The morning call., 1893-08-18
THELAW INVOKED.
sensational Turn of the
Priestly Divorce.
BRIBERY AND INTIMIDATION
charged in Letters Which Have Been
Placed in the Hands of the Dis
trIct Attorney of Alameda.

The sensational Priestly divorce case in
oakland is growing more sensational.
NOW charges of bribery and Intimidation
nave been made, and Judge Greene has
peen appealed to TO interfere AMI invoke
the aid of the law.
Inc case is an odd one in all respects
D. w. Frlestly was indicted by the Grand
jury Oh Alameda County for perjury. In
suit against his wife for divorce he
S"ore mat he was resident of this
county, hence the Indictment.
NOW comes the new and sensational
part OF the case. short time since
Judge Greene received the following letter
from Attorney q. F. G. Morgan of Lee
moore, Tulare County:
LEMooRE, CAL, Aug. q 1893
The Hon. Judge Greene or the District
1fttorney-SR: l forward you the incIosed
Ieller showing the intimidation that has been
ana is being used with and against your wit
nesses IN the case of the People of the State OF
California against James w. Priesty, charged
ID your county with perjury. l shall write Mr.
CotIon ADVISING him that the law requires him
10 keep out OF all such complications and 10
pay no attention TO the threats or inducements
being maze against and 10 him TO shut his
mouth and Illustrate the legitimate ends OF
justice. Ii seems To me that he person or per
sons ought 10 be made 10 feel the weight OF the
hand Uf tile law for this threatening. bulldOIng
your HonOrs court Those people, aud espe-
clally that family of Priestlys, seem 10 have
become so used TO overriding law that they
attempt any and every thing they deem tit. II
Is a lamenIable stale OF things for any COM
munlty when such things can be looked upon
with complacency. Nh. Cotton can Inform tile
court who this person or persons is or are.
q. L. q. MORGAN, Attorney at-law.
Within six days after the receipt of this
note Judge Greene received this from the
same source:
LEMooRE. Kings County, Cal,
August s, 1898.
To the Hon. Judge Greene. Superior Court.
Alameda County, the District Attorney
SIR: From letters which have just received
County, CAL, Il appears certain that potent ar
gumeuts are being used by friends OF he de-
Tense 10 peryert the course OF justice In The
case OF The People W. James w. Priestly.
pending in your honorable court. From the
letter la ely sent you and the present il will
appear that coercion. intimidation and bribery
are being used. send YOU the letter just re-
ceived, as also full copy OF the answer have
made TO II. 1 am. not legal adviser for MT.
Cotton, but simply an acquaintance for the
period OF three months, during which time re-
sided at Clements. III | am alive and well and
IN The State OF California | shall hold myself AT
the disposal OF the prosecution for this case.
believe that IL Is my duty and privilege 10 help
this defendant. Prestly, to get justice. | also
notify your Honor and the District Attorney
through you OF the course of intimidation ana
bribery which seems 10 be now brought into
play upon Mir. Cotton. Should not those exer-
csing 10 be MADE to feel the hand OF the law
made aud provided for just such cases? With
respect, L am your HonorS 0Dedient servant
e. +. e. MORGAN. Attorney al law.
Attorney Morgan wrote other letters,
also one TO the witness. Cotton, referred 20,
in which he made matters straight TO that
gentleman. This letter was also forwarded
to Judge Greene, and reads as follows:
LEHooRE, August 8, 1898.
Z. C. Cotton. CdlUortfd-SIR: Yours OF the
9th current has duly come TO hand. l note your
questions. Agatn, let me caution you. Don't
.:ger to change your testimony nor 10 withhold
it from the case under any consideration or 70
will get into the s ate prison.
Judge Greene knows all that you have written
me in those last TWO letters. / have written
him and forwarded the las; two letters yon sent
NE. You do ali that Is hOnest and right in The |
case and you and the case Will DO all right |
Don't let any one cause you 10 make any offers |
. me nor TO any one else To throw out This case |
or you will land yourself in the State prison. |
Ii DR.. Joe Pfiestly comes to yOl-or any other |
person, tell him or them that you have nothing |
further TO say in the case. Refuse to talk with |
or 10 any one on the subject-exceptng the |
Prosecuting Attorney.
There - nothing In the matter to trouble |
you'll what you have done In Ii be truthful! |
and correct.
/ probably shall be In court and can prove
that DR.. PrlestIy had not given up his residence |
at Clements up to August 10, 1892.
Snch an nnblusbing rascal (as showH|by his
conduct aud believed by EarD deserves 10 meet |
and receive cold aud exact justice. l shall
assist the prosecution In giving IL 10 him. / am
truly yours, q. T.. e.. MORGAN.
n. B.-Bear in mind what l have above writ
ten. Judge Greene and the prosecuting attor-
ney know what have written you in this aud
lie last letters; ana the contents OF the last
TWO letters you sent NE. So. act wisely and
refuse all communication with the other side,
1Ol your own sake.
=. S.-As for the complaint you write OF, If
one name to he complaint was vad-that is to
say, 1t one person thereon was duly and legally
sworn and told the exact facts in The case under
consideration. the complaint IS good. though it
olGn GI. fah ltr liar
sworn or not qualified TO swear TO IT,. These
names were surplusage. Don't let them In-
timdate you nor scare you. The Prosecuting
Attorney and court will take care OF you in
spite of ali that Reed and Nusbaumer can do.
heep straight and your reputation will take
care Of Itself. Your friend, NJ.
These letters are all in the hands of
District Attorney Shook. and he is going
to push investigation into them to the
fullest extent.