Complaints, subpoenas, motions, affidavits, notices, petitions, a few scattered letters, attorney's notes, newspaper clippings of testimony in one of the cases, and other legal documents and papers from six of the stockholder suits filed by John H. Burke, a San Francisco journalist, against Consolidated Virginia Mining Company, James C. Flood, John W. Mackay, James G. Fair, and Flood and James V. Coleman as executors of the estate of William Shoney O'Brien. The suits were filed for the return of profits allegedly misappropriated by the mining company and its trustees. Includes material relating to O'Brien's estate and legal papers for the related suit filed by Squire P. Dewey against Mackay, Fair, Flood, et al. Attorneys for Burk were Samuel W. Holladay and John Trehane.

Brief biographies of judges, attorneys, legal events, and important cases of nineteenth century California. With many portraits.