Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-06-16
s5sRss1,ae coasssseaa.ss1a-
Tho Senate Committee Aci1hlnts Hon
Melville w. Fuller wteh tho Charges
Filed Against Him-Hls Reply

blm-nn9 Aopty.
CHICAGO, June l8-rhe following corre-
spondence, which is selfexplanatory, is
made public at the requestof Hon. Melville
w. Fuller:
SENATE CHAMBER,
WAsHISsroN, June IL, 1855.
Hon. NelrlIe w. Fuller, Chicago Illinois:
DEAR SIR:-In considering you nomi-
ton as Chief Justice it has been thought
proper TO inform you that it has been re-
Gently alleged in Q communication to us
(the name of the writer of which the Senate
rules forbids lis to disclose) that you con-
cocted and carried out a scheme to take
from the funds of the West Chicago Park
Board $l03 600, when $4,000 would have
been ample compensation for the
owner of the land taken for a
boulevard in connSction with the
West Side Park. This land is fifteen acres
in the south one-half acres of section 25.
town 80, range Is, Cook county, Illinois.
George w. Lay was the owner, and only
wanted $1,000 per acre for it, but was in
duced about April or May to let it be put
into the West Chicago Park at sos, 1000.
Mr. Lay did not get more than half of the
$l0A00O for his own use. 5000 or $4,000
of that 1um went either to Mr.. Fuller CT
one of the clerks in his office as fee. The
money was paid out through the Chicago
National Bank, and the then Treasurer of
the West Chicago Park Board, whose name
do not know. think it was Mason who
paid out the money"
1t is also alleged in the case of Kerr VS..
South Park Commissions, that by reason of
(your) position and influence as jury COM
missioner of the United States, he (you)
managed to get that jury put in charge of
BailitfJ. J. Douglass, who never before nor
since has had charge of jury in the United
States Court. That jury was sent out in
charge OF Douglass to visit the grounds,
and that while viewing the grounds he
caused the jury TO be separated. for Mr..
Fuller and six of the jurors were placed
where a man employed by Fuller had
charge of them, and who used his influence
with the six jurors so separated to induce
them to bring in an improper verdict
1t has also been alleged that when the
record in the case of Doolittle, ETC., VS..
Forsyth was being made up in the Circuit
Court for transmission to the Supreme
Court here, you asked Mr.. w. H. King, the
attorney of Forsyth not to include in the
record the fact that you were acting as
jury commissioner at the time the jury
was drawn, some of whom it is allowed,
were Jurors in the Doolittle case. ANY
statement you may think it proper to make
in reference to these subjects, the commit
tee will be glad to receive. Very respect
fully yours,
GEORGE F. EDNUNDs,
Chairman of Committee on Judiciary, q.
S. Senate.
CHICAGO, June Is, 1888.
To George F. Edmu,ids, Chairman Senate
Judiciary Committee, Washington, ID. c.:
While assuring the committee that in
tend no disrespect 10 them, i cannot con-
sent to reply 10 anonymous aspersions of
the character referred to in yours of the
1lth. With your permission, will pub
lish your letter with this reply. Please
answer by telegraph.
MELVILLE W. FULLER.
WASHINGTON d. C. June IA, 1888.
To Melrille W. Fhi'er:
Unable to consult committee, but think
you can. So far as the committee is con-
cerned do what you think is proper.
GEORGE +. EDMUNDs
Judge Mason B. Loomis. who presided in
the county court during the condemnation
proceeding referred to above, saws: There
is not particle of truth in the charge. 1t
was not purchased by the board, but was
acquired by condemnation proceedings
under the eminent domain law. Every step
in the proceedings was closely and ably
contested, and the amount allowed to Mr..
Lay for his property was by the
verdict of the jury after hearing
all the testimony on both sides.
Mr.. Fuller did not appear in the case, and
i am not aware that he had anything what
ever to do with it. | considered it a fair
and proper verdict under the testimony.
So much so that refused to set it aside
and rendered final judgment upon it,"
William +. King, the principal attorney
for the Forsyth heirs in the DOolittle case,
when asked concerning the charge that
Mr.. Fuller requested him to omit from the
record of that case the fact that Mr. Fuller
was a United. States jury commissioner,
said that it was utterly false.