The Portland daily press., 1895-07-13
BOTH SIDES OF 1T.
statements by Judge Hopkins and
Editor Chapman.

Statements by Judge Hopkins and
Editor Chapman.
In Regard to the Incident Which Led to
the Latter's Arrest for Contempt of
Court in Deering.
Mr.. L. B. Chapman, editor of the
Deering News, publishes in the regular
issue OF the News, this morning state
mentor the occurrence between himself and
Judge Hopkins in the Deering Municipal
court that led to his arrest for contempt
of court. The PRESS also publishes this
statement and together with it an inter
view with Judge Hopkins in regard to
the facts of the incident in the court
room.
Following is the statement in the Deer
ing News:
EDITOR CHAPMAN'S STATEMENT.
Wednesday forenoon after the James
Kennedy burglary case had been disposed
of and the spectators had all left the court
room and George c. Hopkins, the judge,
was pondering over the papers before him
as the schoolmaster in ye olden time
amused himself with the writing books
of his pupils and when Constable Berry
was the only person present excepting
Mr.. Hopkins and the News man, the
representative of the News called the at
tention of the first gentleman here named
to the fact that the papers of the court
had recently been put under the protec-
tion of a turned bolt of lock, whereup-
on MIR. Hopkins said: eyes, I have done
this for their protection. "Can we see
them?" said the News man. "Yes, I" said
Mr.. Hopkins, "when I am here, Or will
tell you anything relative to them you
wish to know - "Then the News man is
to understand that you must be present
when the papers are examined, and if he
calls for you, you will come here and unlock
the case?' said the News man. Yes, F"
said Mr.. Hopkins, if I am paid for the
time and trouble as get but little out of
the thing as matters are now. +"
Then the News man proceeded to look
into the tin box paper holder and selected
one of the best papers he desired to see,
seating himself for the purpose. There
upon Mr.. Hopkins hastily gathered up
the papers before him and approaching
the News man said "Come, I want
that paper you have-I can't be bothering
with you" ''Will you explain these
fgures?'' asked the News man pointing
to an item Of five dollars and some cents,
the News man holding the paper up for
Mr.. Hopkins to see, the News man being
seated. Mr.. Hopkins bending down said,
THAT is not figure five but three, and
MEANS l presume the officers fees all
Jumped in with the court fees. - mo, -
said the News man, ''that is five; the
officers fees amounting to some six dollars
are on the other side of the warrant
Mr.. Hopkins then slat the papers he
had in his hand into the case, turning
quickly with the word t'Giye me that
paper he grabbed it before the words
were out of his mouth, and before the
News man, holding the warrant and his
note book. in the same hand, could release
his hold so that the paper parted, leaving
a corner of it between the News man &
thumb and finger. Mr.. Hopkins then
tore the part he had obtained into seve raj
pieces, made wad of the parts and
threw it between the shelves, remarking,
Il Will swear out warrant for your
arrest on the charge of contempt of court
| have witness who has heard and seen
all, - but Mr.. Berry had departed and no
one was present but Mr.. Hopkins and the
News man. Mr.. Hopkins then entered
the city clerks office where stood Com
missioner Walker, and said to him, 'You
heard me ask for the warrant and saw it
held onto when l demanded it, did you
not Mr.. Walker?'' ''I saw nothing and
heard nothing of the sort,' said Mr.
Walker Th en- Mr.. Hopkins departed
saying as he left, "I'll have you
arrested.
JUDGE HOPKINS'S STATEMENT.
On being shown the above statement
Judge Hopkins read it and then made the
following statements in regard to the
matter:
He said that during the morning
session of the court Mr. Chapman applied
for leave to look at the papers of the
court, and consent was granted. He took
a tin box containing the complaints and
began looking them over
The Judge was engaged some time, in
the business of the court, and when that
business was finished put all his books
and papers in the case where they be-
longed, and went to Mr.. Chapman, say
ing, "I must now go in town. present.
ing his hand for the paper. Mr.. Chapman
then pointed to figure and asked what
it meant. The Judge explained the mean
ing of the figure, although it was a
matter which had been settled by the
parties and in which Mr.. Chapman had
no interest or concern, and the details