The High Stakes Battle Over White Bluffs Water

Attorney J. C. Lloyd received a communication today from Carroll B. Graves of Seattle, who represents appellants in the case of the Black Rock Power and Irrigation company against the Hanford water right owners to quiet title, that is up on appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals. The case was tried before Judge Rudkin in the Federal court. After he had rendered his decision in favor of the Power company, Judge Rudkin was elevated to the Circuit Court of Appeals, and because he was the trial judge in this case he was disqualified to sit with the other judges in deciding the appeal, leaving only Judges Hunt and Borquier to determine the points at issue. The appeal was argued before these judges last September. Mr. Graves says he is just in receipt of a notice from the clerk of the Circuit Court of Appeals, which reads as follows: 'An order has this day been signed by Circuit Judge Hunt and filed, assigning the above entitled cause for re-argument on March 12, 1924, at San Francisco.' It would appear that either the two judges are not in agreement as to the judgment to be rendered, or that they are jointly undecided as to some point.