The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-28
The Attorney Alleged to Have
Misappropriated Funds
of a Client.
DEGRADED A HELPLESS GIRL.
Annie Heber's Pitiable Tale Told in a
Legal Petition-Jake Rauer
Is Involved.

| NJ. H. Herman, the attorney, was before
Judge Coffey yesterday afternoon with an
order compelling Attorney John j. Coffey
and Jake Rauer to show cause why they
should not make an accounting OF the
estate of John, alias Patrick, McAndrews,
which they have been administering for
some years without making returns. Mr..
Herman stated yesterday that the suit,
which he will file tomorrow, would be
full of startling developments and ex-
poses. The pitiable story of young girl
ruined and beggared, he said, would be
part of the evidence, combined with object
lessons in perhdy toward the helpless one.
The young woman who will figure in
| the case is Annie ]. McAndrews Heber.
| Her petition will be filed tomorrow that
| an order be made citing Jake Rauer to
show cause why he should not be removed
| and discharged from the administration
] of the estate, and that he file an account
of his administration; and, further, that
Attorney John j. Coffey be cited to explain
why be should not refund the money col
! lected py him from the estate.
Annie Heber states in the petition that
| she is the daughter of John McAndrews,
deceased. While a single girl in Septem-
| Der, 1890, she was appointed administra-
| triX, and day later letters of administra-
ton with the will annexed were issued to
| her. The estate was valued at $685., with
| a claim for $500 against John Rodgers.
| All proceedings were taken and per-
| formed under and by advice of her attor-
ney, John Coffey, while she was inexre-
rienced in the ways of the world, and par
ticularly as to the methods she should
adopt in managing the estate. So she de-
| pended solely on Coffey, in whom she re-
posed the utmost confidence.
Under his instructions she petitioned the
court in August, 1891, for an order per-
hitting her to mortgage the real estate for
$1,000 that the property might be improved
and the house rendered tenantable, and to
pay certain alleged debts. This money,
less $35, was Immediately turned over to
| Coffey, who thereupon undertook the bust
ness of arranging for the improvement.
The $35 was used to buy dresses for the ad
miiistratrix and her sister.
The girl alleges that Coffey represented
to her that it was his duty as attorney
for the estate to look after Improvements
and disbursements of the moneys. She,
| of course, believed him and let him do as
he wished, but she did not handle dollar
| of the money.
A contract was entered into with Kelly
Gardner for repairs of the property for
$3.50, but the full payment was not made
| and lien was consequently filed on the
property by Gardner, though Coffey
claimed the unpaid balance was due him
from Gardner for some claim, which, how
ever was denied. The petitioner further
| alleges that Coffey made a proposition to
Gardner, whereby the latter was to be per-
mitted to acquire the property by dis
honest and fraudulent means, on condi-
ton that he would divide with him, the
said Coffey, and thatif he, the said Gard
ner, would not consent to do so he, the
said Coffey, would do it himself, and that
he intended doing so. anyhow"
THaI 90, -aA chn fltyo ftarh xy
decree of court, October 8, 1894.
In addition 20 the mortgage money re-
ceived by Coffey it is claimed that he col
lected the rents up to September p, 1893,
except $12 So which was collected by her.
| self. The aggregate of rents was about
$3.50. But what Coffey did with all the
money she does not know, only none of it
| was turned over to her, nor was any &C
counting of it made to her. The only sat-
| isfaction she got was to be told she was
merely "igurehead.'
About this time she met G. G. Heber, her
present husband, and Coffey advised her
to marry him, but she had formed "a
greater attachment for Coffey and ex-
pected him to right the wrong he had done
her, for he had already debauched her."
She found that Heber was addicted to NOR
phine, and he compelled her to use the
drug, and soon she became victim TO the
habit. While she was in this condition
with the intention of inducing her to sell
the property. She finally did sign
| a conveyance OF her interest in her
fathers estate and also a resignation
as administrative, she receiving only So.
She claims she did not know she resigned
as administrative until Rauer was ap-
pointed administrator. Since his appoint
ment in October, 1893, he was appointed
| guardian of the person and estate of her
mother. who has been in the Napa Asylum
| for many years. The girl continues that
| she believes Rauer has collected the rents
and failed to account for them, and now
she desires to have justice done her.
Attorney Herman stated yesterday that
his client had been dragged down till she
was ''fiend' on the "Barbary Coast"
where her arrest for vagrancy was caused
| by her husband and Coffey, who deserted
the unfortunate young woman in the
| Police Court. She was sentenced to the
| County Jail for six months, and in that
| time so recovered her mental faculties and
reformed that she was able to see through
all the villainy and to turn TO new lawyer
o,I