The morning call., 1891-11-26
INTERESTING LAWSUIT.
Involving a Large Sum and the
Sanity of the Plaintiff.

A very interesting suit was tried be-
fore Mr.. Justice Crease and special jury in
the Supreme Court. 1t involves a sun of
$4,000 and the sanity of the plaintiff. The
case is that Of Harper vs.. Cameron. and be-
ing one Of great importance attracted con-
siderable attention.
Hon. A. \. Richards, Q. c., and E. Y.
Bodwell, instructed by Lindley Crease. ap-
peared for plaintiff, and Charles Wilson and
l.. G. MePhillipps for defendant, Mr.. Bod
we'll opened the case for the prosecution.
He explained that in December, 1888, John
Cameron sued Thaddeus Harper on a
promissory note and obtained judgment for
$4,000 and costs.
Harper. by his next friend Harper being
of unsound mind, then brought this action
to set aside said Judgment and all proceed
ings under 1t, aud after eleven days trial
the jury Brought in verdict for plaintiff
and found that Harper was of unsound
mind The result of the verdict will be that
sales OF some Is, 900 acres Of valuable land
and large amount of personals property
made under the judgment in the Cameron
suit will be set aside; besides, The court in
British Columbia being one OF general iuris-
Glctlon may have very decided effect on
one of the large land cases of California,
viz the suit of Thaddeus Harper against
the legal representatives OF Thomas Hill
uItIu, well Known rs one OIL the pioneer
caitiemen of this Safe, fer years partner
OF William Dunphy, the millionaire butcher,
farmer and cattle-raiser.
The legal representatives of Charles Nc
Laughlin, deceased, are J. G. James of San
Francisco tPresident OF the Fresno Loan
and capitalist of Fresno) and w. w. Davis
OF Oakland. Harper commenced his suit 10
the Superior Court of Fresno County in
June, 1884. and within few days thereof
was kicked on the head Ivy vicious horse
and lost the use OF his reason. Four of the
most prominent physicians in British
Columbia testified at the late trial that
Harper was insane from the accident. The
physicians who testified in British Column
bia say that Harper prior to his injury was
sharp. shrewd man and considered one Of
the most honorable and successful business
men on the Coast. Since his injury he has
confined himself to British Columbia, and
some very interesting matters will have to
be settled by the courts of that province,
since his transactions have been on a large
scale, running into the hundreds of thou
sands of dollars.
The case above mentioned commenced at
Fresno, June, 1884, involves the title to
about LOCO acres of valuable land in Fresno
county. The suit has never been brought
to trial, although being vigorously pushed
now. Harper claims in the Fresno suit the
title to one-half of the land and lien on
the other half for his balance of excess of
Cdpiiai pau iuLo tie partnership Oh dllQreth
81 Harper.
Harper is cousin OF the famous General
Stonewail Jackson, about 60 years OF age a
man Of wonderful physique. born and raised
on the headwaters OF the Potomac in the
mountains of Virginia, and well adapted to
| endure the hardships Of the early pioneers
OF California, to which State he einigrated
! at an early age and went to mining. Being
successful he then b ,nght farm in Santa
Clara County, improved aud sold IL, and
then went into the commission business in
| San francisco just in time to be burned out
by tue great fire. He then went back to the
mines, made money again and then went
into the lumber and cattle business. In the
early sixties British Columbia opened a new
field for the hardy, enterprising man. TO
which place he went and became engaged in
numbering milling, mining and cattle-rais-
ing, and was very successful. Having ac-
eumuiated some $500, 900 he commenced
l0aping money and purchasing land in
British Columbia and California.
Like many OF the pioneers, whose energy
and pluck have developed the resources Of
the Golden West, he is tot day Old and infirm,
his reason at best seriously impaired, but
possesses spirit that even in hfirmity can
not be controlled. and is determined to fight
for his rights against the odds of influence,
ability and wealth.-The Victoria Coionist,
Victoria, b. G.