The morning call., 1893-02-01
A CLOSING SCENE.
MaCdOnald'S Estate to Be
Sold To-day.
q. II. Umbsen s Co. VIII Knock Down
the Properties to the Highest
Bidder.

The closing scene in the famous Macdon-
aid case will be enacted to-day in the main
hall Of the San Francisco Real Estate Ex-
change
At noon G. III. Umbsen & Co., the we'll
known real estate auctioneers OF Montgom-
cry street, will offer at public sale the entire
possessions in this city and in San Maeo
County OF the estate Of Charles E. S. Mac
donald.
The story Of Captain Macdonald'S life
reads like a romance. He was Scotchman
by birth. but was one of the old timers Of
San Francisco. aud his figure was familiar
one on the street.
He was eccentric In his ways and had Pc
cuiar hobbies. One of them was to put
companies through fancy drill, and he spent
much time and money Oh this hobby. While
engaged In the pursuit of this paStime he
was looked upon with favor by the fair sex,
and being a wealthy bachelor and not I'M
attractive IN his manners, lie was considered
good catch.
About this period Of his life he became
enamored OF one of his fair admirers and
cohabied with her. A child was born
and Captain Macdonald on several ccca-
sions acknowledged its paternity The
mother had such an infueuc3 over him
that he decided TO make out the necessary
papers TO make the boy his heir, but death
interviewed before that intention was car
ried out.
At one time the captain brought a troop
of trained Apache Indians to this city. and
admiring thousands went to Woodward's
Gardens TO see their feats CT juggling and
other willy tricks. There are many stories
told of his eccenuicities, which would I'LL a
volume.
He and his brother Duncan kept liquor
store, in 1851, on the corner of California
IL =.
which took place on March q. 1889, Dun
can made claim to partnership In the
real estate standing in Charles name
Then followed the suit for an apportion-
ment Of the estate. which Is still fresh In the
minds Of The public.
During the long pending litigation good
deal OF sympathy was expressed for the
Legitimate son of Captain Macdonald.
who, although the heir TO a vast fortune.
had from his infancy not reyeled In
luxury but the reverse.
The decision o the urt was that Dun
can WAS entitled to half Of the estate.
There were other litigants, but the boy has
succeeded in etIectlng a satisfactory CON-
promise with them.
The Superior Court for division purposes
ordered sale OF the properties, W bich, as
already stated, vii! take place at noon to-
day, and as each piece will be put up Sepa-
rately the highest bidder Will become
owner.
The court will. however, have the power
to confirm or reject the sale. as it is a diYl-
sion of partnership interests.
This IS not the same as a probate sale,
made, but an absolute sale as Of private
property the only difference being the con-
hrmation or rejection by The court.
In view OF the diversified character of the
properly offered for sale large attendance
of all classes of buyers is confidently ex-
pected, and for this reason the main hall of
the Real Estate Exchange has been secured
for the occas on.
Besides, rs some Of the pieces yield hand
some incomes and are in most favorable
situations, the competition should be keen
and the bidding spirited.
1t should be borne in mind that the
property Is not put on the market to get rid
of a poor investment, but by order of the
Superior Court so that division of the es-
tate can be made.
Ten per cent in cash will be required at
the fall OF the hammer, and the balance in
the court.
Among the pieces enumerated In the
catalogue are lot 25x75 on Clementlna
street, with improvements lot 25xS5 ON
Folsom street. with threc-story building in
three tenementS; northwest corner of
commercial and Drumm sstreet, with the
three-story building occupied as a hotel and
stores; lot 35x55 on LiedesdOrff street. be-
tween California and Sacramento and
Montgomery and Sansome streets. with
brick and iron building; northeast corner
of Folsom and Beale streets, with three
buildings; 10, 50. in Gift Map 4: lots 4 and
in block "a, of the ST.. Paul tract; lots on
Fifteenth and Sixteenth avenue: pIeces
on Fox street and Seventeenth avenue; lot
50xlG0 on Twelfth avenue; tho roadside
resort known As the Eight-mle house. and
the southeast quarter of section 8 of the
tide lands near the town of San Mateo.