Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-05-07

stated:
Charles McCandless 10000
John NJ. Greer l2oOo
Thomas Robinson .......................... $3.50
Alex Mitchell. 4,oOo
S95, ,514
More than enough to build new
Court House. The National Banking
Act forbids any person or any firm to
become liable to any National Bank for
more than 10 per cent. of its capital
stock. Ten per cent. of $4,000 would
be $4,000. The law limited McCand-
less and Greer's liability to s., 900 each,
vet the bank failed with one owing S7O,-
600, the other $l2, 800; one IA times,
and the other more than twice the
amount allowed by law.
The Eagle says Greer is an honest
man and a good lawyer. A good law
yer knows the law-an honest man will
not knowingly violate the law. How
does the Eagle reconcile Greer's
honesty with the fact that he owes the
National bank $500 more than the
law says he ought to owe?
The men whose disregard of law and
reckless speculations squandered the
funds of the bank are all for Greer.
These bowling Greer supporters don't
own a dollars worth of property in
their own names.
The stockholders who have paid up
their liabilities in full are opposed to
Greer.
This is strange coincidence. The
spectators who squandered the money
of the depositors are wanting one of
their number for Judge. The honest
men who had not borrowed more
money than the law allowed are against
Greer.
John NJ. Greer is incompetent to fill
the great Office of Judge. A dozen
lawyers at the Bar are far above him in
point of ability. He is not even a
fourth-rate lawyer. He is politician
and mind slow to comprehend legal
principles.
When Charles McCandless was
Greer's law partner he said he could
never trust him to prepare the papers
in an important case.
In nearly every case where he has
been concerned the Court has been OBJ
liged to assist him by allowing him to
amend his papers. Now, why do | say
80 Because 1 know it is true.
The Eagle says l have occupied an
official position for the last ten years
that somebody else should have filled.
Let that be as it may. Any man who
has brains enough to learn short hand
writing is competent to form an intelli-
gent opinion as to the relative ability of
lawyers who try cases which he re-
ports. l haye reported the civil and
many of the criminal cases tried in
Court for the last ten years.
John M. Greer can tell a funny story,
can talk to jury, or at political
meeting, but when it comes to arguing
legal principles before Court he is a
lamentable failure.
Col. John NJ Thompson is a great
lawyer. He can wind John M. Greer
up and stand him on his head in the
trial of any case. There are also other
able lawyers at the Bar. In the hands
of such men what would an incompe-
tent man like Greer do on the Bench !?
McCandless and Robinson boast that
they have made Greer what he is. Ten
years ago Greer admitted he was in
debted to McCandIess for all that he
knew. He don't know much law. Who
would he naturally 60 to for law-to
McCandless. Every man in this coun-
ty may be on trial for his life, liberty
or property in the next ten years. Sup
pose the person against him should
employ McCandless; would he not fix
up the law to suit his side of the case
Then the great trer, the man who is
on hands always to set up things, the
scheming politician of Butler county
Tom Robinson, where would he be Z
Would the man who puts his hand to
his mouth and whispers in peoples
ears forget to set up matters with the
Court? Then we would have these
men in power. They might put up
signs as follows:
CHAs. McCANDLEss,
Attorney, learned in the la,o, and Con-
.tfdential Aduisor Of Judge Greer.
THos. ROBINSON,
Attorney, unlearned IN the la,o and the
General "frer" for Greer's Court
This is no fanciful picture. Will
men who have not hesitated to do what
the law forbids or who have betrayed
trusts heretofore refrain from making
money out Of their power over an in
competent Judge?
Now let Tom Robinson and his
Eagle boil over with rage 1t is not
pearly SO dangerous as cannon balls,
minnie balls, sabres, &c.
Anything that have done or not
done will not be an answer Abusing
me will not make Greer competent
Think of this. Lay aside all prejudice.
Don't run the risk of letting an incom-
petent man get on the bench.
FRANK NJ. EASTMAN.
Butler, May 5, 'S4.
From, Captro toupSbin