Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1899-08-31
A Remarkable Case

A few days ago the Report contained
mention of a suit brought by l.. Yori
against Elkin Cohn, both of Douglas
county. Having since come into pos
session of the main facts Of the case,
We publish for the benefit of our read
ers the events which led up to what
promises to be one of the strangest
egal battles in the history OF Nevada.
1t seems that about fifteen years ago
Elkin COhn of Carson Valley owned
400 acres of the finest land in that
valley, a property which is valued at
over 500, 900 today. Desiring to make
a trip to his old home 10 Germany, he
decided the land to his brother, Morris,
and made a will leaving the property
to Morris in case of his own death.
The understanding was that in case of
his return from Germany, Morris was
to deed the property back to him.
In the course of a few years Elkin
Cohn returned from Germany and
Morris offered to deed the property
back, but Elkin decided to let matters
stand as they were. Iu the course Of
time, however, he repented of this de-
cision and wanted Morris to return the
property. But Morris had changed
his mind also and he decided hat he
portuned Morris to give him a power
of attorney, which Morris agreed to do
and here the trouble began.
After getting the power of attorney
Elkin decided the property to himself.
1t was leased out to various tenants
and Morris. who executed the various
leases, paid no attention to EIKin's
new deed and went ahead collecting all
the rents, while the only financial con-
nection Elkiu had with the proposition
was to pay the taxes.
One of their most considerable ten
ants was L. YOri, who conducted an
extensive cream and butter manufac-
fury in the valley. He was paying
$4,000 per year for his lease to Morris
Cohn, hut when the lease was about to
expire some months ago, he was APP
preached by Elkin Cohn, who offered
to lease him the land for the ensuing
year for $4,000. Yori was about to close
the deal, when Morris Cohn bobbeG
up with a proposition to let him have
the land for $500 a year. Yori closed
with this proposition on condition that
he should be given a five years lease,
which was granted him.
Elkin Cohn, who had been viewing
with anguish the spectacle Of Yori's
stock running the land which he O L
sidered rightfully belonged to him,
then went to a friend named Friedman
and promised him 5 per cent commits
sion if he would effect a deal with Yori,
buying his dairy, stock and fve-year
lease. Friedman agreed and success
fully negotiated the sale, buying Iori
out for a sum in the neighb0rhoOd OF
$50, 600. The payments were made in
the shape of $1,000 cash down, and four
promisory notes for $4,000 apiece.
When the time came for the payment
of the first note Elkin Cohn failed to
produce and Yori accordingly ~brough,
suit against him for the recovery Of
the money. Friedman also brought
suit for the recovery of his 5 per cen,
commission. Elkin COhn employed
counsel to defend him and Morris COIN
retained attorneys to protect his inter"
ests. In consequence about a dozer
lawyers have their fms in tie case and
every legal shark in Carson is happy
over the prospects Of a harvest. The
case is such an extremely complicated
one, however, and the prospects OF ar
appeal to the Supreme Court so prob
able. no matter what the decision o
the District Court may be- that it i:
likely all the parties interested will be
some years older before they reaE
either benefit or loss from the result o
he contest. Report.