The morning call., 1891-04-14
ACROSS THE BAY.
A Settlement of the Thomas Var
ney Estate Accounts.
Treasure-Trove Stories Still Current-The Mer-
rift Monument-BlackA Again Knocked Out.
No Orators in the City Council.

The settlement of the final account of the
executors of the estate Of Thomas Varney
came up before Judge Ellsworth yesterday
afternoon, and the estate was distributed to
the Trustees under the will-John Taylor,
7. 81. B. Varney and II. II. Pitcher Two
items in the account were changed by the
Court. One of these was that of attorneys
fees. The amount allowed by the executors
was S12, GEO. to be divided among FIVE attor-
neys. Judge Ellsworth cut it down to
$4,000, and in making his decision the Court
said he took into consideration the great
amount of Wor done by the attorneys on
account of the compromise secured with
Mrs. Grace Varney King. the adopted
daughter and by her own contest claimed
to be the Legitimate daughter of the tesla
tor, but he did mot think because the estate
was large and there were five attorneys
engaged they ought to be paid five
times the amount that would be paid
to one attorney" He admitted that
in additional numbers there might be more
wisdom. The suggestion to compromise at
$4,000 was not accepted. The amount OF
commissions under the law to the executors
was $500. The executors asked to be al
lowed $1,000 additional for extraordinary
services on account of the compromise and
the time expended by them from their bust
ness. The court made the allowance $500,
giving them each $500 additional The at
t0rneyS think the S12, 0O0 fee was not large.
considering that the estate consists OF half
a million dollars, but Judge Ellsworth is
Conservative in allowing ices against eS-
IateS. There was no contest over the fees,
but his Honor said the matter was in such
pnU1itinD that the heirs had phanpR
come in and protest. The most persuasive
pleas of DR.. Taylor, who was one of the in
terested counsel, had no apparent effect
upon Judge Ellsworth.
KEEPING Up THE REPORTS.
The fact that deeds 10 four more cheap
lots in North Oakland by the Bay less family
were put on record yesterday keeps the
treaSure-troYe stories atloat As Bayless is
not accessible, his story cannot be given.
Flora, the other alleged finder, will not
change from the last story told by him in
his letter. 1t was said yesterday that his
5000 ranch had increased to $50, 900, but
as in the first instance it cannot be located.
The story has helped the sensational papers
to fill up their columns, and has stirred up
the enmity of the numerous relatives of
once prominent man on both sides of the
bay, whose Integrity has been Questioned
in some of The stories published. The
amount OF money thus far paid out on the
property purchased would not indicate a
very large cache, and the original lottery
story as told By Flora still seems the most
probable, yet il is possible find may have
been made and that story invented 10 cover
it up.
a contract has been recorded to build
tomb to the memory of the late DR., Samuel
Merritt for SIS, 600. The sum of $4,000 was
set apart in The will for the purpose of l
monument etc. The remaining ST., 400 will
be used in 5eautfying the lot.
Nothing has been aSpertalQeu regarding
the body Of the man found near San Pablo.
and Of whom COroaer Curry wrote to the
Oakland Chief Of the Police.
AGAIN BEFORE THE SUPERVISORS.
The Piedmont Springs Hotel liquOr-li-
cense question came up again before tie
Alameda County Board of Supervisors yes
teTday, and Notwithstanding the testimony
against the house during the liquor regime
OF the present management, as offered by
the citizens Of the locality, the board granted
the petition. The contestants Immediately
filed petition before Judge Ellsworth for
writ OF prohibition, on the ground of the
excessive Juris dctlon of the Board Of super
visOrS, and an order was issued restraining
the Tax Collector from issuing the license
So Mr.. Black was k ocked out for time
longer, if not entirely, Just on the apparent
eve OF victory. Some of the friends OF 4.
Donnelly, MD, were surprised to see him
supporting the cause of license. He IS
building near Piedmont, aud with his wife
IS stopping up there.
Cupid Edgar has been spreading himself
for day uT less in making out as handsome
a marriage license as lie possibly can for his
Honor, Judge Ellsworth, who Will he mar
ried to Miss f. l.. Hobler on Friday. The
license is all ready, but will not be issued
Tor day or two
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
At the meeting of the City Council last
evening the franchise of T. {. Sessions, E.
ID nd 9TH for atA fri.
franchise from East Oakland over the
Eighlh-stTeet Bridge to Eighth and Broad
Way. was taken w and finally passed
This knocks out the Harry W. Meek ct al
franchise over portion of the same route.
The Council also rescnded the permit
oil warehouse. The bond of J. +. Caro-
theirs, Commissioner Of Public Works, was
fixed at $4,000, and that of Health Officer
Dunn at $4,000. The orators DO not seem to
be in the present Council, for great
amount OF business was transacted and the
Council adjourned at $3.50 o'clock in the
evening.
City Attorney johnson has given IL as
his opinion that Il resolution passed March
18th granting to Whittier, Fuller " Co.
privilege to erect aud maintain building
for the purpose of storing petroleum. was
not valid, because the Chief Engineer Of
the Fire Department, the Fire Wardens and
the majority of the Fire and Water Commit
tee of the City Council did not recommend
the granting of the permission as required
by an ordinance adopted May 10, 1890.
At the meeting OF the Board of Education
J. c. Coolidge was appointed Census Mar
shall James P. II. Dunn, recently elected
Health Officer, resigned his position as
teacher in the evening school and Mr.. Colby
was elected to fill the vacancy. Miss Dol
man was elected to a position in the even
ing school,
Margaret Morrissey yesterday sued for
divorce from Richard MorrisSey.
GOSPEL TEMPERANCE UNION.
A Central Gospel Temperance Union was
organized at the First Methodist Church
Sunday, with the following officers: Presi-
dent, Charles G. Reed; Nice-Prpsdent,
Professor S. p. Meade; Secretary, Mrs Nj.
G. c. Edholm; Assistant Secretary, Mrs.
Clifford; Treasurer, II. L. Chamberlain;
Chorister. Mrs. Joseph Humphrey; Assist
ant Chorister, Mrs Ii. L. Chamberlain Ex-
ecutive CUmmittee-Ge0rge Babc0ck. d. c.
TAYLOR, Mrs. James Stratton, Mrs. NJ. b.
Eddy and 2. McEirOy.
Rev. G. W. Sweeney will deliver his lee
ture, Five Weeks in Palestine Tents. Sad
dies and Boots: What | saw and how did
it, in the Eighth-ayenue d. Il. Church, this
evening. a few selections by choice
orchestra will precede the lecture.
City Attorney James A. Johnson has
given it as his opinion that the City Council
Is not authorized to grant franchise for a
railroad whose cars would be propelled by
vapor, as asked for by the promoters of the
Hoskins petition for franchise around
Lake Merritt.
The San Leandro Town Trustees have
added their petition TO that of the Trustees
OF Haywards asking the Oakland City Coun-
ell to pass the franchise of Harry w. Meek
ct al tor an electric road from Fruitvale ave-
nue. to Eighth street ard Broadway, to con-
meet with the outside franchise.