Daily globe., 1878-10-16
PAGE ECHOES.
The Effort to Disbar; lafayette French
failure.

Ane LuOFt 10 D1RDar, Latay ette French q
failure.
Another chapter in the bitter controversy
between the Page and anti-Pageites of Now
or county, was brought to an ending and
fnis written under it, in the State supreme
court yesterday. Readers of the GLOBE who
have cared to keep themselves posted in ref
erence to this disagreeable and disgraceful
controversy, will recollect that as one result,
Judge Page in 1876 or 1877, commenced
proceedings in the supreme court to debat
Lafayette French, Esq, an attorney of
Austin, at one time county attorney, and a
warm partizan of Judge Page, but
subsequently most energetic and relent-
less enemy. Owing to some Informally
these proceedings fell through.
Shortly after, however, one A. E. Meigs, a
then attorney of Austin, but now sojourning
in Tennessee, renewed the proceedings, in
the interest, and it is charged at the instance,
of Judge Page. Meigs fled his information
against French Nov. 29, 1877, making four
distinct charges of official delinquencies,
either one of which, if true, were sufficiently
culpable to warrant the penalty prayed for.
The charges in substance were as follows:
First, that French in 1874, having
been employed as an attorney
by one Stephen w. Rice, for consid-
Grafton of SO paid him by the opposing par
ties, refused to go on with the cause. Sec
ond, That in 1875, French being employed
to collect debt for John B. Austin, in con-
sideration of the sum of $5, consented and
did endeavor to effect a settlement, tn the
prejudice of his client. Third, That in
March. 1877, French then being county at
torney. moved the dismissal of pending
bastardy case, falsely stating to the court a
settlement OF the case had been effected by
the county commissioners. Fourth, That
at the same term of court, French being
county attorney, corruptly failed to bring the
attention of the grand jury to charges regu-
iarly found by magistrate against one Hex
ford, at the same time wilfully deceiving the
court as to his neglect of duty.
lhe information being filed the matter
was referred by the court to referee to take
testimony, and on yesterday the case came
on in regular order for hearing. Hon. Geo.
3. Young, of this city, with Hon. Geo. l..
Baxter, OF Faribault, appearing as attorneys
foa MIR. French. The prosecution was not
represented IN person or by attorney. The
remainder of the proceedings are embraced
in the following order of the court, which
vas promptly made of record by Clerk
Nichols.
State of Minnesota Supreme Court, General
October term, 1878.
In the matter of the information of A. E..
Meigs VS. Lafayette French.
This cause being regularly on the calendar of
the court at the October term, 1878, and having
been regularly called for hearing on that day.
and the respondent of his counsel having there
upon moved upon all pleadings, proceedings
and proofs herein for dismissal of said cause,
and no one appearing in opposition to said
motion,
It is ordered and adjudged that this proceed
ing against the said Lafayette French, respond
ent, be and the same is hereby dismissed, and
that said respondent recover from the said A.
r.. Meigs, the informant, his cos and disburse
ments of the proceeding, and that he have ex-
ecution therefor.
This gives Mr.. French clean bill, grade
No. 1. But there is 'slittle Joker in the
transactions, and that is what is troubling
Mr.. French. In dis.nissing the information,
the court mulcted the prosecution for the
costs. These amount to over $500, some
$125 being for referees fees alone. A. E.
Meigs who filed the information as stated
above. has removed to Tennessee, and it is
doubtful if French can find anything upon
which to realize that five hundred and odd
dollars and costs. But he will try faithful
ly, and if Meigs hasn't covered his tracks
extra well, he will succeed, SO his friends
say.