Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-11-13
JUDGE DILLON.
He Writes Letter Inviting 1nves-
ttgatlon.

Hon. JAMES T. Lane, Dies MONIES
I0wA-Dear Sir:--I learn that com
mittee, of which you are chairman
has been appointed by the Iowa Stat,
Bar Association to prefer charges q
this term of the Circuit Court in De-
Moines, against Judge Cole for alleg
cd improper conduct as an attorney
of that court.
This movement having originated
and proceeded without my sugges
ton or knowledge I have no infor
nation as to the shape in which tn,
matter will be presented, and d.
not expect to be ut Des Moines again
during the term. The complaint
against Judge Cole, as I understand
It, arise out of conduct imputed I,
him IS the counsel Of Mr.. Isaac M
Cate, of Boston, in the foreclosur,
suit of the Iowa Central railroad
As I have NO knowledge Of Judg
Coles conduct in this behalf excep
that derived from Mr.. Gates pam
phlet, l have no request or suggestion
to make as to the action of the com
mittee as respects him. But l d.
know that Mr.. Cate has been assail
ing me for many months.
At the August term, 1877, whel
Mr.. Cate aud his counsel were pres
emit, met his accusations so far a
they had any specific form, and tn,
counsel in the cause and the master
pronounced the material ones utterly
unfounded. At my suggestion th'
bar took action in the matter, and no
titled Mr.. Cate, August 81, 1877, be
fore he had left the city, to presen
his grievances and make good his &C
cusations. He never did so, but in
stead resorted to q new issue Of pam
phlets, assailing the committee com
posed Of the leading lawyers Of thu
State.
Mr.. Cate continues his assaults, and
it may not be improbable that some
good people, including persons at {
distance, interested in the property
who are without other sources Of in.
formation, may thus be led to thinl
that charges go persistently made
may after all have some foundation
Now, in view Of the foregoing, tn,
object of this communication 10 Il
state that If any investigation is or
dered for any purpose, desire tina,
another opportunity shall be given Il
Mr.. Cate to come forward and estab.
lish his accusations; that he or any
other person who is dissatisfied will
my action in the case shall be heard
and shall have to be sworn, and thu
right to produce testimony touching
any ofthe matters mentioned in any
Of Mr.. Gates pamphlets, to the end
that the investigation shall be full
public and searching. To this end, IL
view of his past course, especially
desire that Mr.. Cate shall not only
have the opportunity of producing
any testimony he may wish to offer
but that provision be made, If possible
to compel him to submit to an ora
examination on oath. The secret
sources and processes of the assault
upon me can be laid bare in no othel
way.
Let me add my willingness to sub
NIT to any examination which thu
committee, or Mr.. Cate, or any per-
son who feels aggrieved by my actor
may wish to have made. Every worl
every act, every ruling of mine in the
case, / desire to have opened to tn.
fullest investigation irrespective o.
the particular form or special purpos,
which the inquiry ordered may a.
sumo. Although every ruling, decis'
ion and act Of mine complained of by
NJ. Al c.,11 =
concurrence ofJudge Love, seek nj
such shelter, and am willing to as
sumo the entire responsibility.
Almost all Of these rulings have
been already affirmed by the Snprem,
Court of the United States. 1t has re
versed only one Of our decisions, ani
that was one which was made in ia
vor of my assailant. 1 am very re
specially, your obedient servant,
john II. DILLON,