Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-13
.THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE.
They Commence to Grind in Fort Wrangle. The Possession of
 Valuable Property Involved.
A BIG LAW SUIT BOOM.

The Brown Heirs Commence Legal Proceedings.
 Spanish Gunsery. W. Ii, Porter Co.,
 Wine Taking. Why Washers are Short
 sighted.
 The fourth page of our last week s issue contained the following item:
 The lawyers are complaining of dull times. Poor things
 The above was written the latter part of the previous week and by the time the inside pages were written up, liti- gations were commenced ill this city that surpassed any previous boom in the law suit line in Fort Wrangel.
 Way back in the early days in the his tory of this city. there lived man nam ed Charles Brown who gobbled up con siderable of Fort Wrangel property. Brown became dissatisfied here and moved to Juneau where he died after d two years residence ill that place. We have not inquired into the cause of his demise, but moving from d good, live town to sleepy little place no doubt had something to do with it, but the cause of his death is not an important matter so far as the litigatIons are con cerned. and being real dead. the admin istrators of his estate took hold of Browns affairs and commenced to un- tangle things and convert the property into money. The administrator sold the Fort Wrangel property, got the cash and turned the money into the Brown cash till and the purchasers were put into possession and they put up lasting and valuable improvements thereon, and have continued in such possession for years, one of which dates back to the year 1880.
 In March of this year the admins trator was removed and one Samuel Cohn of Juneau, We understand, was appointed, and he is made the plaintiff in these litigations involving the Brown property.
 The action is called forcible entry and forcible detainer and involves the right to the possession of the property in dispute.
 One of the lots included is located opposite the Cagle store building, the Stikeen House and the property imme- diatly in front of it and also the prop erty due south, all of which is on North Front street. Down on South Front. Mir. Cohn has been less modest, for there he claims the Mrs. McKinnon gar den and the lot on which the building is located that is occupied by $. Strouse, the Mercantile restaurant and F, w. Carlyon and all south to the high tide line which takes in the 60 foot street, Mir. Duncan Mckinnon's store and con siderable property east of it, and one other lot further east than that just described.
 In these cases, which make--per- sons defendants, M. J. Cochran and C.. o. Bates. two of the best lawyers in Alaska, are for plaintiff and C. Il. Sund- macher and A. c. Mcbride are attor- neys for the defendants.
 Thus far we have not mentioned the case of Willoughby Clark and others against the Mckinnon Wharf company. This also involves the question of the right of possession. the plaintiffs claim ing that the wharf is partially built on tide lands that belong to them. They are extremely modest in this demand and claim only 5l0,O0O.OO damages and for the value of the Use of the tide lands. The United States is not made a party, although 1t reserves all rights and title to the same. or in other words, the United States ''ain't in it." To some it may seem that Mr. Clark is taking an unfair advantage of Uncle Sam, in bringing this matter up while he is so busy with the Spanish war. Imagine his surprise to wake up some morning and find that Mr. Clark has judgment for the possession of some of his prop erty and that it was taken when he was so awful busy, that he just couldn't look after the matter. Now Mr. Clark is full of patriotism, he loves his cuun- try, and is always one of the first to celebrate it's birthday and successes, or to extol its virtues, but we doubt not that he will make satisfactory eX- plantations when the proper time ar rives.
 The defendants in all these eases are in most happy state of composure over the matter and we understand are eating three meals day and sleep soundly nights.
 In this case, NJ. J. Cochran, o. c. Bates, and Clark, Ingersol < Wey- mouth are attorneys for plaintiff and C. II. Sundmacher and A. c. Mcbride for defendant.
 Spanish Gunnery. i G.Nou etop tbot rnUinoI" pou ctop