The record-union., 1895-01-08
U. s. DISTRICT JUDGE R1CKs.
Charges Against Him TO be Invest
SsaIel hV The HOuse


Charges Against HIN to be Investi-
gated by the House.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.-Charges Of a
sensational nature against United States
District Judge Kicks of Cleveland are
contained in a memorial presented to the
House to-day. Representative johnson
OF Ohio secured immediate consideration
for the resolution instructing the Judi
ciary Committee to 5 Investigate the
charges, and without dobate the resolu-
ton was adopted. The charges are made
under oath by 5. j. liitchie CT Akron,
Ohio, wealthy citizen and capitalist
While directed mainly at Judge Kicks
they Indirectly affect Judge Burke and
eX-United States Senator Payne of CIeye-
land. Richie gives the names OF
formidable array OF counsel i'll Washing
ton. Cleveland and Akron, retained in
his behalf. The charges involve losses
reaching S6,00O,000. Ritchie claims TO
have suffered in decisions made by Judge
Kicks affecting Canadian copper and
nickel mines.
The memorial covers twelve type
written pages, and tells of the discovery
OF valuable copper and nickel deposits al
Sunbury Junction, in Canada, by the
memoriallst in 1885, which have become
world wide in fame, ,a1ld have supplied
all the nickel for armor plates used in
the United States navy and by the Euro
pean Govern In order 10 develop
them, TO organize corporations and to
build a connecting railway he says he as
sociated himself with S.epenson Burke e.,
Henry b. Payne and Thomas W. Cor
nell, who We're at that time believed to be
trustworthy and honorable. The cor
poratlOns were known as the Canadian
Copper Company and Anglo American
Iron Company with principal offices at
Cleveland.
Mr.. Ritchie AYERS that in 1890 he nego-
tiated in England for the sale of the prop
erty for Sl5, ,UOO, 600, when, his petition al
leg6s, his associates Commenced to put
into execution thoroughly planned and
Infamous scheme TO ros himself and his
wife. who had the largest interests" To
assist them in their designs, it is charged
that Judge Kicks prostItuted his Office
and became their subservient and plant
tool.
Mr.. Ritchie says that while he was con-
fined to his bed in 1883, and unable to at
tend to his business. James b. and
George w. McMullin of Ontario secured
judgment in Canada on a contract by
which he was to purchase from them cer-
tain railroad bonds, and brought suit in
the Circuit Courts of the Northern Dis
trlct OF Ohio and secured Judgment.
According to the memorial, it was
afterwards discovered that large part of
the coupons which the McMullins bad
agreed 10 deliver had been stolen by
them from the Central Ontario Railway.
Stephenson Burke: acted as his attorney,
he recltes, and says Burke proIessed to
defend the case, but called meeting of
Payne and Cornell, whom Ritchie terms
consplrators, at which they agreed to
appropriate to themselves securities
worth 81, 300 900 belonging to MIR. Ritchie
| a M wit rIa
with their mutual Canadian interests,
appropriating them ostensibly to pre-
vent them from being seized under The
| McMuIlin Judgment, and then entered
into an agreement with the McMullins
| who later should file a creditors bill in
| the court over which Judge Kicks pre-
| sided, and which they boasted would
sustain their interests.
| 1t is alleged to have been part of the
| agreement that Burke, Payne and Cor
nell were TO be made parties to the bill,
and the securities in their possession
| brought into court. In furtherance of
this plan, it is alleged that his partners
defeated the sale for $4,000, 000 arranged
! and planned the destruction of the mar
ket value OF the properties, and fraudu-
! lently transferring TO themselves the
| stock owned by him, elected Burke Presi-
dent of the company.
Ihe books of the company, which con-
tairied an accurate statement of his stand
| ing, charges Judge Kicks with withhold
ing from him, refusing permission to his
attorneys to inspect them, acting from
| corrupt motives, and in the face of the
! TACT that tor eight years no statement of
! the condition OF the company had been
made as required by law. Every other
| party to the suit, it is declared, had free
access to them. Harry p. Mcintosh and
Samuel i. Williamson were interested
! also as attorneys in the suit
| In the Interest of these parties as in
| diylduaI attorneys, this vicious ruling of
Judge Kicks was made" the memorial
continues, "and when the charges pre-
! terred by the Central Labor Union of
| Cleveland against Judge Kicks were
recently on hearing before the committee
| appointed by the House of Representa-
tlves, we find every one of these attor-
neys flying to the rescue of Judge Kicks.
! We find them also writing to members
OF Congress, and laboring with them to
prevent any report being made which
/ would be truthful statement of Judge
| KICKS conduct, as shown by his own
| books. This conduct shows plainly
the relations which exist between Judge
| KICKS and the corrupt parties whom ne
| had protected from being convicted by
| their own books and records, as he him
! self has been shown to be guilty and cor
| rupt by the methods of his office"
]
books Of the corporation were shipped
! from Ontario to the United States to get
them within the jurisdiction of Judge
Ricks' court; that he made the ruling re-
fusing Ritchie access TO the books with
| out notice or opportunity for hearing,
| and without notice to his attorneys dis
missed Mrs. Richie as party TO the case.
The charges against Judge Kicks will
| doubtless be considered by the Judiciary
! Committee i'll connection with those pre-
! ferred by the Cleveland labor unions
! The members of the subcommittee held
an informal conference, deciding to turn
the matter over to the full committee at
its first meeting, probably tomorrow. in
accordance with the wishes of Bailey.
! There will be no sub-com mittee report
Zach member, Bailey, Lane and Brod-
erick, will make brief statement of his
/ views.
THE PAPAL DECREE,