Imperial Valley Press

COURT AFFIRMS LOCAL DECISION IN MONKS CASE

Three names which during the past few weeks have been heard throughout the United States re-echoed at the county clerk's office today when an appellate court opinion was received, affirming a judgment of the local superior court against Wiley W. Watson and A. B. Monks, in a case which also had as a defendant Mrs. Antoinette Girardo, now Mrs. Monks.

A. W. Reeves and Mrs. Bell Neeley Reeves received a judgment here against Watson, Monks, Mrs. Girardo, G. A. Murven and George Salata.

The judgment applied chiefly to Watson and Monks, who appealed to the fourth district court of appeals. The local court awarded Mr. and Mrs. Reeves $2000 as rental due on farming property and $2000 damages for unlawful detainer of the property by Watson, who had leased it for two years, giving a $2000 promissory note but failing to pay either the note or the rent.

Monks came into the case by filing a petition in intervention claiming a crop of cantaloupes growing on the property. In an amended complaint he was named as a defendant. Mrs. Girardo and the other defendants also were named as claiming some interest in the cantaloupe crop.

Monks and Watson appealed from both the appointment of a receiver and the $4000 judgment. Both phases of the appeal were denied.

Watson and the former Mrs. Girardo are at present free on bond, facing check charges in San Diego county. A state wide search lasting several weeks was carried on before Monks was found in a coast city. He has since been committed an asylum for the insane.