The Portland daily press., 1885-08-07
STATE COMMITTEE.
Sued for Debt by James Parker,
Trader, of Deering.

Sued for Debt by James Parker,
Trader, of Deering.
Interviews With Ex-Chairman crom-
well, Capt. Chase and John T. Hull.
Quite breeze has been created among the
Democrats of this city by the intelligence
that the executive committee of the Demo-
cratic State Committee has been sued by a
trader, Mr. Parker of Deering, for bill as
signed to him by Mr.. John I. Hull of that
town. Hearing of the suit reporter for the
PRESS investigated the matter and gained
the information which follows.
The following writ issues from the Office
of e. S. Ridlon, attorney of Mr. James
Parker
STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND, IS.
of their IDENTITIES Greeting:
We Command YOU to attach the goods and es-
tate of Charles II. Chase of Portland In the coun-
ty Of Cumberland; Simon S. Brown of Waterville,
in the county of Kennebec; David X. Straw of
GuiIford, in the county of Piscataquis, and Will
liam A. Cromwell Of South Berwick in the county |
OF York doing business under the name and style
OF the executive committee Of the Democratic State
Committee, 10 the value of two hundred dollars;
and summon said defendants Qf they may be
found in your preeinet) to appear before our JUS
tce Of cur Superior Court TO be held at Portland
within and for said County Of Cumberland, on the
first Tuesday of September, A. ID. 1885, then and
there in our said Court to answer unto James
Parker of Deering in the county of Cumberland
trader assignee Of the account hereto annexed, as
appears by the assignment Of said account from
John T. Hull to be filed in Court with this writ
In plea Of the case for that the said defend
ants at said Portland on the 10th day of Septem-
Der, A. ID, 1884 were indebted to one John T.
Hull in the sum Of eighty-twO dollars and twenty
five cents according to the account annexed and
to balance the same and thereafterwards, to wit:
on the same day. the said John t. Hull by as
signment in writing which will more fully appear
by said assignment here in Court to be produced,
for valuable consideration, assigned said de |
mand being chose in action not negotiable to
the plaintiff, of which said defendants then and |
there had due notice, and thereby by force of the
statute in such case made and provided, became |
liable to pay to the plaintiff said sum on demand,
ised to pay him the same accordingly Yet the |
said defendants, though requested, have not paid
the same, but neglect so to do; to the damage of
the said plaintiff las he says) the sum Of two hun
dred dollars which shall then and there be made
to appear, with other due damages. And have
you there this writ, with your doings therein.
Witness Perciyal Bonney, Esq, at Portland
the third day Of July in the year Of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty-fve.
A A. DENNETT, Clerk.
ron the back of the writ is endorsed service on
Simon S. Brown by James I. Hill, deputy sheriff
ON Charles H. Chase by E. N. Jordan, deputy
sheriff on David r. Straw by Otis Martini sheriff,
and on William A. Cromwell by William S. Mat
thews deputy sheriff.
The following is the bill:
Executive Committee Democratic state Committee
1884.
For services as clerk to said Executive
Committee, July goth to Sept. 10th,
1S84-7 weeks days at $21 per
week. Slo4OO
Or.
By cash at sundry times. es.................S 71.75
Balance. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. s2.25
This bill is thus endorsed:
PORTLAND, Feb. 16 1885.
For valuable consideration to me paid by
James Parker of Woodford's Deering the receipt
whereof hereby acknowledge, | hereby assign
right title and interest in the within claim, and
the said committee are hereby authorized to pay
the within bill to the said Parker and charge the
same to my account. JOHN 7. HULL.
Upon inquiry of Mr.. John t. Hull, that
gentleman said although with evident re-
luctance, that the course pursued by him was
the only one open to him. He was engaged
by Capt. Charles Fl. Chase last year, as he
understood, for the Democratic State Com
mttee, as clerk for that body during the
campaign at the price fixed in his bill From
time to time he received small sums, on ap-
plication to Captain Chase, amounting in
the aggregate to the total given in the bill.
The balance he found it impossible to collect.
'If," said Mr.. Hull, 81 could have helped it
l should not have assigned this claim, but am
poor man and 1 have to live, and therefore
had to take the only step left me. l do not
wish to make trouble and do not desire to be
brought into prominence in this affair, but
think / am entitled to my pay as agreed
upon
The reporter hearing that Mr.. w. A. Cronl-
WELL then chairman of the Democratic State
Committee, and one of the executive COM
mittee sued by Mr.. Parker, was in the city,
called on that gentleman. Mr.. Cromwell
showed the reporter his legal notice of the
suit and then was open for questions. In
reply to those asked he said
At meeting of the State Committee, held
last year, it was announced that there were
$500 owing for committee expenses. A por-
ton of this debt was due to Mr.. Hull. The
evening previous Mr.. Mccarthy had donated
$50, and this made the debt on hand $500. 1t
had been $3.50. Mr.. s. 5. Brown made mo-
tion, which was carried, that an assessment
be levied on the sixteen members of the State
Committee, of $3.50 apiece, in order to
liquidate the Indebtedness, and, /, as chair
man of the committee, was authorized to col
lect that amount. l did so from twelve of
the committee. making total of $780, There
were four from whom could not get a cent.
viz: Mr.. Brown, who made the motion,
Capt. G. H. Chase and Mr. Fred Owen of
| Bangor. The name of the other member
! do not remember, but have all the names at
home in my desk. As l received these sums
l sent checks to Capt G. II. Chase for the
amounts, and have those checks now, with
his endorsement. In ALL collected about
$50.
Other gentlemen, well known in Demo-
cratic circles, were much agitated over the
matter yesterday, and all expressed decided
opinions that they could not understand why
Mr.. Hull had not been paid and had been
put to this unfortunate course which had
resulted in serious reflections on the good
faith of the party.
An interview with Capt. Charles H. Chase
was held last evening. The reporter asked
him what he could tell him about the suit of
Mr.. Parker against the executive committee
| The Captain said the whole affair was very
| small matter; it was simply an effort by Mr.
| Hull to get money due him from the commit
tee. The Captain stated that at the meeting
of the State Committee Mr.. w. A. Cromwell
moved that Mr.. John t. Hull be appointed
clerk until September with salary which,
| as he Captain Chase) remembered, amount
ed to about $3.50. Before the end of the
campaign subcommittee was appointed to
collect the money due by the State Com
mittee. Mr.. Cromwell was on that commit
tee and did not collect it. He did collect
| some three-quarters, perhaps, of the amount
which was paid over to him Chase, and he
disbursed it in paying the bills. Not over
| 500 remained due, part of which was owing
! to Mr. Hull, and part to Castell for print
ing He told Mr.. Hull that when the next
meeting of the State Committee was held he
would be paid without doubt. SIN fact"
said the Captain, II should not be surprised
| if the money has been raised tonight. The
truth is" said he, 'Ive paid out great
deal more money for politicsisthan I've re-
ceived. I've got this matter all in black and
white at my office. I've got those records of
the meetings l don't mind little political
| squibs at my expense,-I rather like them,-