Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-19
THE LAWYERS DIsAGREE.


Attorney Haselton Directs Mr.. Dumout b.
Dismiss Liquor Prosecutions.
For some months past, it Is stated, there has
been anything but smooth sailing In the Office
Of Attorney Hazelton. 1t has been apparent
that the attorney and his assistant, Mr.. Neil
Dumont, either had different ideas Of conduct
ing the business Of the Office or there was Q diff
ference Of some other kind between them. Some
time ago Mr.. Hazelton changed the location Of
his office, and he did %, it is stated, without
mentioning the fact TO Mr.. Dumont or inviting
him to desk room in the same Office, a. had been
the case heretofore. After this each officer
padded his own canoe, as it were, and each did
so without consulting the other. All this was
followed by . rumor Of Mr.. Dumonts or
cial decapitation. Today for the first time
the fact that there was difference
OF opinion between them cropped
out in the Police Court and became a matter Of
public record. This move was made in what Is
generally known as the one-mile limit liquor
cases. When some months ago the courts de-
cided the Nau case and Mr.. Tobriner scored q
victory Tor the liquor sellers in the mile limit
1t had the effect Of opening up many drinking
saloons where business was conducted without
the payment of license. The failure of Con-
gress to remedy the evil caused Mr. Dumont,
as the prosecuting officer, to take some steps
toward prosecuting the whisky people under
another form OF law, with view to securing
from the courts a construction Of the law which
would give relief to the citizens who oppose the
liquor traffic.
Proceedings were instituted against number
OF such persons Wednesday, the attorney charg-
ing that they failed to pay their license tax and
the cases would have been tried by q Jury o.
soon az they were reached in regular order, but
Mr.. Dumont went into court this morning and
called Judge Mills attention to the matter.
ATTORNEY HAzELroN's LETTER.
After referring to the cases which he brought
before the court two days ago he said that yes
terday he received from Mr.. Hazelton q letter.
which he read, as follows:
District Of Columbia:
Dear Sir: see by the paper last night you
have instituted proceedings or are about to
prosecute the liquor dealers who are carving
on the traffic in the mile limit district As you
have not consulted with me about the prosecu-
y; lions l DO not know that the newspaper account
Is true. but il it is you will dismiss
any Of such cases already COM
menced and withhold any future prosecu-
tions in that line until further directions. You
can use this before the court il you like as your
authority for dismissing the proceedings.
Very truly yours.
GEO. c. HAzLErox, Attorney D. C.
I'm reply to this letter." said Mr. Dumont,
~ wrote Mr.. Hazelton note telling of what
had done; that 1 had instituted proceedings
against the liquor dealers in what ia technically
and popularity called the 'oEe-mile limit, and in
reply received the following:
II am in receipt of your note Of this morn
ing stating that you have brought informations
against parties for engaging in the liquor business
without having paid license tax therefor. and
that these parties are within the so-called mile
limit You will please dismiss all such cases or
informations, as prefer that this kind Of prose-
sh0 fho l;oa AZ
regulations on that subject made by the Com
missioners Of the District and you may use this
as your authority for so doing before the court
where such informations are pending"
Mr.. Dumont said that in obedience to the
orders from his official chief he would move
the court to dismiss all the cases, and the court
directed the clerk to make m entry to that
effect.
The letters were fled as part Of the record
in the cases.