The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-28
Denying Many of Mr.. Garlands Allegations
and Denouncing Them as Being Of an I'M
pertinent and ScandalOus Character.
Objector Holman Offers an Explanation
Which Fails to Cover the Point.
Gen. Newton's Probable Successor as Chief OF
the Engineer Corps. and the Differences
of Opinion Respecting His Loyalty.
ROGERS TO GARLAND.

Be Untrue, Impertinent and scandalous.
Special to tho indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2z--J. Harris Rogers this
afternoon fled with the clerk of the District
Court his answer TO Attorney general Garland't
cross s-bill in Rogerss suit against the Pam
electric promoters. which was filed with the
court about two weeks ago. Mr.. Rogers as re-
spondent, denies all of Mr.. Garland's allegations
intended to support the defendants prayer for
dissolution of the Pan electric Telephone Com
pany. He denies that he ever sold Pan-electriO
stock contrary to agreement, as charged by Mr.
Garland, and pronounces the Attorney generals
allegations which accuse him Of violating his
contract wholly untrue He denies, as alleged
by the Attorney general. that he was ever bound
by-any contract or that he ever promised to de-
vote himself to the perfection of his various in
yentions, or Of any invention, but on the con-
trary, was as free as his associates and CO.
partners, the defendants to pursue any
vocation whatever; but nevertheless, Rogers
says he did toll in his laboratory incessantly
for the company. while they contributed moth
ing except that. equally with himself, all the
defendants paid some pitiful sums to mechanics.
electricians etc. Rogers says he always adj
vanced his ratio of four-tenths of the money
needed for expenses and in some instances all
the money needed when the defendants were
short of funds. Rogers denies that he ever
procured many false and malicious statements
to be published in the press of the country, both
as to the defendant and the company as
charged by Mr.. Garland, and submits to the
court that, as the defendant never read the
nax RI 10 ant
statements to reporters, he has been imposed
upon by some malicious person, and calls upon
him to produce in court single line or word
derogatory to the defendant or the company
which respondent has caused to be published.
except in his original bill of complaint. Mr.
Rogers answers the Attorney generals charge
that "the respondent is wholly unreliable" by ad-
mitting the charge, ''if it be meant that politi-
clans cannot rely on him to CO operate with them
in their nefarious designs to ruin the United
States Patent Office and the Department Of
Justice, under secret compaets to advance pri-
vate interests, as charged in the bill Of COM
plaint;" but if it be meant that honorable man
cannot rely upon him, he denies the allegation.
and in proof of such denial refers to exhibits
accompanying his reply in the shape of letters
from Garland. Harris and Atkins. introducing
Rogers to gentlemen and referring to him as an
accomplished and scientific gentleman. In
this connection Mr.. Rogers submits
that so exalted parsonage as the At
torney general SHOULD not at this
late day, swallow his own words, or prejudice
the reputation of even an obscure young man
who had done him many favors, as set forth in
the original bill OF complaint, and admitted by
defendants answer" One of the letters referred
TO. dated Washington, JAM G. 1884. addressed to
Congressman Hewitt and Cox, and signed by
Mr.. Garland, reads as follows:
Dear Sirs and Friends-Permit me to Introduce to
youJ. w. Rogers and son. accomplished and scientific
gentlemen of this city who desire to speak to you ON
some business Please show them all proper atten
ton, and command me when you viii.
Another is petition addressed to the Presi
dent Of the United States and signed by many
Senators and Representatives, and among the
signers are all the defendants except General
Johnston and Mr.. Garland This letter reads as
follows:
We, the undersigned have the honor OF commend
ing to your Excellency J. Harris Rogers, of Tennes
see for the appointment of scientific expert
of the nine to be appointed by Excelency to the
Paris exposition under Section of the act authorize
ing the same He lived in France during his school
days was at the last exposition at Paris in 1860
and electrician Of the House of Representatives for
more than year has proved himself efficient OH
Ger and thorough gentleman -
Mr.. Rogers denies the justice Of winding mp
or dissolving the Pan-electric company, And
submits that when thedefendant Garland, gives
as his reason for such dissolution that he wishsa
to "get rid" of the respondent, Rogers, he con-
tradicts his own statement in his answer, whera
he charges that the complainant, Rogers, ''has
sold or disposed of large part, if not his entire
in the Pan-electric company" Rogers.
submits that the Attorney generals
prayer for dissolution lis pretext and mera
sham, conceived in malice and born in false
hood Rogers further submits that the PAN
electric Telephone Company is no party to this
cause; that the right of subpoena is as old as
equity practice, and that even an Attorney-gen-
eral is bound to bring parties into court before
their Gauss can be tried And, finally, Rogers
submits "that all the allegations Of the defend
ant in his behalf, intended to support the mon
strous proceedings aforesaid, are not only un-
true and reckless in the extreme, but most
impertinent and scandalous."
Tho Trick Garland PLAYED ON ROrara