The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-06
AGAINST THE MANSFIELDS.
Says Her rlother's Custodians
Formed a Conspiracy.
TOOK EVERYTHING IN SIGHT.
Additional and Sensational Aiiega-
tons in the Contest for an Aged
Woman's Guardianship.

Los ANGELES, Feb. 5,-This afternoon
another complaint was filed against Cen
eral John Mansfield. Mrs. Anah E. Mans
field and Mrs. Louisa I. Cross and hus-
hand. John 4. Cross, and the Farmers
. and Merchants Bank by Annie Pratt by
her guardian, E. l.. Campbell of San
Francisco. The new document AYERS that
Mrs. Pratt is in the care and under the
control. of the Mansfslds and Mrs. Cross
at the home of the former in this city !;
that by reason of old age and weakness of
nina she has been and still is unable TO
properly manage and take care of her vast
property interests; that Mrs. Pratt is
likely TO be deceived by designing per-
sons; that Mrs. Pratt is the owner of
large and valuable real property situated
in Glenn and Butte counties, the annual
rents Of which amounted to between S1S,-
600 and $4,000 per annum.
Campbell is Informed and believes that
during several years before the commence
ment of the action, while Mrs. Pratt was
materially incompetent, the defendants,
John Mansfield and wife and Mrs. Cross.
conspired together to cheat and defraud
Mrs. Pratt of large sums of money and of
great deal of her property, real and per-
sonal. They induced Mrs. Pratt. two
years ago, be says, to come from San
Francisco to the residence in this city OF
the Mansfelds, at which place Mrs. Cross.
although resident of San Fran cisco. also
lived and spent good deal Of time. The
parties during all that time and until the
appointment of a guardian for Mrs. Pratt
kept the latter away from all other rela-
tives and did all in their power to prevent
her from having any communication with
them.
In November, 1892. Mrs. Pratt was so
mentally incompetent that the defendants,
the Mansfelds and Mrs. Cross, took ad-
vantage of her condition and induced her
to sign power of attorney, giving John
Mansfield power TO act as her agent to re-
ceive and dispose of her real and per-
sonal property. That power of attorney,
the complaint AYERS, was obtained by
them for the sole purpose of aiding them
in their scheme to obtain possession for
their use Of the moneys and properties.
General Mansfield Is also accused of re-
ceiving the sum of Sos, 1868 81 from Mrs.
Pratt's estate by agreement between Mrs.
Mansfield, Mrs. Cross and himself, and
. causing the money he received as Mrs.
Pratts agent TO be transferred to his
wife's hand, who. for the joint benefit of
himself, her husband and Mrs. Cross,
made a deposit of the foregoing N entoned
snEn In the Farmers and Merchants Bank,
all of which has been drawn by Mrs. Ma MS
field, except the sum of SIS, 1871 90.
= Mrs. Lewis is charged with having used
fraud for the purpose Of obtaining money
from her sister for use of the general and
Mrs. Mansfield; that she used the plan so
well that she was enabled to draw out Of
the bank the sum OF $50, 900. leaving bal
. ance at presen. of only S1172 in the &C
count. General and Mrs. Mansfield and
Mrs. Cross are called to an accounting, aud
a restraining order against them is prayed
TO prevent them from receiving. Withdraw
ing. checking upon or removing any funds
now in the bank, which, it is claimed, be-
Icing to Mrs. Pratt.