Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-26
JUDGE M'MNLEYs LEVEL HEAD
He Squelches Parents Wishing
to Evade Their Duty.
Yesterdays Happenings in the Vari-
ous Law Courts.
Harry Greenfield to Stay at Home-A
Suit AgRinst the Taxpayers' Union
AnAIfalfa Case--A Compli-
Gated Judgment.

1t is getting to be quite fad these
days for people to go before the courts
and attempt to get their children into
the Whittier reform school. 1t is a
lamentable fact that there are parents
in Los Angeles who, rather than take
the necessary trouble to control their
offspring, do not find much trouble in
gaining their own consent to turn
boys and girls over to the
state. 1t may sound like q
cold-blooded proposition when put in
black and white, but there seems to be
no other inference to be drawn from
several cases which have happened re-
Gently.
There was q case yesterday before
Judge Mckinley which is in point, and
which the court very properly regarded
as an improper abdication of the mother
in favor of the state.
The complaint was sworn out by
Humane Officer Wright, who has been
engaged in the work of saving young
people OF both sexes for some time past.
The defendant was little fellow only 10
years old, whose name is Harry Green
field. He was brought into court
charged with being an incorrigible,
whose moral depravity is such that it
will be best for him and the community
that he be sent to the reform school
for a number of years.
Harry ia quite q nice looking, bright
little boy, and certainly did not look
much like the boy described in the COM
plant sworn to by Humane Officer
Wright. His mother, Mrs. Greenfield,
was in court, and was called upon to tell
his honor the acts of her son, which had
caused her to feel such qualms of con-
science as to keep him at home in the
reckless and downward course he was
pursuing. Upon being questioned, she
said her boy did not drink: that he did
not use tobacco, and that he did not
swear. Upon being asked what he had.
been guilty of, the witness replied that
he had run away from school once or
troll. The more Judge Mckinley exam
the conclusion that the boy was not
subject for the reform school. He final
ly dismissed the complaint, and advised
Mrs. Greenfield that she had better
show more disposition to exercise pa
rental authority over her son. He told
her that she certainly ought to. be able to
take care of boy of the age of her son,
who seemed to be such a bright little
fellow. The Judge was very much in
earnest, and it will probably be some
time before Humane Officer Wright ap-
pears before him again with such an
ill-advised complaint.
RUsTLING FOR HIS PAY.
The appeal suit of G. W. Connell VS..
L. Lichtenberger, deceased, and 1873
John Does was on trial yesterday before
Judge Mckinley, in departmentnumbe
six. The case is a relic of that famous
organization known as the Taxpayers
Protective association, which had the
books of the county officials exported by
Edgar Moore last year. 1t was at the
time when there was such an outcry
among certain class of taxpayers that
the county affairs were in bad condi-
ton and were rapidly becoming worse,
and number of gentlemen associated
themselves together for the purpose of
thorough investigation of the books.
Among others who were employed on
the expert work was H. Kennedy, who
worked sixty-one and one-half days,
between March 10, 1891, and June l,
1891. He claims that this work was
done at the rate of 81 per day, and that
when he finished he had performed 1854
worth of labor. OF this amount $66 25
was paid, but the balance ia still due.
In July, 1891, he assigned his claim to
the plaintiff, who is suing for the bal
ance, $187.50, for which amount
he asks judgment. The rate at
which Kennedy was to be paid
was to the regulated by the organization
Of the Taxpayers association. II it did
not organize he was to receive $3.50 a
day. But it is claimed that it did or
ganize, and he became 81 man. These
are some of the points that were being
investigated by Judge Mckinley and
jury yesterday.
% AN ALFALFA CASE.
An application for an injunction was
heard by Judge Clark yesterday and
taken under advisement. The applica-
tion was made by John F. Humphrey
and against A. T. Kelley. Mr. Hum
phrey wishes to have Mr.. Kelley pre-
vented from moving quantity OF alfalfa
hay and volunteer barley from 150 acres
Of land near Buena Park, which he
claims.
uuKs OWnn blO lhuQS hhA
leased it to Mr.. Kelley, the former to re-
ceive one-fourth of the crop. Kelley
was to pay 50 so per acre rent for any
part not cultivated. He put in some
alfalfa and harvested several tons OF hay
and fifty-fve sacks OF volunteer barley.
Mr.. Humphrey claims that 1915 is due
him, and wants the hay and grain to
help pay the amount.
Kelley sets up a curious defense. He
says that the land is in Orange county,
and that if the suit is brought at all, it
ought to be brought in that county. He
claims, alec, that the case has already
been tried before q justice of the peace
in Orange county, and Humphrey lost
it; that he appealed it to the superior
courttof that county, and it is now pend
ing there. The case presents some novel
points, and after hearing the evidence
stated. the court preferred to take it
under advisement.
A COMPLICATED JUDGMENT.
In the suit of O. H. Libby ct al. VS.. F.
81. Barclay ct al, for the foreclosure OF
Eve mortgages, Judge Wade, in depart
ment, three, yesterday gave judgmentio for
foreclosure of mortgage of plaintiff Libby
on lots 10 and Is in the Monte Vista
tract. in the sum of $l2, 900, principal
and interest; Judgment for defendant
Elliott for any surplus arising from the
sale of the lots,s and Judgment for de-
fendants BarcIsy and Morehead for fore