Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-04-22
A CORRECT VERSION.
The True Facts En the E2cberts-
SPeirs=Taaxfieid Controversy

-
Speirs=Maaxfieid Controversy.
So much has been said concerning the
action of Judge Speirs in refusing bail tc
man charged with obtaining property
under false pretenses, that DEMOCRAT
reporter to-day interviewed Mr.. Bolivar
Roberts in reference to the matter and
ascertained the real facts.
The whole proceedings instituted
against Byron Roberts seem to be the
work of spite. Maxfield, who swore out
the complaint against him, entered into a
partnership with him several years ago
for the purpose of carrying on lumber
ing business in Cottonwood. Roberts
purchased wagon from Madsen, of
this city, giving certain IRON
clad or mortgage note which operated as
lien on the property. The business in
which Roberts and Maxfeld engaged
proved Improbable, and Roberts sold out
to Maxfeld, the wagon being among the
! property transferred. Maxfield could not
make the business pay, and sold it back
/ to Roberts and his (MaxfelG's) son. In
! course of time Roberts transferred the
whole business to young Maxfeld. The
wagon was included among the property
transferred, with the full knowledge on
the part of all parties that it was en-
numbered by a 1ein. In course of time
the note fell due and the wagon was taken
under the lien, Maxfieid giving it up
without protest Some time afterwards
the Maxfields claimed they were in igno-
rance of the existence of the lien and
cd fn
enumeration for their loss, which he re-
fused to do, claiming that they were in
debted to him in the sum of $3.50. The
matter was allowed to run along
for several months, and Roberts
made arrangements to remove with his
family to Idaho. He arrived in this city
on Saturday and on Saturday night the
elder Maxtield swore out a complaint be-
tore Justice Speirs, charging Rob
ertse with obtaining property under
and placed in Constable Crows hands. |
who served it about 10 o'clock Saturday |
night
Mr. Roberts wife was very indignant
when she found that her husband was TO |
be arrested at the instance OF Maxfeld.
She turned to him and said, 90 If YOU
have my husband arrested and sent to
jail ON such charge as this, I'll have
you arrested and sent to Jail for polyg-
amy This threat had the effect of
sending Maxfieid out OF the city as fast
as ms horse could take him, and his son
appeared in his stead
When Roberts was arrested he had the
ofhcers take him to the residence of his
brother, Bolivar Roberts, and in com
pany with protege of Crow, a man
named Rehrman, they drove to Justice
opelrS' residence, for the purpose of
giving bonds. This was about II 80 at
nlght. bolivar Roberts remained at the
'front.' door, while Constable Crow
hehrman and Byron Roberts went around
10 a side door. Rehrman went in and
conferred with Justice Speirs, and came
OUT just as Bolivar Roberts came around.
henrman stated that the man must 90
to jail, that bonds would not be ac
;epted and that this was the order of
justice Speirs. Constable Crow corrob.
2rated thls statement and said he heard
luslce Spelrs make this order. Mr..
eXpostulated and expressed his
Willingness to furnish responsible Y
lgners to any kind of an obligation for
lis brothers appearance on Monday
i0 CllcH grew indignant and
threatened to invoke the law if the
ulcers pursued such an Infamous course
,ut they were determined to mt
dr.. Roberts in jail and did So [
lie was put in prison and kept there until
1onday morning, when he was bropobt -
1to court and the complaint was found TO
e detective. The complaint was amended
nd the defendant released upon Mr. :
'oberts depositing check for 5000.
AT the examination yesterday the de- =
9ndant waived examination and was
laced under $3.50 bonds to appear before
ne Grand Jury. Bolivar Roberts and A
eGrande Young were the sureties II
1t is clearly evident that either Justice
pelrs or the officers, or both, have com
lifted gross outrage in this matter. in
,tqslng to bail a man charged D.
18th SO light an soffense, and Vi
lie guilt shonld be placed where if he
ngs and the offender punished. If Jns-
&c Spelrs would accept check on Mon b
" morning as security for Mr.
o6erts' appearance can he ex-
ain why he could not accent z
e same security on Saturday night. #
oks very much as though he sent the
iendant to Jail in order to avoid beino
'thered