Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-20
SEEKS REDRESS;
SUES PARTNERS
FOR 100000
MILLIONAIRE Defendant IN
LEGAL TANGLE
MINE PRESIDENT CHARGES MA
LIcIoUs PROSECUTION
Attorneys for Plaintiff Promise Sem
sational Developments in Action
Taken Against Two River
side Men

Charging malicious prosecution and
claiming damages to the extent of
100000, a suit was filed in the superior
H. A. Landwehr, president of the Seal
of Gold Mining company, operating the
mine of that name near Dale, San Ber-
| nardino county, against Alexander
| Strachan and p. T. Evans, the latter
accused of instigating the alleged ma
| lIcious prosecution.
| A. D. Laughlin, a well-known attor-
ney of Los Angeles with offices at GIL
| Homer Laughlin building, has been en-
gagged with Attorneys George H. Moore
and Arthur L. Halves to represent the
plaintiff, and said yesterday to a re-
porter of The Herald that sensational
developments, no idea Of which can
| yet be given to the public, may be an
ticipated. and that several important
suits will follow the one begun yes
| terday.
| The prominence of Strachan and Ste
| vens will excite a great deal of inter-
est in the case. especially as both men
are among the leading capitalists of
Riverside county and high up in the
social and business affairs of River
side.
Strachan and Stevens both are direc-
tors in the Seal of Gold Mining COM
pany. of which Landwehr Is president,
and Stevens has extensive holdings In
real estate in different parts of South
ern California. Strachan is reported to
| be almost millionaire.
| Parties who claim to be familiar with
| the facts In the case express the opin-
ion that an alleged attempt at freeze
out is back of the case.
| The story of the affairs leading up to
| the sensational damage suit filed yes
terday is alleged to be as follows:
| On January 1, 1908, before Landwehr
| took charge of the Seal of Gold Min
! ing company and became personal
manager of the Seal of Gold mine, he
tried to arrange for an overdraft ac-
count with the Columbia Trust COM
pany. The latter declined to permit
| the company as corporation to over
draw, but extended credit to Mr.. Land
| wehr personally and placed an over
draw account to his credit.
Drew Necessary Sum
I From this personal overdraft account
i Mr.. Landwehr drew the money neces-
1 sary for the mines payroll and Incl
dental expenses of operating. He
shipped three bars of gold bullion to
| the Columbia Trust company, and the
bars, it is said, were sent to the mint,
and Landwehr was credited with the
returns-all of which, according to
Landwehr, was with the knowledge and
consent Of the directors of the Seal OF
Gold Mining company.
| After this, however, 1t is alleged
Landwehr drew checks for several hun
bred dollars in excess of the overdraft
account and gold bullion returns ac-
credited to it,
At this time, it is alleged, Landwehr
owned 60 per cent of the stock of the
Seal of Gold Mining company and the
other 40 per cent was divided princi-
pally between Strachan and Stevens,
with a few other stockholders, as legal
| Nv necessary to pad OUT it is said.
On April 2S three complaints were
sworn to by Alexander Strachan,
charging Landwehr with the embezzle-
ment of the three gold bullion bars.
valued respectively at 1925, $500 and
$3.50.
| Landwehr was given his examination
on May 10 before Justice III. A. Pierce,
sitting for Justice A. J. Summerfield,
and, after hearing all the evidence,
| Landwehr was discharged on the
ground that he had committed no Of
Tense under the law.
| AS a result Landwehr began his ac-
ton yesterday in the superior court of
Riverside county against Stevens and
Strachan on the charge of malicious
prosecution, asking for 100000 dam
ages. What may ensue from the de-
cision in the present case will not be
given out, but 1t is stated more sensa-
| lions are imminent