The Dickinson press., 1899-09-02
That Fellow DennistOn.

in camp at noon.
That Fellow DennistOn.
EDITOR PREss:-Afterreading your ar
ticle on the disbarment proceedings
brought by VIM. Thaw Denniston against
L. A. Simpson, we thought the people of
the state might be interested in knowing
who VIM. Thaw Denniston is. 1t will be
noted he splits his name in the middle.
"Wm. Thaw." If he wrote it "Wm. t."
we would not know his name was "Wm.
Thaw."
We will say in the beginning that we
assume all responsibility for this article,
both before the Bar of Justice and to all
individuals who may feel themselves ag-
grieved, the Denniston family old and
Young in particular. We wish also to
say that we are neither the champion or
defender of L. a. Simpson or Judge
Winchester. They are fully able to care
for themselves.
VIM. Thaw Denniston is from Pitts
burg, Pa, where he was born some u
years ago. He was given some education,
and three years ago was shipped to this
state for his health, his father start
ing him on a small ranch. According to
his own statement to us, he has been an
epileptic from his youth. That he is an
epileptic there is no doubt the writer hav-
ing seen him during several attacks.
In our own opinion he is also a paretic.
II we are correct in this opinion the man
is to be pitied, and should be in an asylum
in place of here drawing a salary as
County Attorney; but perhaps this is the
cheapest way for his family to have him
kept. At the time Denniston was admit
ted to the bar, Simpson was serving as
attorney for this county, by appointment
of the board of county commissioners,
there being no attorney in this county
when the appointment was made. We
also add that at the time of his admission
Simpson had about one year to serve.
1t will now be noted that if Simpson was
out of the way, Denniston would be ap-
pointed in his stead, there being no other
attorney resident. In 1893, say about
February, he, Denniston, informed us
that he intended filing a complaint
against Simpson for his disbarment; that
members of the Bar in Dickinson advised
this and promised their assistance. In
case of failure before Judge Winchester,
the case would be at once taken to the
Supreme Court, one of whose members
had been approached on the subject.
Once disbarred from the State Courts,
they would next movet his disbar-
ment from the U. S. Courts. The next
move would be for the impeachment of
Winchester. We wish now to be dis
tinctly understood as not claiming that
this would have been good or bad for the
District, but, Shades of "Uriah Heap"
what must We think of the poor miser-
able members of the Bar, who selected
this poor paretic to do work which they
were too cowardly to undertake. Reform
er! for Gods sake where shall we draw
the line? In a lifetime of over ffty-four
years, we consider VIM. Thaw Dennis
ton the most miserable, despicable Great
ure we have ever had the misfortune to
meet, excepting it be those who nag him
on. Yes, we agree they should have the
medal. When Mr.. Simpson went to war
which Denniston did not, Simpson left
his business both here and at Dickinson,
except some important cases, in Mr.
Denniston's charge. No small opening
for a young attorney without a Brief
Abont July, 'oS, Mr.. Denniston was ap
pointed county attorney for this, Billings
county, and was elected at the 1893 cleo
ton, there being no other attorney in the
county. He is and has been since July
1893, the attorney Of this county. If he
is an honorable man and attorney, VIII,
does he not have Webster brought t.
trial tor attempting to commit murder
whom he claims has been arrested on
that charge and never tried? He has al
SO circulated reports that another mai
was maliciously attacked and died from
the effects of said wounds and that HI
has all the evidence. If this is a fac
why does he not have the guilty partie
brought to trial? If he is so Jealous 70
the welfare Of this district, why does h
not CLOSE the gambling houses and sa
loon in his own county? especially whel
they are within one hundred feet of tn,
public school where the wife he marrie'
TO support him is to teach. Since M,
Denniston has been the county a~ttorne,
no one, including the county officers, ha
any confidence in him. They will neithe
ask his advice or trust him with the;
business. But they do employ Simpson
Does this cause jealousy? Last Decen
Der a murder was committed in this cour
ty. We will ask, did Mr.. Dennisto
make any effort to secure evidence t
bring the guilty party to trial? and whe
the criminal was brought to trial by tn
aid of Simpson, who was employed b
the Commissioners for the purpose; di
no Mr.. Denniston state to the Judge
open court that he was unable to condu1
the case? If Denniston is SO pure an
white, why does he continue to draw h
salary as county attorney, for which l
does not and cannot render any service