The San Francisco call., 1896-08-12
cO0NEY PAID HIS fine,
The Court Finally Wearied oil
Delay and Enforced Its
Sentence.
Probability ct Further Fines il
Cooney Fails to Obey Orders
of the Court.

Notary Public James ]. Cooney of Fair
will case tame had a very short and very
expensive interview with deputy sheriff
yesterday afternoon, and when the two
men parted the notary was $50 poorer and
the deputy had done his duty.
Mr.. Cooney was sitting in his Office in
the Phelan building looking over some
dispositions when the deputy walked in,
and presenting paper, said:
"Mr. Cooney I have been instructed to
place you under arrest"
Mr.. O0oney evidently knew the reason
of the proceeding, but was apparently sur
prised. However, he said quietly:
Contempt proceedings, | suppose ?'
"That is CORE CT" answered the deputy.
The notary studied the paper moment,
looked at the signature, and then went
slowly down into his pocket and produced
an eagle and two shining twenties.
"Give me receipt, please, he said, and
after doing so the deputy was bowed
courteously out of the office, and Mr..
Cooney resumed his labors, poorer, but
wiser.
The paper produced by the deputy, and
Spouse on the part of the notary, was a
bench warrant signed by presiding Su-
perior Judge Slack, ordering the arrest
and incarceration of the notary for con-
tempt in default of the payment of $50.
Some time ago when the Craven deeds
to large amount of the Fair property
were first taken into court, Notary Cooney.
who acknowledged them, was called to
give full exposition OF the part he had
taken in the transaction.
His testimony was looked upon by the
attorneys as OF vital Importance, and they
wanted him very much. Despite the sub
pena, the notary was not on hand when he
was expected, and those who wanted him
to tell how the aged millionaire had signed
the documents were disappointed. The
matter was put over for time, but still the
notary was derelict and Judge Slack began
to grow impatient Of the delay and the evil
dent disregard of the courts order. The
day came when excuses of counsel would
no longer fill the bill, and Judge Slack per-
emptorily ordered the witness to appear
without further delay. Still no Cooney
appeared, and fine of $50 was imposed.
The fine was not carried into effect at the
time. but yesterday the Judge signed an
order of arrest unless it was paid.
Judge Slack when seen at his residence
last evening stated that he hal signed the
order of arrest because Cooney had delib-
erately and persistently refused to appear
in court to answer important questions
JOuCUlHR Cu0 D0HCIl u6cuS On WHICH 0MTS.
Craven hopes to establish her claim to
some of the Fair millions.
"When Mr.. Cooney first came into con-
tempt of court in refusing to appear" said
Judge Slack, "I imposed fine of $50 His
attorney asked for stay of execution
until yesterday to give him chance to
look into his rights in the matter, and
granted the request, hoping that he would
relieve me of the necessity of enforcing the
fine.
1.-The time accorded him expired yes
terday and he did not appear, and I in
tended to issue an order of arrest then,
but put 1t off until to-day to give him
plenty of time. His failure to answer to
his name to-day left me no alternative
but to cause him to be taken into custody
if he did not care to put up the $50.
"If Mr.. Cooney persists in disobeying
the court he may be fined more heavily
the next time time he is adjudged guilty
of contempt"