The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-05

MI. Stanley Stands Up to Address the Court
Speaks of Newspaper that Protrudes
from His Pocket-The Air is Filled with
Rumors-Objects to Being Scalded to
Prevent Somebody Else Being Par
Boiled Court Says There Must Now be q
Fair and Fearless mvestigation-Who
VIII Get Caught in the Trap.
w. E. Stanley, chairman; r. r. Yer
million, S. B. Amidon, c. V. Ferguson,
and c. H. Brooks.
The above is the committee appoint
ed by Judge Reed to investigate charges
and rumors rejecting on members Of
the bar in regard 10 collecting and re-
tanning costs.
Long before court was called yester-
day morning it was plainly to be seen
that something important was on hand.
The lawyers and county officers gather
ed in groups and talked in an energetic
way that showed that there was good
deal of feeling about something.
Two or three lawyers would get to-
eether and one would read from Sum-
DAYS Eagle and then there would be
another earnest consultation with nu-
nlerous gestures and nodding OF the
heads.
Charley Luling looked serious as if
he wondered what will come of all this
talk anyhow. County Clerk Carvin
stood just inside the district clerks Of
flee and looked over a crowd of excited
takers and he appeared to be making
a supreme effort to look serious, but it
was plainly to be seen that Carvin
rather enjoyed the situation.
1t was supposed that something would
be done when court was clled but no.
hody knew exactly what it would be.
Now you have played thunder" said
Court Bailiff w. L. Johnson. The
Eagle has turned the whole thing loose
and we are going to have a racket GER
tain
Court was called and when Judge
Reed walked into the stand and took
his seat in the big arm chair he looked
as if something weighed heavily upon
his mind. It was evident that some-
thing was about to be done that did not
meet his entire approval.
When Judge Reed had taken his chair
and looked over the court room W. E.
Stanley arose to address the court. MIR.
Stanley wore an overcoat from one
pocket of which protruded copy of the
Eagle. There was profund silence
when Mr.. Stanley arose, and the law
yers all slipped into chairs and leaned
forward to catch his words.
If the court please" said Mr.. Stan
ley, Il am about to perform an I'M
pleasant duty. For days past the
very air has been full Of rumors re-
flecting upon members of this bar.
The rumors have been published
in a morning paper that has wide cir
culation, and along with these rumorS
was published some new rules ordered
h. Low Hon fl1ra
these unpleasant rumors caused the
rules to be promulgated.
There is very little left to an at
torney when his reputation for in
egrity is gone, and ] feel that the mat
ter as it now stands is a reflection on
every member CT this bar; feel that
it is a reflection on me and l wish to
suggest the Importance Of appointing
committee to ascertain whether there
are any facts to justify heSe rumors."
Judge Reed suggested that this was
very serious matter and that some at
torneyS might be prevented from MAX
ing living while charges are hanging
over them. Judge Reed said that he
had hoped that the new rules would al
low the extra steam to blow off and that
they would prevent the costs being COL
lected in the future by attorneys with
cut at once being turned in.
Then Mr.. Stanley argued that it was
proposed to allow the steam to escape
and scald every member at the bar in
order that a few may escape par boil
ing He argued that the rule promul-
gated by the court was itself refiec-
ton on the bar; that the rule itself sug-
geSted the necessity. There was no ne
ceSsitty for a rule compelling attor-
neys to turn over costs collected by
them unless there had been a failure to
turn over such costs.
Mr.. Stanley insisted that an invest
eating committee ought TO be appoint
ed; that honest men should not be made
to suffer for the dishonest. He said he
had performed very unpleasant duty
in this court only a few weeks ago and
he had earnestly desired that the men,
Der of this bar then on trial might be
able to vindicate himself. He claimed
that it did not make any difference how
unpleasant this task twas a duty that
must be performed.
Judge Reed seemed to hesitate ard
finally appointed the committee above
named. There was e great calm after
the committee was appointed and hard
~ 4 county officers or a lawyer could
be induced to say a word about it They
all seemed TO think that Judge Reed
had set a dead fall and they all prefer
red to wait and see who were in ii when
W. E. Stanley and his committee pulls
the string.
After court adjourned reporter for
the Eagle asked Judge Reed what power
this committee would have. He replied
"Now that they have insisted on a com
mittee / desire that a full and fearless
investigation shall be made. All the
evidence will be made a record of the
court That is all / have to say now"