The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-31
NOBBY" CLARKE'S
GREAT SCHEME.
He WANTS AN INCOME AND INTER
EST IN THOUSANDS OF
ACRES, OF LAND.
GREAT RUSH OF APPLICANTS.
THEY WANT THE LAND Now
OWNED BY THE SPRING VAL
LEY WATER COMPANY.

Alfred Clarke, proprietor of an institution
known as "Clarke's College of Law" is
doing a land office business, though he
has no official connection with Uncle Sam,
nor the lesser commonwealth known by
the distinguishing title, the State of Cali
fornia. Mr.. Clarke, best known to his
friends under the sobriquet of "Nobby,"
is a lawyer of some note in San Francisco
and has an Office at 213 Larkin street.
For the past six weeks United States
Land Commissioner John P. Dunn has
been besieged by applicants desiring to
take up homesteads in South San Fran
cisco and San Mateo County. Within
that time probably hundred people have
filed papers for the regulation 100 acres.
If this were a new country such rush of
business would not be considered unusual,
but that number of claims for United
States property so close to the heart of
San Francisco naturally created some
question in the mind of the Commissioner
as to why these applicants were coming to
the front in such droYes. Another thing
that caused Mr.. Dunn to suspect that a
job of some kind was being attempted was
the fact that with nearly every applicant
came a man named B. C. Mooney. In
vestigation followed with the result that
Mooney turns out to be a sort of ''spieler"
for 'Nobby" Clarke, who, under the repre-
sentatlon that the patents issued to the
present holders of certain tracts of land
were fraudulent, induced these applicants
to come forward with their homesteads
This is where "Nobby" Clarke and his
land-office business comes in. But there
is another story connected with Mi. Clarke's
apparent desire to assist his neighbor to
secure valuable property. 1t is nothing
than tho RI of
each applicant to give Mr.. Clarke rs per
cent OF the value in gold coin of all that is
recovered. This is the part that Mr.. Dunn
is interested in, for in the application for a
homestead the person swearS that he is not
sin collision with any person, corporation
or syndicate to give them the benefit of
the land entered"
Mr.. Dunn's investigation has brought to
the surface an agreement, which Mr.. Clarke
has with every applicant for homestead
in South San Francisco and San Mateo,
reading as follows:
Whereas, have employed Alfred Clarke Esq.
as my attorney TO prosecute my claim to GER
tain lands in San Mateo County Tor San Fran
cisco County, III township -. He is to de-
fray the expenses of litigation and carry my
case TO the highest tribunals, and promise TO
pay him In gold coin OF the United States 70
per cent OF the same, which is the value of the
land gained for me in San Mateo County.
Not satisfied with this ''three-quarter
clause" it is stated that Clarke had sep
arate agreement, which called for 10 cents
an acre per month until the suit was finally
decided in favor of the applicant.
1t IS the most outrageous thing / ever
heard OF, said Commissioner Dunn yester-
day, flor there is no possible hope of these
people securing a homestead on the lands
applied for. This was Government land,
entered under the homestead and pre-
emption laws and Spanish grants, the title
10 which is protected by the Uniled States.
These applications have all been rejected,
but Clarke as attorney has filed notice that
he will institute suit for the recovery of
same.
Numerous applications have been filed
for portions of the old Spanish Rancho de
TERRA, and in one instance the applicant
filed papers calling for a section of land
that could only be secured by building a
dam in front of the Pacific. A few feet
can be found on the shore when the tide is
out, but the balance of the $50 acres ex-
tends far out into the ocean. The Govern
ment can do nothing with Clarke of course
but applicants who have agreed to give
Clarke portion of what they recover per-
jure themselves, and are consequently
amenable. would like to say that if any
person desires to file homestead let them
bring it to this office and it will not cost
them cent.
The land which is Just now causing Mr.
Dunn so much trouble is owned mainly by
the Spring Valley Water Company, which
is fully protected by deeds from the orig
inal owner. Nearly all OF the people in
duced by Clarke to apply for homesteads
live south of Market street. 1t is stated
that in some instances Mr.. Clarke has in
duced the applicants to part with little
ready. cash TO help prosecute the case,
though in the main he has been content
TO receive the 40 cents an acre per month"
promised in the agreement.
Among the people induced to file appli-
cations are: Joseph Meyers, $50 Third
street; John ]. Bascome, go Clementina
street; w. P. NJ. Doran, 5031S Natoma
street; John S. Van Wrinkle, 2224 Howard.
and Nathan Davis, 149 Tehama.
When seen yesterday Mr.. Clarke refused
to say anything about the case, except that
he had done no wrong.