The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-20
ATTORNEY HAS
WITHDRAWN.
Hearing on the Investors Com
pany's Case Postponed.
new YORK LAWYER APPEARED.
He Is Edward B. Lafetra, and He Said That
He Represented Mr.. Stewart.
ASKED FOR TIME TO PREPARE CASE.
Committee on judiciary Of The Senate Finally Post
ponad Tho Matter Until Friday, When Final
Hearing viii Be Grsn
He Is Edward B. lafetra, and He Said Thai
He Represented Mr.. Stewart.
ASKED FOR TIME TO PREPARE CASE.

repeal of the charter of the American
Investors company. which was to have
been resumed before the judiciary COM
mittee Of the Senate this morning, did
not take place. for as soon as the COM
mittee met, at 10 o'clock, Chairman
Freeman announced that he had re-
ceived a letter from Robert w. Burbank
OF counsel for the defendants. which
he requested Clerk Sweeney to read
The letter was as follows:
Providence. March IS, 1899.
Hon. j.. l.. Freeman, Chairman Senate
Committee on Judiciary:
My Dear Mr.. Freeman:-I beg to
state to you that / have withdrawn
from all further connection with the
matter Of the American Investors
company, now pending before your
committee. and request that you will
kindly state that fact to the rest OF
the committee and accept for yourself
and your colleagues my cordial thanks
for the uniform courtesy and consid-
Grafton extended 10 me in the investiga-
tion up 10 this point and believe me,
Very truly yours,
ROBERT w. BURBANK.
When-the- letter was read-a gentle
man who had been seated in the Senate
chamber arose and announced that he
was Edward y. Lafetra, attorney-at
law, OF New York, and stated he APP
peared i'm behalf of Mr. G.. Percival
Stewart. manager OF the company. and
he asked that inasmuch as IL was not
until last Saturday night that Mr..
Stewart had learned that Mr.. Burbank
had withdrawn from the case. he had
been unable TO secure the necessary
counsel to represent him before the
committee, and he asked that day be
appointed at which the hearing might
be resumed.
Mr.. Lafetra then presented a written
statement from Mr.. Stewart. in which
that gentleman said that he did not
expect 10 occupy more than one day in
presenting his side of the case. He
also said that he was surprised to learn
that much of the cross-eXamination of
Mr.. HaZleton. the local manager, had
been devoted to the affairs OF the Gran
ite state Provident association. III this
matter was To be brought up, Mr..
Stewart said that he needed time, be-
fore his testifying To refresh his MEM
DRY by reference to the books and pa
pers Of the association.
Mr.. Stewart further stated that he
considered the charges and alleged
proofs OF the petitioners against the
Much of the evidence is. he was told,
i'm the shape of irresponsible newspa-
per clippings and other unverified and
hearsay reports" Mr.. Stewart then
asked for an adjournment, for at least
one week. and said he desired to go on
record as denying. in the most solemn
and emphatic way every statement or
inference TO the effect that either the
company or himself have injured or in
tended 10 injure any one of the petit
TONERS, or that anything has been done
outside the line OF legitimate busi-
ness.
Chairman Freeman stated that the
committee had nothing TO do with the
Granite State matter, and did not care
To 60 into il at all. lie had been in
formed that today statement OF the
business OF the company would be pre-
sented to the committee. but instead a
statement had been received from Mr..
Burbank who withdraws from the case.
Mr.. Davis. OF counsel for the com
plainants, said he believed there was a
tendency on the part of the represen-
tatives OF the company not 10 appear
at the hearing. and he asked that II be
declared closed. He thought that time
enough had been given 10 all interested
TO present their side of the case. If they
so desired.
Mr.. I.afetra moved for further delay.
and. after consultation. the hearing
was declared adjourned TO Friday
morning next, at 10 o'clock. when,
Chairman Freeman stated that he
should expect 10 receive from the OFF,
GERS Of the company a statement OF the
names Of al lpcrsons who had done bus
mess with the company in Rhode Is
land. together wit ha statement OF the
money received from and money paid
TO them.