The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-08-30
PECKHAM GIVES HIS SIDE.
He Explains the Charges Made Against
Him i'll the Reeds Matter.

/ Colonel Peckham of Winfield VINO
/ was charged with miSappropriatinS
! $500 belonging to Judge Isaac Reed, for
( the appeal of his case to the supreme
/ court writes the following letter to the
/ Winfield Courier concerning the mat
! ter:
Winfield, Kan. Aug. %. 1895.
To the Editor of the Winfield Courier:
In your issue of Aug. -. I find copied
from the Topeka Capital an article con-
demnlng my alleged conduct in the
Reed murder case. In the Kansas City
Journal of the 22d inst. / have noticed
another article on the same subject.
based also upon a gross Justification Of
the facts. Vt the time Of the last trial
OF the Reed case in the district court
of Cowley county, Mr.. Isaac Reed. re-
siding in Massachusetts, and the faith
er of Judge Isaac G. Reed, had on de-
post a : the FIRST National bank of VIM
field $1,000 and out of that sum, by his
direction that bank paid to me the sum
of $500, to be used by me in paying the
NECESSARY expense of procuring evi-
dence of nonresident witnesses, in pay
ing the cost of taking the case - the
supreme court, and in the employment
OF additional counsel in the case if l
deemed il advisable. It * not true.
as charged, that the money was to be
paid to me upon certificate of the stem
was in any manner. clandestinely or
fraudulently obtained. As 10 the other
counsel in the ca 50 Mr.. Elliott. OF Wei
linGtOn. and Mr. Beekman. OF Arkansas
City. It was entirely unnecessary to pro
claim that they were free from any
blame in the matter. II was impossi-
bic for them - be charged with any 70
Spousibility. Neither the custody Of the
fund, nor any control IN disposition was
entrusted TO them. but solely 70 myself
Out Of the sum 50 placed at my diSpOS-
al I have paid S+65 Tor the purposes for
which il was cOniided 70 me, and have
in my hands the balance. remaining
ready 10 be PAID on demand 10 the per
son from whom | received il. OF 20 such
other person as he shall designate or
the amOdrt / have so paid. $500 was
paid ID M r =. Cook the official stem
ographe-. for transcript Of the proceed
ins.s upon trial. necessary 20 be en-
bc5iedw in the Defendants bill Of ex-
ceptionS and the bill OF exceptions was
duly completed, signed and filed IN
proper time and Judge Reeds right 70
an appeal stands thus fully protected.
To take and file SucH appeal 81 the SUI
prenne court The law allows TWO years
from rendition OF judgment. and the
Judgment in this case was rendered al
the September term, 1884. OF the district
court.
The only remaining question il the
case IS the perhaps natural inquiry as
70 why have not before this time filed
the case in the supreme court ! can
no. AZ this time, without answers which
/ have not yet received 70 letters !
have written % Judge Reed 2 Lansing
and 70 his father n Massachusetts,.
fully answer This question for the re7-
son that they involve matters which
can only properly be discussed between
lawyer and client. I can only say a.
this time that ! had intended 70 file
this case il the supreme court about
the first o. October n the presegt year,
AMI that in my judgment and for The
best interest 81 the defendant &; ought
not - BE- fled before that tine.
As soon sls knew % the attacks b.
ing made upon nse. 7 wrose a; once -
Judge Reed and 20 hs father request
ins 20 be relieved from all further r.
spansihility u the matter. and - aak'e
the money remaining II ny hands and
its application - such Use IS hey de-
sire co2fded 20 some Other person
I have = n way 5TglreriiSi or .ss.ri-
fcad the interests q Judge Reed II tbs
matter. ani have faithfully stood by
him. without re-. during th-ss trials n
tha district cur and one ~ ne 81
prsGne court. and Do to- believe thzt
the public or the editorial fraternity
viii sanction The unjust charges aga
inst ne when Informed Of ;lse facts
ThS. they have been mtsinfo-T1ei =
evident. whether from sources Dronnot-