Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-13

| as to the lanQ, except LnaJ OF MT. VIII
liams, was to be in such position that
on the deciding of the lands to the re-
epective parties by Mr.. Burr, could Sc
cure the condition in the deed that no
one should be allowed TO bore wells and
tunnels in such way as to take the
water elsewhere than to Pomona and
the valley Immediately surrounding !;
and if Mr.. Tonner's position was sound
in law, as other good lawyers assured
me it was, could have accomplished
that very object, or if the lands were
not decided to the respective parties by
Mr.. Burr, wells and tunnels for water
| could not be made, especially to be
taken off the land, without his consent.
OF course / understood perfectly well
that was taking my chances as to
whether the parties interested would
pay the $40 per acre or any other sum,
to get deed from Mr.. Burr. knew
was taking the chance that the parties
might institute suit and get the title
out of Mr.. Burr without paying any
thing, in which case would be out the
/ $40 per acre. In any event, did not
expect on settlement to get back any
thing more than my $40 per acre. did
not think that that was a great price to
pay to get those valuable lands clear.
Mr.. Tonner had been demanding from
$25 to $50 per acre, and did not think
| would be deemed "blackmailer" for
getting the lands into such hands that
they could be cleared for $40 per acre.
l certainly did not want to get and hold
any of the lands. disclaim that l had
any other intention than have herein
before set forth.
There are others than myself who
know that l was invited to be one OF a
number to buy the >interest which Mr..
Tonner now holds. / was assured by an
eminent San Francisco lawyer that there
was valid outstanding title to a two
thirds interest in those lands, and | was
told that there was good deal of money
in it. The company did not then own
the Loop tract, and 1 did not feel the
necessity of protecting the water bearing
lands which we have since acquired, and
said l was not in a position to take
part in such a scheme and that / would
not take part in it if l could. | certainly
never would have acquired that outstand-
ing interest for any speculative purpose,
whatever some may have thought or
still think. Tie idea was abhorrent to
me, even if the title was valid, as |
knew such a course would be scandal
ously oppressive to the people claiming
the lands.
l trust that there are some people who,
notwithstanding the rancorous attacks
to which have been subject, still be-
lieve my statement is not improbable
when / claim for myself the additional
motive in this transaction that l did
desire to protect the interests of the
people of this valley as we'll as the in
terests of the Pomona Land and Water
company. All the while fearing that
Mr.. Tonner had a valid legal title, l
was apprehensive that, determined in
his course, as he seemed to be, he might
transfer his interest to some unscrup-
ulous person who would insist on the
very last dollar, or the pound of flesh,
in case he should win the suit. | claim
for myself that l am not without feeling
of consideration and sympathy for my
neighbors. among whom / move every
day, and in the midst OF whom, in few
years, expect to die; and
especially, l think, l may safe
lv say, that my old neighbors in
Vermont, who have known me for fifty
years and more, and some of whom re-
side in California, will hardly believe
that in my old age | have turned black
mailer, robber and swindler. The in
terests of the Pomona Land and Water
company and my own private interests
are intimately identified with the the
prosperity of Pomona and this valley.
If this panic about titles shall injure
Pomona and this valley so that our pres
ent great prosperity shall be clouded,
NV interests and the interests of the
company will be clouded and injured
too. l am greatly interested in the COM
mon prosperity.
see | have made mistake in having
anything to do with Mr.. Tonner's claim.
| see also that | am subject to great
misapprehension in not making some
explanation to the committee that wait
ed upon me. But am very human and
the subject of like passions and errors
of my fellow-beings. | was called upon
under circumstances of pressure and ir-
ritation and | could not, under the cir
cumstances, have made an explanation
that could possibly have done me JUS
tice. Besides l did not then deem best
to say what | have since seen must be
said, when the people were in the right
frame of mind to receive it, Ii this
plain, truthful statement shall not be
deemed satisfactory, shall have to sub
NIT and bear in silence and regret a
wrong which cannot be remedied.
B. S. NICHOLS.
NICHOLS CoNFEsSEs Ills MISTAKE.
POMONA, Nov. 12.-[By the Associated
Press DIR. B. S. Nichols has written a
letter about the contested land claims
here. He admits his association with
Tonner in clouding titles, but says he
feared Tonner would sell to some I'M
scrupulous person, who would make it
hard on innocent people. He admits
that he paid $40 per acre to Tonnel, but
claims that he did it in his and the Po-
mona Land and Water company's inter-
ests.
Nichols says: II have made mis-
take in having anything to do with Ton
ner's claim"
The grand jury will commence inves-
tigating the case next Monday. Twenty
six subpmnas are out for witnesses from
here. The general belief is that the
cloud on the titles will be entirely
cleared soon.
THE CPTTZ CASE