The San Francisco call., 1907-03-17
GROSS FRAUD CHARGED
IN SUITS FILED AGAINST
LOCAL REALTY DEALERS
Widow of George D. Bliss
Alleges That Trusted
Agents Robbed Her
JUGGLE WITH SALES
Firm of Landgrebe, Mac
Nevin & Jones Placed
in a Bad Light
JUGGLE WITH SALES

A brazen fraud of large proportions,
/ alleged to have been perpetrated by
Robert G. Landgrebe, William v. Mac
| Nevin and John c. Jones of the local
real estate firm OF Landgrebe, Mac
Nevin & Jones, with Mrs. Martha S.
| Bliss, widow of George D. Bliss,
the cattle king, as a victim, came to
Hight yesterday through the filing of
two suits In the Superior Court. The
real estate men are charged with hav-
ing taken advantage Of Mrs. Bliss ig-
norance of business affairs and her
confidence in them to rob her OF S16,-
$50 on a property purchase, and later
to induce her to sell the same prop
erty to one of their fellow conspirators
at loss of approximately 100000. For
/ mer Superintendent of Streets w. f.
Ambrose and Charles A. Evans, house
painter. are made codefendants in one
of the suits and are accused of being
parties to the alleged conspiracy.
George D. Bliss died about five years
ago, leaving an estate valued at about
! 81 ,000,000 to his widow, who now lives
at 2101 Broderick street. She alleges
in her complaints that from May, 1905,
to February, 1906, the defendant firm
bore the relation to her of agents and
confidential advisers, MacNevin par
ticularly being a friend in whom she
had implicit faith, he having told her
that he would act toward her as son.
! On August 81, 1905, Mrs. Bliss went
to Helena, Mont, remaining there until
July 3, 1906. During her absence she
wished to sell a piece of property in
Tenth street and invest the proceeds
in other property. In November, 1905,
the defendants sold the land for her
for $42,500, advising her to invest the
proceeds in lot on Pacific street, near
Kearny, which was offered for sale by
J William Tracy through b. p. Oliver, his
agent. 1t is alleged in the present ac-
ton that the purchase price of this
property was actually $1,000, but that
the defendants represented to her that
it was S52,500 and that the property
was worth 100000
GROSS FRAUD CHARGED
The complaint AYERS that the deal
was closed as suggested Mrs. Bliss
paying SAL 900 in cash and agreeing to
give mortgage for S11,5 to the Ger
man Savings and Loan Society to cover
the difference 1t is here that the first
of the alleged juggling occurred. 1t
is asserted that the defendants paid
| $37 .000 down for the property and had
1T decided to William S. Martin, who in
turn decided 1t to Mrs. Bliss for S52.500.
| both deeds being recorded the same
day, Martin, it is said acting without
interest in the matter except TO aid the
scheme. The mortgage was made in
Martins name, recorded January IL,
| 1906. and drawn for s12,500 instead of
| s1I,500.
Not satisfied, however, with this
swindle on the purchase of the prop
erty. Mrs. Bliss charges that the real
estate men urged her into a ruinous
sale. When the property in Pacific
street was purchased it was improved
with a four-story brick building, which
was insured for $4,000. Mrs. Bliss
collected $4,000 of this amount and was
then advised by the defendants. she
terest in the outstanding $4,000 insur-
ance to w. +. Ambrose, who is asso-
ciated with them in business, for $1,000,
it being urged that the mortgage
against the property might be fore
closed.
Mrs. Bliss accepted this advice, and
the property was decided on Septern-
ber 20, 1906. to Ambrose, and by him
to Charles a. Evans, house painter
and friend of MacNevin, who now holds
the title. 1t is asserted that this transt
fer was the outcome of a conspiracy;
that the defendants furnished AM
brose, whose Office is with their own
at 1907 Geary street. the money with
which to make the purchase, and that
they have since collected consider
able portion of the outstanding insur- |
ance.
WANTS DEEDS SET ASIDE
Mrs Bliss declares that she never |