The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-10
LAWYERS VS.. THE GRAND JURY.
ATLANTA BAR ASSOCIATION SAYS
CHARGES ARE UNTRUE.


Report of Special Committee in An
sver to the Special Presentments.
But Foreman Johnson's "ApOl-
cgy" is the Warmest Document.
Charges Improner Practice in RE-
eeivership Cases Against Promi-
nent Atlanta Lawyers.
Atlanta, Dec. 9.-The report of the spe-
cial committee appointed by the Atlanta
Bar Association to Investigate the charges
of barratry practice by certain members
of the Atlanta bar, made by Foreman
johnson and the grand jury made its re-
port to-day.
1t characterized the charges as with
out foundation, untrue and scandalous."
The report was read by Judge Spencer r.
Atkinson, and there was loud applause
when he read that 1t was enough to arouse
suspicion when a grand jury charged the
commission of crimes which 1t failed TO
indict. The report stated that complete
immunity from improper practices was
not claimed, but the same was true of
the clergy and medical profession. The
committee said that there were as few
unworthy members in the ranks of the bar
as in any other profession.
Improper practices by the bar were con-
demned, and the aid of the association was
tehaered to convict all offenders. The
opinion was expressed that the action of
the grand jury was not unanimous but
the work OF only a small majority of that
body.
Made at the Wrong Time.
The time at which the special present.
ment was made was declared improper
and denounced as vicious and dangerous
in principle. 1t was denied that the re-
ceivership laws were defective, IL prop
erly administered, and the greatest evil
was said to be perpetrated by corporations
in this state.
A number of cases were cited to show
that receivers were necessary to protect
stockholders and creditors in a great many
instances, and that there had been little
or no abuse of the receivership law in this
county.
The serious charges preferred by Mr..
Austin against Messrs. $. c. Tapp and
Lee ]. Langley were not investigated by
the committee, because the matter is still
under consideration by the grand jury. In
case no action is taken by the grand jury
it will suggest that a special committee
of the bar be appointed to hear both sides
of the case. MIR. Tapp has requested a
Iull tHNeStlSdtlOH ny the pdI,
Foreman Johnson's "ApO1ogy.'
Foreman johnson made his promised
apology to the Atlanta lawyers this
afternoon and it covers fifteen columns of
printed matter in which he prints over q
dozen letters and affidavits all the way
from Atlanta to South Carolina and Fori-
da, with names withheld, charging a GER
tain firm in this city with the pract'ce
of barratry, and says if the bar wants
any evidence 1t can get 1t from him.
He prints a communication from
Stockholders of the Atlanta and West
Point Railroad who asked the foreman
to pay his respects to well known law
yer for his attack on that road last year
in trying to place it in the hands of a re-
ceiver and says that it was evident TO
him that neither Representative Slaton
nor Representa- tive Brandon would do
anything in trying 10 have the law he re-
quested against barratry) passed.
Foreman Johnson accuses a prominent
lawyer of being in group of bad COM
pany though the son of a noble sire AMI
he names the group" which consists of
seven of the best known lawyers of the
city.
The Famous Ryan Case.
Foreman Johnson gives the result of the
operations of the reeeivership laws in the
noted case against Stephen A, Ryan. He
quotes Ryan as saying that his indebted
ness was about $2000,000, and that he Of
fered in compromise 80 cents on the dollar
in cash, and good security, by which his
creditors would have received about $780,
GOO on their claims against him; that when
the receiver took charge of his estate,
the assets amounted to over $500, 600 He
then sums up the results from the rec
ords as follows:
Sale of stocks and accounts ....... 1922 900
Preferred claims .................... 246O0O
Court expenses and lawyers fees. $4,000
The remaining claims of 81 10000, he
says did not get cent, and closes this
branch of the apology which the law
yers said was due, with these words:
The above results of a successful re-
ceivership suit is a clinching argument
that the receivership laws as practlced
by the members of the Atlanta bar. are
a good thing for-themselves."