The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-07
Mr.. Crafts Wants $500
From ChaS. ]. BurdiCk.
He Defended Latter'S Brother
on Trial for Rape.
Defendant in the Suit Denied His
Responsibility for Bill.

Attorney A. B. Crafts of Westerly suit
against Charles j. Burdick TO recover $500
for professional services was heard by the
Appellate Court today, jury trial having
been waived. Mr.. Crafts testified that
he was engaged by Charles j. Burdick TO
defend his brother Frank Burdick, who
had been arrested on "a charge OF having
committed the crime of rape. When first
the services Of Mr.. Crafts were sought
the defendant did not think the case
strong one and wanted the attorney 90
defend Frank for $40, but the fee de-
manded was $25 Frank BuldIck was
bound over by the District Court at
Shamrock TO await the action of the grand
jury, ana was indicted and with the AS
sistance of Mir. Crafts freed by IA petit
jury. Mr.. Crafts testified that he care
fully studied the testimony taken in
the District Court and that the trial in
the Common Pleas Division of the Su-
prcmo Court took three days. The
work done by him on tizs case, Mr..
Crafts explained, was harder than any
work he ever did on case previously
and when the jury brougnt in its verdict
he thought $1,000 not too heavy sum 10
charge. Charles j. Burdick. before the
jury returned, complimented the attorney
and said some things that Mr.. Crafts
thought IL scarcely proper 60 repeat on
account of the ilattering tone and in ad
dition promised the attorney that his bill
would be Immediately paid. Some weeks
after the trial witness wrote 10 Mr. &. j.
Burdick asking for the pavmont of his
fee of $500 AS Mr.. Burdick demurrod 10
the size of tho bill Mr.. Crafts sent an
amended one fixing the price for his ser
vices au $500. Stonographers George and
Frank Farnell testified that Charles j.
Burdick had told them he had engaged
Mr.. Crafts TO defend his brother. George
Farnell also testified that c. j. Burdck
paid HIM for taking the testimony ut the
trial in the district court In Shamrock.
Attorney General T. L. Dubois was
witness in behalf of Attorney Crafts
and said that in his opinion, the services
of the attorney that defended Frank Bur-
dick, so far as the proceedings in the
courC were concerned, were worth at
least $3.50. Mr.. Dubois could not tell on
the data Furnished him how much the
preparation of the case was worth. Mr.
Crafts had testified he had examined care
fully 60 Ipe of times the place whore
the alleged crime was committed
Charles j. Burdick, the defendant, tes-
titled that he distinctly told Mr. Crafts
that the money he was using In engag-
ing him was some that belonged To his
brother, Frank Burdick. He had never
paid out one cent for his brothers. de-
Tense that was not the lattcr's own money
and had at present I'm his possession
- about s15 that belonged To his brother.
Witness thought the Farnells must have
misunderstood him. rs he never said he
would be responsible for his brothers
bills in defending the case.
Frank Burdick testified that Mr. Crafts
said the price in the Common Pleas Divi-
sion of the Supreme Court would he so
day and he had Offered Mr.. Crafts $40,
but the latter insisted on fee of $500