The herald., 1895-09-04
Death of Judge Henry Montague
Willis
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
He Had Been Upon the Bench for
Many Years
Sale OF Lands by Order OF the Court Involve
ing Interests Of Many SettIers-Wheei-
mems Day at the Fiesta

IL. M. Wills, for many years county and
superior judge IN this county. died very
suddenly at Oceansds last night. "A
special TO the Times Index says:
Judge Willis death occurred last night
a few minutes after clock at the South
Pacific hotel. He was in the reading
room conversing with several friends
and seemed to be in the best of spirits,
there being nothing to indicate that the
end was near. Suddenly he gave gasp
and fell forward on the table. DR.. Nichols
was sent for and arrived within two min
utes, but all efforts to revive the Judge
were without result. He had been with
his friend A. W. Potter 4 short time be-
fore and complained of having eaten
something that did not agree with him,
but aside from that be had bee" IN tho
best of health and spirits for s me time.
The cause of his death was apop.~.<y.
The entire city was shocked this morn
ing when the news of Judge Willis death
became current on the street. The first
report of the unexpected tidings came in
a dispatch to his daughter, Miss Jennie
Willis, which was received about 10
o'clock last night She at once communi-
Gated with friends OF the family. and made
preparations to go to Oceanside by the
first train this morning. expecting to ac-
com mpany the remains to this city, where
the interment will take place.
Henry Montague Willis was born in
Baltimore, Septem Der 2, 1881. His ances-
tors were among the first English settlers
OF the colonies of Virginia and Mary land,
prior TO the revolution. His father was
a captain in the merchant marine, and
young Willis early adopted a seafarng
life for himself. He came to California
IN 1S49. After six months in the law
office of Chauncey Shaefer in New York
city he returned to San Francisco Just after
the hanging of Casey and Cora by the
vigilance committee.
He refused a very tempting offer to
follow literature to accept the appoint
ment of prosecuting attorney of San Fran
cisco in the ia of 1856. But he continued
to contribute to the Evening Bulletin for
number OF years. He retired from office
to remove to San BernardIno in 1858 to
attend to litigation Connected with lands
in which his mother was interested.
He decided to locate here, and in 1872
tODk his seat on the bench as county
judge and served continuously for eight
years with marked ability. The office
and he resumed the practice of law until
the fall of 1886. when he was elected su-
perior Judge serving until 1889, when he
again resumed practice, always being
esteemed one Of the ablest mem bers of the
bar.
G. II. Conde of Arrowhead, Mrs. G. N.
Hudson of Topeka, Kan.; Mrs. G. Il.
Payne of Los Angeles, II. M. Willis, jr.,
of Phoenix, Ariz. Miss Jennie Willis of
this city, who makes her home with Mrs.
Payne in Los Angeles, and Miss Louise,
who is with Mrs. Hudson, In Kansas.
Word has been sent to all the children
and a reply has already been received
from H. N. Willis, ir., saying lac will
arrive here at noon tomorrow. IL Mrs.
Hudson decides to come from Kansas it
will be impossible to hold the funeral
be Wednesday.
RiaIto Lands Sold
The unsettled land belonging to the
Semi-Tropic Land and Water company
at Rialto was sold at commlssioners'
which Judgment had been rendered IN IA
vor of Henry Pierce OF San Francisco for
about $35, 900.
The actual settlers were not made par
ties to the suit; that is, it had been dis
missed against them, although blanket
mortgage covered all the land ever
owned by the company. But the mort
gage had been in existance some time be-
fore it was recorded, and many of the set
tiers bought land without any knowledge
of the existence of the claim until some
time later when it was filed for record.
Inc mortgage Is Il SeCO0u mortgage, CD0
one held by the San Francisco Savings
Union for S275,000 being first mort
gage on all the property lever owned by
the Semi-Troplc people.
Tho sprooeedings this morning were
conducted by Commissioner Samuel
Kolfe. and among those present and keep
ing careful eye on what was done, was
Receiver Sheldon for the Semi-Tropic
company. and Judge Variel of Los An
geles, who represents the San Francisco
Savings union.
Tine land was put up in parcels as ad-
yertisd, or in small lots, if persons wished
to bid on any particular portion of the
land. There was no rivalry in the bid
ding, and no purchases except people who
were protecting their own interests. The
balance of the land was bid in for Pierce.
Wheelmen's Day
Tuesday, Septem ber 1, will be wheel
mems day at the Fiesta, and the follow
ing is the list of RACES and the prizes:
One mile, novice-First prize $50 gold
medal; second, $40 gold medal.
One mile. class B-First prize, $40 gold
watch second, $15 goldmounted opera
glasses; third. S5 smoking SET.
100-yard foot race. open-First $40
prize second. IS prize.
One mile, county cham ionship-First
prize, $40 gold medal; second, $40 gold
medal.
Two mile lap race, class B-First prize,
$lu5 bicycle; second. $35 diamond ring.
Half mile foot race-First prize, SIS
gold n. edal second, $5 silver medal
Five mile handicap-First prize. $40
suit; second, S25 piano lamp; third, So
gold headed cane.