The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-17
HALLS DEFALCATION
Said to BE Much Larger Than at
First Reported.
Singular Condition of the Baldwin Estate.
The Minor Heirs May Sue the Bonds
men-A Lucky Surety.

MARK my words, 1t will be nearer $500, 900
than 100000 when the full truth is known"
Such was the remark dropped yesterday
IN the hearing of a CALL reporter by we'll
known member of the San Francisco bar,
whose lovely home is not hundred miles
from the State University, while discussing
with friend the expose of John Chase
Hairs numerous embeZzlements.
Finding that the remark had gone further
than he intended the legal light became
quite reticent. but after some persuasion ad-
mltted that he had fears of a much larger
denclt In the Baldwin estate then had been
limited at he also limited that the minor
helrs may have some say in the matter be-
lore long, in which case some four or five
gentlemen not yet named in connection
with the affair may find themselves in
trouble.
SEARCHING THE RECORDS.
Taking the hint the reporter visited the
County Clerks office inmed ateiy after
ward. and with no little trouble hunted up
the records of the administration of the es-
tate Of Marvin A. Baldwin, deceased. A
careful examination of the papers showed
that MIR. Baldwin died intestate in Placer
County, California. June %, 1882, leaving
widow. Martha A. Baldwin, and three sons,
Harry, Arthur and Percival, aged respec-
lively IL, IL and q years. On June u, 1882
the widow filed petition for letters of adj
mlnlstration, III which the above facts are
Tecited as well as additional facts that the
deceased was resident of Arizona Terri
tory aud at the time of his death was pos
SesSed oil $4,000 in money on deposit in
eilS.fargo's and other banks III San
Francisco. No reference is made to any
other property.
The petitioner and her children were, at
the time, residents of Alameda County, and
| IN due course an order of court was made
| giving them family allowance of S125
per month out OF the estate during the ad-
| mlnlstratlOn.
>. On July 31st of the same year, Wendell
| EastOn, A. Silverberg ana +. A. Eliot were
appointed appraisers of the estate, but there
Is no record of their ever having made re-
| port A week later the Administrative filed
a bond In So, eco for the faithful perform
ance of her trust. with j. c. Hall, L.. Fl.
Bonestell, S. p. Hall, Joseph Scherer, Fred
| W. Moore and Ed Burrell as sureties The
hrSt named Is the gentleman now in trouble
while ,. Z. Hall is his father, who is re-
| ported to be quite wealthy.
WITHDREW FROM TIE BOND.
| On January 10, 1855, Bonestell withdrew
! from the bond, and Joseph Stherer. by
fresh undertaking, accepted the additional
| responsibility.
Beyond the payment of few claims
! against the estate, no other proceedings
! have since been had. There has been no
| distribution, and, consequently, the bonds
men are liable to the minor heiri.. for The
/ Misrepresentation of their inheritance. In
I this way the defaulter's father becomes liza
bIetO them to the extent of $4,000, Joseph
| Scheerer $4,000 Fred w. Moore $4,000
| and Ed Burrell $4,000.
| No record could be found in the Probate
| Court of any Arizona property belonging to
| the estate. But it is asserted by those who
claim to know, that the deceased owned
property In that Territory worth from $780,
| 600 to Sl50,000, which, with the $500 in
| bank here, was ntrusted by the administra-
| trlX to Halls management. This is one of
| the items relied upon to swell the amount of
the defalcatlon. What others there remay
not be known for some days
Inquiries at the District Attorneys office
| in the afternoon ELECTED the information
that the matter had not been brought to the
| attention Of the officials there. Similar in
quires at the Police office up to late hour
were likewise barren of results, no warrants
| having been issued
| Hall was at his Office during business
! hours yesterday, and was not under surveil-
| lance as had been reported