The San Francisco call., 1896-11-21
WANTED TO LOOK
At THE FAIR DEED
Breezy Scene Between At
torney Lloyd and Mr..
Delmas.
Argument in Regard to the
Right of Inspecting the
Document.
That Which Was Offered as Cour-
tesy Finally Granted by an
Order of the Court.

There was a breezy scene in Judge
Slack's court yesterday morning when the
application CT Attorney Reuben II. Lloyd
for chance to examine the deed of the
late James G. Fair, conveying certain
property to Mrs. Nettie R. Craven, was
called for hearing.
The proceedings disclosed the fact that
there was an undercurrent of feeling ex
that even the cool exterior, so well as
sumed by veteran mem bers of the bar,
could not entirely conceal.
Before beginning with the argument ID.
M. Delmas, representing the interests OF
Mrs. Craven, announced to the court that
so far as he was concerned he had no OBJ
Jecton TO the inspection of the document
by any person interested in the case. He
said that the document had already been
submitted to the scrutiny OF some of the
attorneys on the other side, and when ap
pllcatlon was made day or two ago for
an additional opportunity to inspect 1T the
gentlemen were Informed that they were
welcome TO make any legitimate use OF the
document that they might desire. Not
withstanding this assurance on the part
of himself and the gentlemen associated
with i'm this motion for an order OF court
to procure the thing that had been volun-
tarily offered was brought into court.
Judge Slack smiled gently and remarked
that he supposed, under the circum-
stances, it would not be necessary to fur
ther press the application then on hear
ing.
Mr.. Lloyd, who represents the heirs of
]. G. Fair said that Notwithstanding Mr..
DeImas courteous offer, it was fact that
on the day that this order was asked for,
an application for an inspection of the
deed was refused.
De!mas, asked permission TO explain that
circumstance. He said that he was pres
ent when the demand for an inspection of
the deed was made. a deposition was
being taken at the time. and when the
deed was asked for the reply was made
that they were not at that moment in
possession of the document, ana, there
fore, must decline to comply with the re-
quest. An offer was made to procure 1t
later. He said it was not Mr.. Delmas who
declined to produce the document.
Mr.. Lloyd retorted that it was Mr.. Del
mas representative with whom he was
dealing at that time, and he considered
that his acts were the same as the acts of
Mr.. Delmas-
Garret McEnerney, who is engaged in
another branch ef the case and who was
willing to have the examination OF the
| paper procured with as little friction as
| possible, endeavored to pour oil on the
Delmas' offer ought to be considered suffi-
| cient- He trusted that the application for
the order would not be pressed by Mr.
Lloyd.
settlement on that basis seemed i'm
minent, when Attorney Wheeler sug-
gested, soto voce, that Mr.. Delmas ought
to be required to set day when the docu-
| ment might be inspected, and Mr.. Lloyd
said as much to the court in clearly audi
| bic tones.
! The fat was in the fire again, for it was
| apparent that Mr.. Delmas did not like to
have the proposition put that way. He
| said that while he was willing to grant
| the application as courtesy, yet if the
gentleman insisted on it as a right he was
| prepared to present arguments against it.
Mr.. Lloyd was equally unyielding in his
| position, and the hearing proceeded.
Able arguments lasting three hours were
offered pro and con. and after considera-
| ton Judge Slack held that Mr.. Lloyd and
| his associates have right to inspect the
deed and this formality is set for Monday