The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-04

Sinclair to be appointed guardian of the
person and estate of his brother, Thomp-
son w. Sinclair, before Superior Judge
Hall this afternoon.
The petitioner and another brother,
Dave Sinclair, clerk of Judge Greene's
court, first testified that t. w. Sinclair
though 81 years of age, was much given
to evils of the flowing bowl and that when
in his cups he would dispose of all of his
clothes even to his shoes. On one occa-
sion petitioner had placed the erring
brother in home, where he took cure
but without lasting results. Also that he
had come to him a few weeks ago and
asked to be placed once more in an insti-
tuition where he could be kept away from
liquor.
I'VE arranged with the Sheriff to have
Thompson plead guilty to trivial
charge" said the petitioner land then
1ncarcarate him at the County Jail This
was done at Thompson's request and of
his own volition. Subsequently, during
the middle of last month, F. w. Sawyer,
an attorney, called on me and asked
whether l was going to prosecute my
brother for anything, and l told him the
circumstances plainly. He told me then
that my brother wished some good coffee,
and l sent it to the jail.
A few days later witness had learned
that the incarcerated brother had trans
ferred to f. w. Sawyer and J. E. Ben
nett his entire interest of nearly $1,000 in
the estate of the mother, who died in
Michigan.
Sawyer and Bennett appeared as attor-
neyS for Thompson w. Sinclair to-day
and M c. Chapman, as attorney for the
petitioner, put them on the stand. Ben
nett stated that he had first met his client
in the County Jail, where Brandes the
man held for numbering his daughter, had
told him that Sinclair had asked for an
attorney. He consulted Sinclair, who. he
testified. had told him that his brothers
were trying to have him declared incon1-
petent, and he wished to get out of Jail
Witness denied that he had asked the
prisoner 10 nominate him as guardian, but
had suggested the name of J. G.. Wright
of Berkeley.
Sinclair told me, too, that he was in
terested in the $4,000 estate of his mother.
but l do not remember whether he said
his interest was $4,000 or whether that
was the value of the estate'
Bennett next was asked about the
transfer of the prisoners interest, and
the agreement was produced II provides
for fee of SO 1-3 per cent of the prisoner's
interest for legal services rendered. in
protecting his rights. Witness, in answer
to another question, stated that he did
not regard 1t as strange that the pris-
oner should enter into such an agreement
with stranger. On further examination
1t developed also that the attorneys had
written to sister of the prisoner asking
her, as executor of the mothers estate,
brother out of Jail.
The petitioner, who is a reputable COM
mission merchant, and his brother. Dave.
declare that there is no contest over the
mothers estate. that the four children
Will get share and share alike as soon "a
1t Is ready for distribution and thev wish
now to have the contract between their
err1ng brother and Sawyer e Bennett de-
clared VOID, and thus protect him in his
interest. Sawyer e Bennett are lust as
serious in their contention.