The San Francisco call., 1897-02-09
IN A SAND DUNE
THE MONEY GREW
Then Mrs. Mahala Robin
sons Property Went
to Others.
Fraud Is Charged Against
Rachel Macdougal and
Helen Hudgin.
1t Is Alleged That They Took Ad.
vantage of an O,d Woman's
Loss of Mind.

Judge Slack is hearing testimony in the
litigation whereby Mahala f. Robin son
seeks to regain possession of valuable real
estate at the corner of O'Farrell and Tay-
lor streets in this City.
Miss Ina E. Russell, niece and guar
dian of Mrs. Robinson, instituted the pro-
ceedings against Rachel A. Macdougal
and against Helen E. and John Hudgin,
alleging that the defendants secured deeds
to the real estate by imposing on Mrs. Rob-
inson. who is said 10 be so old and feeble
minded that she was not competent to
transact business at the time the pre-
tended transfer of the land was made.
Mrs. Robinson's history supplies an
other illustration of the ease with which
persons may become wealthy in a growing
city by purchasing corner lots and hold
ing the m for rise in value. In early days
Mrs. Robinson was domestic employed
in the family of Daniel f. Norcross She
saved her wages, and after accumulating
a snug sum bought a sand dune at the
spot which IS now known as the corner of
O'Farrell and Taylor streets. Subse-
quently she secured a tenant, began to
build, until now her improvements on the
land are worth about $15, 900 and tee real
estate is valued at not less than $25, ,OOO
yielding revenue of about $500 month.
Miss Russell alleges that the defendants,
Mrs. Macdougal and Mrs. Hudgin, de-
ceived Mrs. Robinson and induced her to
sign deeds conveying to said defendants
the title for the property in dispute. the
consideration mentioned in each case
being $40.
1t is i'll evidence that the ostensible pur-
chasers were not so exactipg as they
might have been, however, for they per-
mitted the old lady TO occupy one of the
cottages that she formerly occupied,
charging her only 81 year for the privi-
lege.
Mlss Russell testified that her aunt,
Mrs. Robinson, is so old and decrepit that
she has altogether lost her memory. After
her nearest friend has been absent from
the house an hour the old lady cannot
recollect the name of the friend, though
she may not have altogether forgotten the
person.
No explanation has been made of the
manner in which Mrs. Macdougal and
Mrs. Hudgin induced Mrs. Robinson to
sign the deeds, though Miss Russell i'm
plies that they exerted undue influence on
the old lady during the last sickness of
her husband. Mrs. Hudgin is a teach er
and leader in Christian Science circles
and Mrs. Macdougal is one of her disci-
pies. The ministrations of the Christian
Scientists were not efficient in saving the
life of Mrs. Robinson's hus band, but this
fact did not shake the old lady's faith as
is shown by her conveyance of her prop
erty to them.
DR.. Henry D. Wright, Thomas Downey,
Catherine E. Fuller and George L. Tilden
testified to the fact that Mrs. Robinson
has been feeble minded for long time.
Mr.. Tilden said that when Mrs. Robin
sons husband died she complained to
him that she hadn't money enough to
bury him with, though she was at that
moment the possessor of thousands of
dollars worth of property and in the re-
ceipt of constant cash income from the
rent of her buildings. He knew this
property belonged to her, as it was her
own separate property, purchased with
money earned before her marriage, and
the title always stood in her name.
The defendants will be called on to-day
to give their side OF the case and to ex-
plain how they got the deeds TO the prop
erty.