The herald., 1898-12-22

The Britshers Of Los Angeles have a
pretty row on hand, which promises to re.
semble very lively game of their national
pastme, cricket. c. White Mortimer is
at the bat, where he has been for so
many years, defending the vice consulate
wicket from the interference of policemen,
who objected to the Union Jack flying with
out the Stars and Stripes, and other assaults.
Charles A. Sumner, the energetic real estate
man, who developed Catalina, and is now
populating Terminal island, has "gone on
the bowl" with the desperate intention OF
putting C. White Mortimer out before he
scores any more runs or fees.
The porty and somewhat pompous person
of C. White Mortimer, ESQ., her Britannic
majesty's vice consul for Wilmington and
Los Angeles, Cal, is well known to most
Englishmen in Southern California; how
well liked is another story. According to
Mr.. Sumner, not very much. While no
charges have been preferred against the
vice consul, and from all evidence he has
performed his duties with dignity and dis
patch, he has apparently managed to be-
come persona non grata' TO good many
Englishmen hereabouts.
About eighteen months ago, at the time
of the golden jubilee, considerable adverse
comment was leveled at the august head
of the vice consul because he countenanced
a somewhat dubious scheme to raise funds
for the proper celebration of Nictoria's Goth
wear on Britains throne. Mr.. Mortimer
at that time was very much incensed against
the criticism, and expressed himself to a
Herald reporter in no uncertain terms.
However, the feeling, if such really exists,
against Mr.. Mortimer has now come to
head. Petitions have been drawn up and
are being circulated, asking that Mr.. Morti-
mer be removed. Inferentially the petition
inveighs against the present consul, and
prays for the appointment of an English
man OF good social standing.
The wrath of C. White Mortimer, esq,
has evidently been stirred as is evidenced by
the following letter:
British Vice Consulate Q
Los Angeles, Cal, Dec 81, 1898. .
To the City Editor of the Los Angeles .
. Herald:
Dear Sir-There is a notice in today's 0
Times asking Britishers to call at the 0
office of c. A. Sumner and sign petit .
ton. am informed that this is pc .
. tition for my removal. Although DO .
not want to court publicity, still less .
would l desire publication Of an ex Q
parte statement by Sumner, and only o
. write you now for the purpose of re- .
. questing YOU not to publish anything o
about this petition without giving me Q
an opportunity to place my side OF the o
. matter before your readers. The .
facts, briefly, are that | had to turn .
Sumner out OF my office some time ago: o
that subsequently, / obtained judg 9
Q ments against him, which | advertised Q
for sale, and that recently | sold the 9
judgments to him at about fifty cents o
on the dollar, besides letting him off .
. future payment of about $4,000. My o
object in advertising the judgments for o
sale was to counteract malicious and o
scandalous stories which he was cir
. culating about me. o
Faithfully yours, o
C. WHITE MORTIMER 0
Mr.. Sumner had not attempted to make
any eX parte statement to The Herald. but
was last night shown copy of Mr. Morti-
mer's letter, when he wrote the following:
In answer to Mr.. c. White Mortimer's
letter about a petition that is being crcu-
lated by me for his removal from office,
would say that the following petition is the
one that no doubt he refers to. judging
from the number of signers that are fiockiny
into my office and subscribing their names
! have evidently taken the lead in matter
that is OF vital interest to many British-born
citizens, and | have to thank Mr.. Mortimer
for giving the petition so much extra pub
hclty. c. a. SUMNER.