The morning call., 1893-12-20
WANT THEIR FEES.
The Contest Over the San
Pablo Rancho.
DRAWING TO A CONCLUSION.
Curtis Lindley Demands Big
Compensation.
REFEREES PUT IN CLAIMS.
Testimony of Experts as to How
Much Prominent Attorneys Time
and Labor Are Worth.
REFEREES PUT IN CLAIMS.

A large crowd of lawyers and parties in
terested in the great land suit of Emeric
VS.. Alvarado. which for the past quarter
of century has been before the courts.
assem- bled In Judge Hebbard's court yes
terdsy to discuss the question OF remuner-
alton TO be given to the various officials
for services rendered.
The first applicant was Curtis A. Lind
ley, the attorney for three referees ap-
pointed to apportion out the San Pablo
Rancho TO the several parties having
proved their claims to partial distribution.
Mr.. Lindlev was appointed two years ago.
and he valued his services at the sum of
$4,000. He explained in court that he had
been compelled to give his whole and undi-
vided time and attention to the business,
and had been. in consequence. compelled
to leave all the legal work of his firm to
his partner Henry Eickhoff. He did not
think $685. 900 unreasonable, especially as
the stake at issue consisted of 1900 acres
of property of the appraised value Of
81, 700. 900.
But of the lawyers present two, George
W. Haight and Il. Ii. HIttell. being per-
sonaliy interested in the distribution OF
the Ban Pablo rancho. were disposed TO
think the sum demanded excessive. so
several experts were called to testify as to
what they would demand in such a case.
Attorney w. Wood thought that when
prominent lawyer gave his whole time and
attention to one matter for the space Of
two years he ought 10 receive at least
$4,000 year.
"What is the usual sum paid TO attorneys
of corporations ?" asked Mr.. Haight.
II can't say exactly"
"How much does the Southern Pacific
attorney receiver" demanded Mr.. Hittell.
II believe it is $4,000 year." replied
Wood. And l remember years ago. when
the Southern Pacific was a small concern,
Judge Sanderson retired from the Supreme
bench TO take the position of Southern Pa
citic attorney, and he got S1S,0 year"
Yes. and all the odum," retOrted Hit
tell. at which everybody in the courtroom
laughed.
"Ex-Justice Myrick gave 1t as his opinion
that Mr.. Llndley should be satisfied with
$4,000. The Justice himself had been a
referee In similar case and he well re-
membered receiving $4,000 for bis SER
vices.
Arthur Rodgers said he thought Lind
ley's services were worth the S25, 900
asked. Finally Judge Hebbard took the
matter under advisement.
In the afternoon there came uD the ques .
tion of settling the compensation to be
paid 10 Surveyor w. 4. Matthews and to the
three referees, John +. Sheehan, Richard
p. Hammond and A. T.. Crane. There
was the usual discussion among the law
yers engaged, but neither the surveyor nor
the referees would put a price on their
services. They preferred to leave that to
the court they said.
Judge Hebbard said that when il CAME
TO settling the remuneration 10 be paid 20
the referees he would allow no reopening
OF old sores to breed ill-feeling, possibly,
among the referees themselves. They
might put the referees on the stand if they
"lshed. but il would be with the distinct
understanding that no one referee shall
receive more or less than the other. The
best way would be to fix lump sum to be
divided among the three. AT any rate,
Judge Hebbard thought he knew as much
about the case as anybody and he felt per-
fectly competent to settle the question of
cOmpens nsation without hearing any testi-
moDy or further facts. In the meantime
the matter would stand over until to-day.
and it is expected that all the questions
will be submitted by noon.