St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-06
BAR ASSOCIATION UNANIMOUS IN
DROPPING PROCEEDINGS
AGAINST HIM.
Day Df, NO DISBARMENT ACTION.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE LISTENS
TO LARABEE'S CHARGE AND
DODGE,S DEFENSE.
Revs. Dawley and Beach Appear Be-
fore New COngregatiOns-New
of Minneapolis.

The Hennepin County Bar association will
not commence disbarment proceedings against
Col w. E. Dodge This was determined on
at one of the longest meetings of the executive
committee in the history of the organization
Saturday afternoon. by unanimous vote.
The charge against Col w. E. Dodge was
| preferred about two weeks ago by Frank Lar
rabee, the attorney for Billings in the case
recently tried in the district court The
charge was made in writing, as required by
law, and alleged that Col. Dodge had been a
party to the bribing of juror in the Geek
case in Wright county, precisely the same
grounds charged in the affidavit of Billings
submitted to the grand jury at its last session.
| The charge was taken up at meeting Of the
executive committee and Larrabee was cited
| to appear before the committee and state his
| case. This he did. He dwelt upon the evil
dence as brought out at the trial of Billings
and went over the same ground, almost ex-
actly, as was gone over in the criminal trial.
| eliminating much of the evidence which was
not relevant to the charge against Col. Dodge.
| The committee then cited Col. Dodge to ap-
pear, and at a meeting held about week ago
the latter put in his defense. He explained
many Of the charges made against him by
Billings and also the statement appearing in
the alleged affidavit made by Juror Ernest
Otto. The committee and all parties in the
matter conceded that the allegation Of Billings
as to the bribing of juror might be correct,
but the point at issue in the charge against
| Dodge was whether not the latter was
party to the bribery or in any way sanctioned
it after 1t had been committed.
| In order to determine this a committee on
discipline, consisting of Messrs. Lancaster,
| Simpson, Judge Ueland and Flannery was ap-
pointed.
The committee held meeting last week, at
which the transcript Of the evidence in the
Billings case was gone over carefully and
| minute attention was given to all evidence
which could be brought out to show that
Dodge had definite knowledge of the alleged
act Of bribery. This committee was also given
a letter from Judge Mcconnell, of Fargo, in
which the latter stated that he was certain
Fraser appeared in his court on the 7th of
last December to participate as counsel In the
Neebus case. This is the strongest evidence
to prove Frasers alibi that has yet been dis
closed by Col. Dodge and his colleagues, and
1t had its effect on the committee.
Saturday the eliminating session Of the
series was held by the executive committee
OF the bar association in the office of Mr..
Jackson in the Oneida block. Every member
OF the committee, excepting Mr., Jackson,
VINO could not be present on account of
business, was in attendance.
Those present were G. S. Jelley Judge
Young, Wilson, Wheelwright, Thompson,
Woods, Flannery D. F. Simpson, Hendrix
Weed Munro, Judge Ueland, Fred v. Brown,
jackson, Lancaster and L. A. Reed.
Frank Larrabee acted as prosecutor and
made the argument. He again went over the
evidence in the Billings case much after the
manner in which he made the argument in
the Billings case, although q great many
matters were not material and these were
not referred to.
Col. W. E. Dodge was to have RESPONDED in
his own behalf, but it was not possible for
| him to be present, and Tim Byrnes presented
the defense. Each speaker was permitted TO
take up an hour and half and at the con-
cluslon OF the arguments the committee took
vote on the question whether or not the
evidence produced had been sufficient to
show that Dodge knew Of the bribing of the
juror and was implicated in 1t, or whether he
sanctioned 1t after it was DONE The vote
resulted In fourteen for acquittal and It was
decided that no further action should he
taken by the bar association In the disbar
ment proceedings. There has been consider
able interest in the outcome of the matter IN
the bar association among the attorneys of
the CITY, and the possible bearing the result
may have on the Billings trial at the next
term of court has been a matter of some
speculation.