Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-11
THE POMONA WAR.
Burr RecOnveys the Disputed
Land to TOnner.
Did DR.. Nichols Intend to Scoop
In All the Water?
The Developments and Talk Yester-
day at Pomona.
Some Talks Among the Citizens and
Members of the Committee-Dr.
Nichols Position In the Mat
ter-Gossip About 1t.

There was not so much surface excite
ment in Pomona yesterday afternoon to
the eyes Of HERALD reporter who cir
culated amongst the citizens OF that per-
turbed city, but there was determine
ton to probe the land business of p. G.
| Tonner to the bottom, which bodies little
good to him and those connected with
him. The people who are the leading
spirits in the popular movement which
resulted in the appointment of COM
mittee to investigate do not now counsel
any summary methods of dealing with
Tonner and his associates, thus follow
| ing out the conservative policy adopted
from the start. There are some bright
and experienced business men on the
committee, however, and they feel that
they have their neighbors with them to
| a man.
The statement secured by the commit
tee from Mrs. Lugarda A. de Palomares
has cleared the atmosphere very mate
rally, and centered the whole
wrath OF the community upon
Up. G. Tonner and DR.. Nichols,
president of the Pomona Land and Wa
ter company. Yesterday DIR. Nichols was
| not visible and not word of defense
could be traced to his lips. About s
O'Clock last night he drove rapidly along
Main street in buggy with his son, but
did not stop any place. He has not
been making himself conspicuous at all,
but unlike Tonner is still at Pc mona,
and has not run away from the volcano
which has been stirred up.
1 L. 1, vt0.x h ~.k1
talked were from various walks of life,
and 1t is astonishing with what una
nimity they agree upon the few leading
| facts in the matter. In the language of
| one of the committee:
"The attempt OF p. G. Tonner is very
plain to those who have investigated it,
and the statement by Mrs. Palomares
throws flood of light on his transac-
tions, so that we feel we can not only
clear up our land titles, but have
abundant proof for criminal indict-
ment against Topner-the relation of
| DIR. Nichols to the scheme is not SO
plain, but the people here generally be-
| lieve that he has had something to do
| with the matter.
| "It seems clear from what Mrs. Palo-
mares says that Tonner, acting as her
attorney and agent, misrepresented
| things to her so that he obtained an
| interest from her which che had not
dreamed of giving. He used her as he
| would, through her unfamiliarity with
English and business, and claiming a
two thirds interest in Gel tain lands
which had already been sold, he has.
without shadow of doubt, swindled
the purchasers by bleeding them for an
advance upon the original purchase
price to secure a release from his
trumped-up cloud on the titles"
| A business man with whom the re-
porter talked said that the interest
which DR.. Nichols has had in this mat
ter will yet be developed, SO that it will
develop deeplylaid plan by him to
obtain control of all the water supply
of Pomona.
II can explain what l mean in a few
Words" he continued. "Dr. Nichols
has controlling interest in the Pomona
Land and Water company, which sup
plies considerable section OF Pomona.
The land which Tonner transferred to
E. Burr, Jr., of Bridgeport, Conn.,, in
Guides the source of the water supply Of
the City Water company, the competitor
OF DR.. Nicholas company. Tonner
claimed two-thirds interest in this
land, and the man to whom twas trans
ferred was DR.. Nichols's brother-inlaw.
DR.. Nichols has some kind OF an under
standing with Tonner, without doubt,
because with this interest in the source
of the water supply of his rival he can
crush the City Water company and gain
monopoly of the business. But the
exposure has come in such shape that
DR.. Nicholas strength for operations has
been curtailed, and he will never be able
to make the scheme work. should not
be a bit surprised to see him forced to
resign from the presidency of the Po-
mona Land and Water company. There
will be meeting of the directors
shortly, and I have reason to believe
that this whole matter will be very
thoroughly investigated. DR.. Nichols
has not seen tit vet to make
any statements, and while every body
else had been talking he has been as
silent as the grave. The people here
are go much in earnest about stopping
this thing that they are coming over to
the City Water company and leaving
the other. The city company is being
besieged with orders for new connec-
tons. / have never seen Pomona citi-
zens az thoroughly united on any propo-
sition before"
In conversation with James X.
Todd. one of the committee of fifteen,
he said that they are now awaiting the
arrival from the east of the power of
attorney from Mr.. Burr which will en-
able the first step to be taken for clear
ing the theoretical cloud on the title of
the lands in question, a retransfer to p.
G. Tonner. In the meantime, he I'M
derstood that Mrs. Palomares's state
ment had been sent to the grand jury
and the law would be invoked to settle
the matter. He said the people of Po-
mona would not be satisfied with any
thing less than justice, but it would be
sought for in the proper channels. The
Committee has not disbanded, he said,
but is subject to the call OF the chair
man. and will. not disband for the
present.
From all these various sources it was
thus seen that Pomona property owners
will not be backward in carrying fight
with P. G. Tonner to the bitter end, and
that sensational developments may be
looked for at any time.
Yesterday deed was filed in the re-
corder's office in this city from Il. Burr,
Jr.. to P. @. Tonner, re-transfering the
land in controversy. 1t is an ordinary
bargain and sale deed, the consideration
being S.. The effect of this instrument
is that Mr.. Burr steps down and out,
and the cloud upon the title. if any. is
L IL. II