Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-26
ATTORNEY MAY
Be OISBARREO
JUDGE GIBBS MAKES REPORT
ON CASE
Hsbess Corpus Lawyer Is Involved In
the Attempted Settlement Of
Estate Of the Late Sarah
Johnson

AS a. result or 0eClSlOn nd1ueu uOWI
yesterday by Judge Gibbs of depart
ment two of the superior court, the Los
Angeles County Bar association Will
probably Investigate the nlethods used
by Attorney C. B. Ladd In his attempted
settlement of the estate of the late
Sarah johnson.
Attorney Ladd better known as "Ha-
beas Corpus" Ladd, because Of his
many successes in securing the release
Of criminals under the habeas corpus
law, has been member of the local
bar for many years and is well known
throughout the state.
For some days past G.. II. Noll has
been fighting Ladd in department two
of the superior court, asking that Ladd
be ousted as administrator of the estate
of the late Mrs. Sarah johnson, and
that he, Noll, be appointed in his
stead.
When the investigation was ordered
by the court 1t was thought that an or
dnary report would result, but no such
condition was supposed to exist as that
reported by Judge Gibbs yesterday,
when, after having thoroughly inquired
into the details Of the filing of Mrs.
Johnson's will, he handed down a de-
cision in which the members of the bar
association are asked to investigate the
case with a view to the disbarment of
Attorney Ladd.
Story of viii
The facts as set forth by Judge Gibbs
report yesterday are as follows:
Sarah johnson, divorced woman,
inherited property form her mother.
She invested this Inheritance in Los
Angeles property, and died May 10, 1906
rc
bourne of San Jose.
Mrs. Johnson went to the Office of
Hester & Ladd in July of 1904 for the
purpose of having her will drawn. By
the terms of the will she gave her
daughter one dollar, the balance Of the
property to be equally divided between
her relatives in the east. Mr.. Hester
is named in the will as executor, but
his mind seems to be perfect blank
on the point, for he does not remember
ever having seen her.
After the death of Mrs. Johnson,
Mrs. Sherbourne. in company with a
relative, went to the office of Hester e.
Ladd and there she was induced to
sign a nomination of Mr.. Ladd to act
as administrator of Mrs. Johnson's es-
tate, and was also induced to sign
note and mortgage to some person
named by Mr. Ladd for $2793, as stated
by Mr.. Ladd for costs and expenses and
for keeping things smooth. Mr. Ladd
said that he had Mrs. Johnson's will
in his safe, which only gave Mrs. Sher
bourne one dollar and that if it should
be discovered Mrs Sherbourne would
not receive the money, and in consider
alton of this large mortgage the will
would be suppressed.
Judge Regrets Necessity
"In consideration of the mortgage it
was agreed that the will in the safe of
Hester & Ladd should be suppressed or
destroyed, and Della Sherbourne should
receive the entire estate. In pursuance
of this agreement G. B. Ladd applied to
the court for letters of administration,
that Sarah Johnson died with
out leaving will and asking letters of
to be issued to him. NJ
C. Hester, Ladds partner, appeared as
Ladd's attorney in the administration
proceedings.
Later the estate proceeded to final
and petition for distribution
and then when the same came up for
hearing this court did not like the ap-
pearance OF the account or the fee
asked for so the matter was submitted
for examination.
Neither Attorney Hester nor Attor-
ney Ladd is OH trial in this case, still
every step and every act is so inter-
linked with them that it is impossible
to write this opinion without using their
names, and | would. if l could, stay
the hand that writes this opinion. ]
have deemed 1t of sufficient Importance
to call the attention of the proper au-
thorities to the case with the eXpecta-
ton that they will take appropriate
action"
Following the filing OF the above opin-
ion by Judge Gibbs yesterday in set
tlement Of Mrs. Johnsons estate he
ousted Attorney Ladd. who is alleged
to have suppressed the real will and
substituted the unsigned will, and in
his stead appointed c. II. Noll admin
istrator, under $4,000 bonds.