The San Francisco call., 1913-08-20
WEALTHY WOMAN
ALLEGES LAWYER
TRIED EXT0RT|ON
Miss Elizabeth Hall Files
Suit to Cancel Contract
Which She Signed to
Pay So, 500
ADMITS SHE WROTE
INDISCREET LETTER
Trouble Arose Out of Aunt's
Opposition to Nephew's
Marriage

Charging that an indiscreet letter she
had written her nephew was being held
to extort from her $500. Miss Eliza
L. McNab. former United States attor-
ney, to contest the action in court.
Miss Hall charges that she was in
timidated into signing a contract to
pay to Howard Harron $500.
Her nephew, Frank E. Hall. chauf-
feur of Oakland, had married a young
Portuguese woman and she opposed the
union. In letter to her nephew, which
fell into the hands of the young wife.
she expressed her dissatisfaction and
advised that the coming of child was
most unfortunate.
r. b. Mott, a real estate operator of
Oakland, turned this letter over to the
young Mrs. Hall and later introduced
her TO Howard Harror. an attorney,
who brought a maintenance suit after
the child was born and the couple sep
arated.
SUIT IS DISMISSED
The maintenance suit was dismissed
by Judge r. B. Tappan in Oakland on
Monday and in the arguments before
court Harron was scored by Prosecutor
W. OSCOtO. his NGEDdl 2
brought TO light the story OF the suit
brought by Mrs. Frank Hall against
the aunt of her husband for alienation
of affections and conferences between
Marshal B. Woodwork and Harron led
to the signing of a contract to pay
$500 in settlement.
After the signing of the contract Miss
Hall went to Cloverdale. where she has
large land interests, and raised $4,000.
She told Marshal Woodwork that he
might collect this amount from the
Humboldt Savings bank. The check
was never deposited, however, and
when Woodwork went to the bank
there was no account to draw on.
Later, Miss Hall went to Modesto to
arrange for the additional $500, and.
in explaining to relatives the reason
for her needing the money Immediately.
she told the story OF the intercepted
letter and the contract. She was ad-
vised TO consult with another attorney,
and visited John L. McNab.
McNab promptly advised that she
rescind the contract and refuse to pay.
In q letter addressed to Woodwork.
who first represented Miss Hall, he de-
clared that the contract was wholly
void because of undue influence"
CONFLICTING STATEMENTS
Attorney Harron said yesterday that
he Is ignorant of the whereabouts of
Miss Hall and has been unable to serve
g her with notice of suit He said that
II was clearly a case of alienation of
affections and that the aunt was the
cause Of the separation of Hall and
his wife.
MeNab says that he will ask today to
have the suit placed on the general
file and then move for a change of
venue to Sonoma county. where Miss
Hall lives He will contest the suit
he said. on the grounds OF duress
and fraud.
Marshal Woodwork. on the other
hand declares that when Miss Hall
came to him seeking advice. he coun-
seled that he could defeat the action
and that no criminal proceedings could
be taken against her. 1t was the wish
Of his client however, Woodworth
says. 10 avoid any kind OF action, be-
cause of the publicity that 1T might
involve. When the proposition was
made. therefore. that a settlement be
made by payment of IS. 500 he agreed
to let his client accept the terms.
Harron says talk of duress Is all non
sense; that the letter. which he still
holds exhibit A, is proof of the
charge OF alienation of affection, and
that the settlement was entered into
freely and willingly by the defendant.