The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-30
VENTURES WATER SYSTEM
Money to Purchase, but the
Title Is Defective
AN UNFORTUNATE BUTCHER
intimidation of Justice OF the Peace
Improbable
A Blackmaiiing Scheme Which Did Not
Bring Back the Money Paid IS
Fine-Notes

VENTURA, Sept. 90. There is great
deal of interest AMI speculation as to the
probable outcome of the water business.
The citizens of Ventura, by large ma
jority, voted to purchase the plant, to-
eether with the light plant, by bonding
the town for $3.50, 600. The bonds have
been advertised and sold under the con-
dltion that the board is satisfied with the
title and wish to consumma the rur.
chase. But the board has become very
suspicious lately. The water copmany is
unable to furnish q satisfactory abstract
Of title, and there are some missing heirs
to portions of the property. 1t appears
most unlikely now that the town will
ever buy the water com pany's property
at least at the price named. Mr.. Selby,
an expert on titles, is making thorough
investigation. and he has intimated that
things are much more serious than he at
first supposed. His report will be pre-
sented to the board Monday. While it
seems that it is most desirable for the
town to own her water works system, yet
she certainly cannot afford to pay out so
large sum and not feel sure of getting
sound title. The city just now is fort
innate in having a solid and careful board
of trustees.
J. Q. Alexander, the Saticoy butcher, is
in peck of trouble just now. Some
weeks ago he attempted to intimidate the
local Justice by pointing Winchester at
him: For this playful little freak Judge
Williams last week sentenced him to pay
fine Of $500 or 100 days in the county
jail. The fine was paid. But meantime,
while his trial was pending, ne discovered
that some one was stealing his meat and,
by lying in wait, he entrapped Kilson,
the station agent, who hitherto had borne
an excellent reputation. Thinking to
make something out of the situation,
Alexander compelled the thief, upon q
threat of exposing him, to execute a
mortgage in his favor to all of Kilson s
property, amounting to about $500. But
the story leaked out, and when Kilson s
friends heard of the blaukmailing scheme
they employed counsel and threatened to
prosecute Alexander for compromising a
felony ii the mortgage was not immediate
ly Cancelled. The attorneys gave him until
noon Saturday to make the thing right,
but Alexander did not show up. He sent
an excuse. however, promising to come
down to Ventura on Monoay aud fix il
all up. If he fails to appear the fellow
will have &c dance III the superior court
again, and this time to much graver
charge than the other.
Opinion differs as to the extent OF Kill
son guilt. As he has confessed to petty
larceny and was willing to give up all
his property to save himself from expo
sure, it would certainly seem that the
affair is one of dog eat dog"
Quite serious accident occurred yes
terday morning to A. Y. Velarde, an old
citizen who resides near the old gas
house. He hitched his horse to the cart
and, the animal proving refractory, he
ATTEMPTED to thrash him into submission.
The horse didn't see il in that light and
bolted across the street and smashed the
cart up agInst tree. throwing Mr.. Vel
arde to the ground with great force. He
struck a. rock and had two ribs broken.
one of them puncturing the lung and
making a very dangerous wound