Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-21
A BIG DOODLE.
The Public Administrator
Files His Complaint
In the Matter of the Estate of
Daniel j. Harris,
Against DR.. A. s. Shorb, His Wife,
and Several Others.
He Alleges That They Conspired by I'm
due Influence to Cheat the Deceased
Out of Large Sum of Money.

Yesterday D. w. Field, administrator
of the estate of Daniel J. Harris, de-
ceased, filed in the superior court his
complaint against DR.. A. S. Shorb, Mat
tie L. Shorb, his wife, the Los Angeles
County bank and three other defend
ants, whose names are unknown to
plaintiff. The document recites that
Daniel J. Harris died intestate on the
18th of August, 1890, leaving large
estate, and that D. w. Field. the public
administrator, was by the court appointed
to administer upon decedent's estate.
The complaint further alleges that on
May 13, 1890. Harris placed in Matte L.
Shorb's hands $500, and on the 3rd OF July
$12SS.25 more, and plaintiff AYERS that
these sums were only placed in her
hands by the deceased as his agent and
merely for safe keeping, to be returned
whenever demanded. Mrs. Shorb de-
posted the money in the Los Angeles
County bank in her own name. In July
Harris deposited in bank in the
state of Washington $4,000, for which
he received certificates of deposit.
These, plaintiff claims, the deceased
also placed in the custody of Mrs. Shorb
merely for safe keeping. On the 18th
of August DR.. Shorb and wife placed the
certificates in the Los Angeles
County bank for collection, and
this sum, together with interest thereon
at the rate OF five per cent. per annum.
and placed it to the individual credit OF
DR.. A. S. Shorb in the same bank. Mr..
Field, on information and belief, alleges
that by so doing DR.. and Mrs. Shorb
acted wrongfully, unlawfully and fraud
ulently, in order to cheat, wrong and
defraud the'estate OF the deceased. The
administrator believes that said sum of
$4,000 is still on deposit in the Los An
geles County bank, but afiant does not
know the name of the person in whose
name it is deposited there. Defendants
Shorb claim that the sum of $500 and
$12S8.25, and the certificates of deposit
were gifts made them by Harris, but
the administrator claims that the de-
ceased never received any consideration,
nor did the Shorbs ever pay or give any
thing OF value to Harris on account of
these moneys. The plaintiff further al
leges that Harris was of unsound mind
and grievously i'll prior to and when
making the alleged gifts to DR.. and Mrs
Shorb. That he was in the same mental
and physical condition after the pre-
tended gift. Consequently, so Mr..
Field alleges, Harris was incompetent
to make any gifts whatsoever, and too
weak to resist the opportunities OF these
defendants, of which facts the Shorbs
were well aware. The complainant, on
information and belief, charges defen-
dants Shorb with conspiracy in having
entered into a scheme together whereby
they agreed that they would
take advantage of Harris illness, to
work themselves into his confidence and
place him under their control, so as to
induce him to make gifts to them and to
trust them with the management of his
business affairs, after which they would
convert to their own use all of the de-
ceased's money and property which they
might be able to thus convert.
In pursuance of this scheme, so the |
plaintiff is informed and believes, Mrs. |
Shorb assumed control OF deceased's |
household, and soon after, when DR.. |
Shorb began to visit him too, both had |
the direction OF Harris household until
the latter's death, all without compen-
sation and out of pretended sympathy. |
To further this plan, Mr.. Harris physi-
clan was dismissed and DR.. Shorb sub
stituted. According to the complaint,
the dOctor, in order to weaken deceased's |
mind and will power, supplied him with |
intoXicants of which he drank to excess.
The three defendants, whose names are
unknown, are alleged to be parties who
conspired with the Shorbs, to aid them
in concealing the 900 and interest
collected in Washington, so as to pre-
vent the plaintiff from obtaining posses
sion thereof, and those same unknown
defendants are claimed to be passing
the money from hand to hand, in order
to prevent plaintiff from ascertaining
where it is kept, or in which form it is
deposited or placed.
1t is also alleged that defendants
Shorb have in their possession papers,
documents, effects and certain personal
property of deceased and that those |
have not been turned over to the admin |
istrator, Notwithstanding his repeated |
demands.
Plaintiff demands that an account be |
taken of all dealings and transactions
had between the Shorbs and Harris
from May l, 1890, until the death of the |
latter; that they be ordered to pay into |
his hands the sum of $2S, 78S. .25, and all |
other amounts which shall appear due |
the estate by them, over and above the
mortgage for $4,000; that some proper
person be appointed receiver, to take
possession during the pendency OF this |
action of all said moneys and property.
In conclusion, an injunction is asked to |
prevent them from interfering, med
ding with, expending or appropriating
to their own use, any OF the property OF |
the deceased, now in their possession.
An attachment, for which plaintiff gave
a bond OF $1,000, was issued for the pa
pers, goods and chattels alleged to be in
defendants, the EShorbs, possession.
Judge Clark also issued an Injunction
against all OF the defendants, command |
ing them to refrain from disposing of
the property and effects OF said Daniel
]. Harris, deceased. The undertak king
given by Mr.. Field on this injunction is