Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-25
THE PATENT OFFICE SCANDAL.
Rule Made for observation-disclosures imonds
to Show Why He Should Not Be Dis

10 snow Why He Should Not Be Dis
barred.
The unusual spectacle of high government
"fhclal appearing as the defendant in a prose-
cution before the bar of the department over
which he had but very recently presided charged
with violation of the law of the Office, was
presented at the patent Office yesterday. Mr.
william L. Simonds, ex-member of Congress,
ex-chalrman OF the house committee on pat
ents, and, during President Harrison's admin
lstration. commissioner of patents of the United
States, appeared to answer the charge pre-
ferred against him by Messrs. Church Church
OF permitting copies to be made Of the private
papers of the Drawbaugh telephone patents on
file in the secret archives of the Office Messrs
roster freeman, attorneys for the Bell Tele-
phone Company also appeared to show cause why
they as well as the late commissioner should not
be disbarred from practice before the depart-
ment for invading the files.
The hearing commenced at o'clock and the
early procee iIngs were related in The STAR
yesterday afternoon.
When Mr.. Church had finished his argument,
as detailed in The STAR, Mr.. ]. J. Storrow Of
Boston, representing the Bell Telephone Com
pany, took the stand and denied explicitly that
he had ever received copies of any papers
which might be said to have been obtained in
an irregular manner.
Then Mr.. Jere Wilson, as counsel for Messrs.
Foster & Freeman, demanded that the
charges which had been filed by Messrs.
Church & Church be made more explicit.
He said this matter had taken the form of a
prosecution and insisted that specific charges
be made and names and dates given.
Ex-Congressman Payson of Illinois. former
colleague of Mr.. Simonds, appeared in that
gentleman's behalf and also insisted upon an
elaboration in detail of the charges.
Mr.. Simonds then asked to be heard, and
delivered the following statement:
81 am not here In any attitude Of apology or
excuse. am satisfied with and proud Of my
every act as commissioner of patents This
complaint makes specific mention OF copies
given of only two Drawbaugh applications, one
filed in 1880 and the other filed in 1884. The
whole matter was treated in strict accordance
with the rules of the Office. The 1880 applica-
dead and abandoned application, and copy of
1t was properly given under rule 179 and form
81. The 1884 application was treated as pend
ing application and the copy was denied. My
decision is published in the Gazette OF April
4, 1893
'As to the other charges which have been
poured into the public ear, they are false. out
rageous and defamatOry both in substance and
detail. These charges emanate from no visible
source. An impalpable monster has struck at
me out Of the darkness. Some people think
that some man in authority directs this blow.
do not believe anything of the kind. But if
any man will make direct and specific charge
of acts committed by me while commissioner OF
patents. which were illegal and of wrong intent,
will hale that person into court as q hbeler
with the utmost expedition. If any person
dares to come out into the open and make the
attack in such shape that it will be cognizable
by court let him accept this challenge and
abide the result
At the close Of all these arguments Commits
sioner Seymour held that the charges already
preferred are specific enough, inasmuch as they
mention names and dates. He therefore issued
disbarred from practice before the patent
Office. All statements in the return Of the rule
are to be made under oath. At the request of
the defendants for speedy hearing today was
named for the return of the rule and the hear
G,o q u,al