New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-20
ADVISED TO SAY NOTHING
EVERYTHING HAD BEEN HUSHED UP IN THE
FLACK SCANDAL

=, ,--ors engaged in the FIack trial They
rer,amin Wright. Margaret Smith and Kate cannon.
A. Wright was the lawyer who on the Flack divorce
,ancrs is recorded being attorney for Mrs Fla'N
Vie was in the witness chair nearly all day. Ills
testimony was of considerable Importance to the
prosecntion and from him many strong pieces Oh
evidence tending toward connecting Joseph Meehs
and Mcneil with what is called the Fack divorce con-
spiracy Next to Mrs. Flack he was the most III
tcrcsting witness who has yet appeared anu i
replies TO the questions of the lawyers 1or 'no ""
fence we're frequently received with laughter IL w's
impossible to keep him quiet for two cohsecu'i'o
seconds and he turned and twisted in his char' "'
times making wild gesticulatons with his arms
The two women gave strong testimony "h''n' u
less shaken by some further evidence VIII ~,
have a disastrous effect upon the ueien'e
Wright was the first witness calieu'
District-Attorney Gof questioned MIN III ""e'' o.
follows:
o-po YOU know Mr. Mccks. the defendant Al 90.
C-Do you know James \. Flack7 Al do now' l
did no, know him until this thing came ou''
GLOW long have you known MeeKs' A'-0'e'
twenty years. ,
o-Are YOUR relations intimate7 Avery, indeed.
ODD you know Meeks when he was deputy cierA III
the Superior Court? Al dd' -.
O-after he lef: the clerkshp OF the superior 'our,
did he occupy room in your oicc9 A-After he a' 'he
court he put his table in my room.
oTbst was a matter Of convcnience' A.-That was
all. paid rent for :hc room
sir l remember one
Q-But you have had very little experience WIN ui'
yorce casos7 Avery. indeed
o-Your practice is really Office practices Ayes, sir
O-Yor relations with Mecks have always been very
friendly1 Ayes. sir more friendly than now.
Odd you ever Mary f. Flack before July L.
1887 Al her until met her IN inc once
Of Evar:s, Choate Bcaman.
Odd you ever have any communications from he''
A-No sir.
Odd you ever send any communication to her'
Al did.
o-Pror to July ~ 1889 did you know that there
was divorce case. Mary f. Iack and James A.
Fsckl Al never did.
Own you please fix the time as near a possible
when Mr.. Meeks told you about the divorce easel A.
IL Il, pretty hard for me to the exact time 1t was
after 1 moved my new office. Some time In June or
July.
Q-Now, 1 want you to state the conference which
took place between Meeks and yourself when you INST
heard OF the divorce case7 A-Meeks called upon me at
nv office and said that Ambrose Mcneil. counsel for
Sheriff Fack could appear counsel for Mrs Fack
for divorce. He wanted ne to represent the
plaintiff as attorney said " Divorce cases are cases
which don take for you know very well that my tine
is occupied 1 have time TO appear in such
cases" He then said, you 10 take this case
a. personal favor TO me-
OIL you to state, please. as near as you can.
what transpired between YOU? Al said him. Joe,
is there anything about this right? for If it
l will put my TO a single paper He
said Ben. do you think would ask you to do anything
wrong7" My reply was. &" Now. Joe, don't want TO
appear in divorce cases" lie replied, d" Now, L want
YOU to take this case as a personal favor" Joe
don't this plaintiff l could not appear 1or her
unless l get authority in writing" Well l
can get that he answered sad. Joe, II you can
get authority writing will the attorney
# record"
Colonel Fellows-what do you by attorney Of rec
orc? A.-The attorney.
Ex-Judge Russel-we do not want any such explana-
tons
Judge RarrettThe attorney OF record one who
the law must sign complaint and sign each paper.
He si9n every paper.
Mr. Wright coltinL.ng.M Mr. Meeks then turned to me
said Il don't think that you need that from Mrs
Flac1" / asked him why. lie said. "Why, Ambrose
Mcneil Mrs. Flack's attorney for and he
has the power employ attorney for her" said III
the case L viii act" lie then said, Il have
some papers for you to sign" and said 'Joe what DO
you sign 20 lie then TOOK from his pocket
and complaint. signed them.
Q.-You signed the face Of the summons? Al did
QPlesse tell who's Endorsement Of the summons 1t Is
AIR. Meeks's. looked and that the complaint had
been action for divorce, and he wanted ne
to sign my name there on the complaint
o.-When you wrote your name there did you notice
whether there an erasurel
Mr.. Blrd-I object 10 the question II Is leading
Judge Bsrrett-The question is allowed
Mr.. Bird (angriyJ-we 60 and put in ali the lead
Ing questions you want TO-
Mr.. God-Answer the question, Mr. Wright. Al
did not.
Q.-what next occurredl Ale put the paper in his
pocket and left the Office.
o-Now. when you signed that summons and complaint
did you knowing that there another summons
and complaint Al did not
Odd you have any knowledge that summons and a
complaint had been served upon the defendant Al
aid not.
Q.-when you begin actions. Mr.. Wright, is It your
usual rule TO direct the servicc9 AYES. sir
Odd you direct any person make serVicel Al
did not
Odd you ever sec copy Of the servicel Al
did not.
Odd you direct any person in your employ, or any
person. copies Of the summons and complaint in
this acton1 Al did not.
Q-Do you know whether any person in your Office or
any person not IA your under your direction
made copies Of the and complaint Al do not
Odd any person to your Office With the adasit
Of seyyicel A.-There did.
Q-Who III AIR. Mecks.
Odd you pay any compensation or receive any pay
rnent for scrvicel A.-No sir.
Q-wh'n Meeks brought the affidavit Of service state
what occurredl Ale brought the affidavit Of service
with him his hand and wanted me TO make affidavit Of
regularity. j said, "AN right"
Q.-were there persons In your office when Meeks
cslledi A.-There
o.-Persons transactng business Ayes,
Ole presented the paper you and you signed III
Al did.
Odd you notice the date on the juratl Al did
aot.
Odd you have any further conference with Mccks
that dayi Al did
Q-was that the time that you heard Of the Flack
action the complaint 10 which had
signed your until the exposure2 Alt
Odd you make airy motion in the casc7 Al
never did
Odd you appear in court7 Al never did
Odd you authorize any one 10 appear in court for
you7 Al did not
Odd you authorize any counsel managing clerk
20 appear youl A.-NO, sir.
ODD you ever receive any compensation whatever
A.-Not a penny; not cent in any FORM
o-Iisve you any knowledge that any before
the referee for you! Al have not.
o-what is the practice Mr.. Wright when witnesses
arc summoned before "a referee7 A.-The practice TO
have the witnesses notified 30 that they can appear.
Odd you send a notice for any Of the wit
nesses appear in this case? A-No, sir.
Odd you authorize person TO communicate with
them or confer them regarding their testimony in
this case? Al never did.