Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-18
BITTER FIGHT IN
SUIT FOR RICHES
CAREAGA MILLIONS SOUGHT
BY HEIRS
BROTHER PUTS IN A CLAIM
Ramon careaga Says He Was Part
ner In the Ownership Of 10000
Acres Of Land Near Santa
Barbara
BROTHER PUTS IN A CLAIM

The Juan Careaga case, which is TO
be given a hearing in the courts Of
Santa Barbara county September 10,
and which involves the settlement of
an estate variously estimated at from
ss.0OO.0O0 to $4,OO000O to all appear
ances promises to become as famous
as that of the great Blythe case of the
early nineties.
In many respects the two suits are
strikingly similar. In the distribution
Of the Blythe estate heirs from every
part of the world appeared to claim a
share of the property. There were
claims and counter claims, the case
finally being taken to the supreme
court for settlement.
That the hearing of the case next
month at Santa Barbara is but the
opening skirmish in what is to be a
long drawn out, hard fought affair, Is
practically admitted by several of the
interested parties.
The property to be divided consists
of 10000 acres of valuable oil produc-
ing land in the northern part of Santa
Barbara county, the worth of which
gives assurance that the brilliant legal
feat only when the case is carried to
the highest department of the judi
ciary.
Other Heirs May Appear
Among those who are cognizant of
the affairs of Careaga, some of whom
are to appear as witnesses, it is freely
predicted that before a settlement is
arrived at other persons claiming to
be descendants of the well-to-do Span
lard will ask for slice Of the estate
One complication has already arisen
and IL decided in favor of the plaintiff
will give to the heirs only portion of
the estate which they are now fighting
for among themselves.
Ramon Careaga, brother of Juan,
claims that he was a partner of Juan
in the ownership of the 10000 acres of
land and has asked the courts to make
the necessary allotment. 1t is said that
there is no contract in existence which
goes to show that such relationship
existed between the brothers, but that
during his later lifetime Juan ac-
knowledged his partnership with Ra-
mon.
Juan came of the stock which re-
fused to recognize the fact that dis
honor could exist in business affairs.
To him mans word was that mans
oath, contract and honor combined. He
had business acumen but not an un-
derstanding of business intricacies,
classed in the present day under the
conscience amounting terms" of
high finance"
Here is a single instance of his in
tegrity in money questions and his be-
lief in others:
A friend had asked him for a loan
of $1,000, which was Immediately forth
coming. The debtor carried with him
a blank note made payable one day
after the date on which the note was
due. What is this for" asked Car
eaga when the paper was placed in
his hand. "It is to insure you against
the nonpayment of this money" was
the response. els that the opinion you
have of yourself?" asked Careaga, and
so saying he tore the paper to pieces,
throwing the fragments on the ground.
d Lax In Business Methods
Such instances, but where good
faith has not been in evidence, say the
heirs. will deprive them of much
money otherwise due them"
In the case of Eloisa de Sammann
of Los Angeles, who by putting forth
proof Of her illegitimacy hopes to OBJ
tain one fourth of the estate, the col
lection Of evidence has been going on
for over a year.
DIspensatlon From Bishop
One of the important pieces of evil
dence, according to the assertions Of
the plaintiffs lawyers, is a deposition
made in Spain by Bishop Mora only a
short time before his death. Bishop
Mora of the diocese of Los Angeles
and Monterey was the last OF the
old Spanish bishops in California. He,
1t was, say Eloisa de Sammann's law
yers, who gave the dispensation of the
church by which she was enabled to
marry Protestant. Their assertion is
that Careaga himself applied for the
dispensation, saying Eloisa was his
own child and not Figueroa. as the
other heirs now contend.