The evening times., 1895-09-09
AN ATTEMPT TO RAISE THE DEAD
THAT NEVER LIVED.



the Government IA Cent In His Life.
In 1879, certain mail contracts were let
to one Z. Z. Frayer, OF washington On
these DR.. William NJ. Starr and Mr. Mason
| were suretics. Owing TO some irregularity
| in the letting of the contracts, DIR. Starr
suggested TO the government that FOR its
ment pay to the sub-contractor directly the
sums due them and then to Mr.. Prayer, the
amount remaining for him.
Postmaster General Keys. under the Hayes
| administration. accepted the proposition
and pronounced IL a Wise plan OF procedure.
The contracts Were executed under this
new agreement. a question was raised
at the time as to the effect OF this plan upon
the sureties- Mr.. Keys affirmed that the
sureties Were released in as much as the
government had in its own power the means
ofpreyenting anyloss toItself Mr.. Frayser
remained in the business during the whole
four years, or until the contracts We're all
| settled, and reiet to other parties After
this, Frayser was also released by the
government, which appears III the govern
ment records.
A year or two after that time Mr..
his death, Judgment by default was taken
against Starr and Mason on the old contract
which wac cancelled when the new one was
| made. The first iniImation that Starr
and Mason had OF any suit or any action
whatever in the matter was received by
Starr on Saturday evening, April "a, 1895,
when he was notified by the marshal that
| If he did not pay off a judgment against
| him for several thousand dollars by noon OF
| the following Monday his property in the
city OF Wasnington would be seized and
He repaired 10 the marshal and asked d
little breathing time TO recover from the
shock OF such an une expected and confessedly
| irregular and UNIV arranted proceeding. A
| stay until the succeeding Wednesday was
obtained.
The case is still in court at this date,
September 6. 1895.
Why such singular proceeding should
he instituted IS inexplicable. The orig
inal property III Texas which was pledged as
security at-the time is still in the possession
| of DR.. Starr as the records viii show. Why
should the government have waited until
| this day or grace, A. D., 1895. fifteen
years. 10 fasten upon property in Wash
| ington.
Mr.. Mason had likewise property which
was available. II was not touched.
Dr. starr walked the streets OF Wash:
| ingtou with The Impression that he owed
| no man dollar How he was startled
when reminded that he was expected TO
pay up claim that never had any legal ex
1stence. Does II not seem strange that
few petty officials, with the idea Of max
ing themselves conspicuous as reforfuers.
would enter the peaceful haunIs OF a man
elghty-iive years OF age, who had fought
for his government IN three wars? IL looks
| like official blackmail to extort money
from law-abiding. liberty loving, inoffen-
sive citizen? The fifth amendment to
the Constitution reads that no person shall
be deprived OF life, liberty or property with
out due process otlaw,' which he never had.
L. tHeit Sam tAPtCttu 10 stiOM
gartltUde to his servants and defenders
i'll such a hea rtless and objectiona BILE
| manner? 1t cannot be. Justice will
prevail.
The defence has shown that even after
the Judgment in this case was secretly
| taken. II was Forfeited six times by non
compliance with the law, in such cases
provided The whole affair, therefore, is
an attempt To secure money from citizen
on secret judgment, obtained i'll a man
ner most extraordinary and irregular II
Is violation of all law and precedent.
Another strange and irregular proceed
ing III this matter was this: While the
case was pending in court the authorities
advertised a sale o I property. and actually
sold property for one-Quarter of its value
| on first bid when the government was the
only bidder. A contempt OF court. a viola
ton OF the very first presence of law, an
insult against the supreme court of the
District of Columbia. Can Uncle Sam
afford to secure property in such a man.
ner? II so, he might soon be the owner
in fee simple OF every piece Of real estate
i'll the United States. This would make
him a veritab Bile and INSCRIPTIONS real estate
dealer: This would out Shylock Shy
lock himself
DR. WM. STARR, 709 St NV.
MR. MASON. 21O7 Pa. ave.
Sept. 6, 'S5. Washington, ID. C.