The San Francisco call., 1910-01-04
CLARA HAGGFTT
SEEKS TO GUST
HER ATTORNEY
Woman Suing Bankers Son
Says w. II. Killer Wanted
Her to Elope to Mexico

Miss Clara Haggett, who is suing p.
E. Bowles Jr of Oakland for $4,000
for breach of promise. wants to rid
herself of her attorney of record in
the case, William H. Killer, who has Of
fees in the Metropolis bank building,
this city. and one of her grounds of
complaint against the lawyer is that
he wanted her to elope with him to
Mexico.
That such an adventure did not ap-
peal to the young women is apparent
from the fact that yesterday she and
another attorney, Oren r. b. Leidy.
filed affidavits with the superior court
of Alameda county in support of mo-
tion that Kilerbe be replaced by Leidy
in the suit. which comes to trial Janu-
ary Z.
The action brought by Miss Haggett
has been sensational and the develop
ments promised by the motion just
filed makes it even more sensational.
Bowles. the defendant in the breach
of promise action, is a son of 2. f.
Bowles, the Oakland banker. He is
prominent society man of Alameda
county and was private secretary to
Victor H. Metcalf when Metcalf was
secretary of the navy in Roosevelts
cabinet. In her complaint Miss Hag
gett alleged that trusting in Bowles'
fluent promises. she lived with him in
Washington as his wife
Killer was out of sight yesterday
He could not be found at his office in
this city not at his home. $40 Twelfth
street, Oakland
There will te some excitement for
him when he appears in the Haggett
case, for the young woman is deter
mined to oust him from his position
as her attorney. The tenacity with
which Killer will cling to his job can
only be surmised.
In the affidavits filed yesterday both
Miss Haggett and Leidy assert that
Killer has ever acted adverse TO the
best interests of his client.
the break first came in the affairs OF
Miss Haggett and young BowIes the
woman met Leidy in New York and he
agreed to take up her suit for her.
coming on to Oakland to press the
action. Leidv went to Brewton A
attorneys, he says. He offered them 40
pei. cent of his fee if the case was set
tied without trial and so per cent If
the cause came TO trial. Hayne refused
to take the case, but Killer took it up.
Then according to the affidavits
fled. Killer began a series of delays and
of neglect of Miss Haggetts interests.
The wolf at the door nearly spoiled
the suit for it is stated that the action
was first delayed until Killer could bor-
row the filing fee of SIS and enter the
papers. The defense was granted every
thing it wished and Leidy declares that
the case could have been set for trial
at an earlier date if Killer had not made
false representations to him.
Killer wanted to get hold of the ex-
hibits in the case. the tender missives
of love which are said to have been
written by Bowles to Miss Haggett On
these letters her case largely rests. 1t
need these letters to learn how to ad-
dress his client in a sentimental strain,
for it is said that he used to write to
her as Dear Clara Two letters from
Killer to the woman are attached to the
affidavit, and one of these carries the
endearing salutation.
During this time. it is alleged. Killer
tried to undermine Leidy in Miss Hae-
gett's mind. He told Miss Haggett
that Leidy had offered to sell the
Bowles love letters to W. H Chickering
attorney for Bowles He wanted Miss
Haggett to substitute Attorney Phillip
w. Walsh for Leidy. When the plain
tiff refused to do this. it is said. Killer
threatened to go to Chickering and
queer the whole case"
During this time there was a second
ary romantic movement introduced by
Killer, who wanted his client to settle
the case and eiope with him to Mexico.
When she declined the romantic op
portunity Killer grew material and sent
a bill for SIS. He offered to withdraw
from the case If he was paid that
amount
Leid asserts that the trial was set
for December %, last, and that Killer
was not present in court on that date
and the case might have been dis
missed had not Leidy been present and
stopped the motion At that time Fig
gerald and Abbott were substituted for
Chickering as attorneys for Bowles.
The affidavits of Miss Haggett and
Leidy, as originally drawn up. were
startling documents, but the afliants
censored them before fling. They
crossed out the elopement to Mexico
proposition, so that it is not in the
record, althoug it can plainly be read
in the document.