The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-16
SHORTR|DGE AND
NEVILLS CLASH
PyrotechniCs in Court
at San Jose.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, May 15.-The suit of Cap
tain w. A Nevills against Samuel M.
and Charles NJ Shortridge to recover
$50, 900 due on two promissory notes
was up before Judge Lorigan to-day.
Shortridge, on the ground that it was
prematurely brought.
Senator Charles NJ. Shortridge and
Captain Nevills clashed in Judge Lori
gans court during the trial this after
noon, and possible bloodshed was avert
ed only by the summoning of a bailiff
to restore order. Shortridge was fined
$50 or two days imprisonment in Jail
for applying vile epithets to the Million
aire miner, and paid the fine. Nevills
made motion as if to draw a revolver,
and when he attempted to arise from
his chair Attorneys Reardon and Camp
bell caught hold of him.
The sensation of the day came with
the appearance of Senator Shortridge
on the witness stand. Attorney Rear
don inquired of the witness if at an
interview in his office he (Reardon) had
agreed to extend the time of the notes
one year if Shortridge would let his
furniture and library in at $4,000 instead
of $1,000.
Yes, / let that - rob me of $50, 900, y
replied Shortridge, pointing at Nevills.
NeVillS reached under his coat as if
for a revolver and started to arise from
his chair. His attorneys grabbed him.
Shortridge glared at Nevills and applied
another epithet.
Judge Lorigan then took a hand. He
upbraided the Senator for having used
indecent language and fined him $50 for
contempt with the alternative of two
days in Jail. Later the Judge cut off the
alternative and Shortridge paid the
fine After court adjourned Senator
Shortridge said he was willing to pay
$50 for a chance to express his opinion
of Nevills.
Shortridge and Nevills met on the
courthouse steps this morning and a
clash was then narrowly averted.
On November 80, 1896, the Shortridge
brothers borrowed $4,000 from Nevills
on two promissory notes, giving as Sc
curity a house and lot on Washington
street, San Francisco, some land in
Arizona and property in this county.
The notes were payable one year after
date, but interest or principal came
not. Nevills and Samuel Shortridge
had a falling out later, and the former
demanded his money. When about to
bring foreclosure proceedings the
Messrs. Shortridge turned over the
property as part payment on principal,
and they were given a years further
time on thebalance. Now Nevills wants
a settlement. The Messrs. Shortridge
were credited with a payment of $31, 1872
on the principal on April 80 last by the
turning over of the property. After
ward Nevills secured Charles M. Short
ridges furniture and allowed a further
credit of $1,000.
Nevills claims these credits applied
to both notes. The Shortridges deny
this. In answer they set forth that the
$40. 900 note has been paid and that the
credits applied on the $4,000 note only.
Furthermore, they presented a counter
claim of $4,000 against Nevills for
counsel services rendered by S. NJ.
Shortridge. and asked for dismissal of
the suit and a Judgment against their
erstwhile friend.
Samuel NJ Shortridge was on the
stand the most of the day. At times
he waxed wroth. He denounced New
ills as malicious, Wanton and vicious
man, who had sought to ruin his broth
er and himself