damages for the in
jury suffered by the false representa-
ton Of the defendants.