Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-06-07
.CATRON IGNORES
LEGAL ACTION
Refuses to Execute
Deed to Elks'
Lodge.
HE IS THE WHOLE CHEESE
Will Fight Resolution Direct
ing Sale to Bitter End---
D. the Board.


T. Is. Catron, president of the City
Board of Education, has refused to
sign the deed for the lot on Lincoln
Avenue sold by the board Monday
night for $500 to Santa F'e Lodge No.
AGO, B. P. o. Elks. to be used as
site for its projected opera house and
club rooms. He then and there stated
that in case mandamus proceedings are
instituted to compel him to sign the
deed, he would fight the matter to the
last ditch, which although there Is lit
tie doubt that in the end the order
would win the case it would mean a
delay of at least a year, which the
Elks feel they cannot afford
As told to a representative of the
New Mexican this morning by Exalt.
ed Ruler Norman l.. King, the case
is as follows:
Business Men Favor Elks.
About three months ago, com
mttee from the Elks' Lodge went be-
fore the City Board of Education and
made proposition to the effect that
the lodge would pay $500 for certain
lot on Grant Avenue, and guarantee
to build an opera house thereon. At
the same time the committee present
ed to the board petition signed by
practically every business man and
tax payer in the city, requesting that
the offer of the lodge be accepted, as
the need of a theater in this city was
recognized. BY vote OF six to two,
T. B. Catron and Judge N, B. Laugh.
lin, being the two opposing, the
board decided to sell the lot for the
sum of $500. At the same time there
was a provision that the deed for the
property should be he. in escrow un-
til the completion of T. Ss.tlding. In
order to secure funds ? which to
build the opera house II n .aa Hec
essary for the Elks to issu sonds
10 the amount of s25,0o9, T1dihg that
sith the deed In escrftR ~ would be
practically jmpes sioie ts;tr foat the
bonds, and IN orsas w remedy this
difficulty another committee went be-
fore the board last Monday night.
"Thefe were six members OF the
board present and by vote Of four
to two, President Catron and Judge
N. B. Laughlin, still opposing the sale,
decision was reached that the lot
should be sold to the Elks for $500
on condition that the lodge should
build an opera house within two years
If at the end Of that time the build
ing had not been constructed the
lodge was to pay an additional $782
which with the $500 would be equal to
the appraised value of the property.
Yesterday afternoon, Attorney r.
H. Hanna and H. D. Clarke, employed
by the Elks as promoter, called upon
Mr.. Catron, and after informing him
that they were ready to 60 on with
the work of dlsposing of the bonds.
asked him to sign the deed. To their
surprise, he fatty refused to do so,
and would give them no encourage
ment of any kind.
Catron Gives Reason.
Attorney Hanna and Mr.. Clarke
reported the result of their visit to
the members of the lodge, and Attor-
ney A. B. Renehan was then deputized
to call upon the president of the
board to ascertain what could be done
Mr.. Catron had made the assertion
that he did not feel that he would be
doing his duty as member of the
board II he were to consent to the sale
Of the lot for $500, which Is less than
its appraised. value. Taking this as
a basis for his interview with Mr.. Cat
ron, Attorney Renehan asked him II
he would be willing, In case mandam.
us proceedings were instituted against
him, to permit the matter to come to
trial without delay. This Attorney
Renehan informed him would free him
Of all responsibility In the matter. In
answer to this Mr.. Catron lntimated
that he would not abide by any deci
sion made in the district court, but
would appeal to the supreme court and
would make use of all privileges al
lowed him by law. The appeals and
adjournments would necessarily con
sumo considerable time.
"For the purpose Of discussing what
was best to be done In the matter
. the Elks held a meeting last night and
after reviewing the situation thorough
ly decided that 1t would be useless
to carry the matter any further, I'm
less some new phase might arise ir
the case.
{ Determined not to abandon the
, idea of building an opera house. the!
discussed the possibility Of erecting
1t on the lot owned by them on Palace
Avenue. The idea appealed favorabl!
to many of the members and although
no definite decision was reached, thi'
action will, probably be taken.