The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-12
HETTY GREEN DENIES 1T.
DID NOT COLLAR LAWYER LANE AND
BACK HIN TO THE WALL.

Did Not Shake Her Finger mt Him to Make
Him Sign an Agreement That His Fee
Should BeSatisfactory to Her-Chemical
Bank Ia Her Castle in Business Affairs.
Hetty Rowland Robinson Green gave her
name in full when. with n bundle inclosing all
the papers in her case. she took the witness
stand yesterday before Justice Fitzgerald OF
the Supreme Court in defence OF tho action
brought by Lawyer Smith +. Lane to recover
5000 for legal services in saving her a per-
sonal tax OF S2S.S0O in 1895. She turned her
eyes ceilingward and crossed her hands COM
prsedly over her papers as she settled in her
seat.
| Mrs. Green testified that her husband intro
duced MIR. Lane to her at the Chemical National
Bank on April >. 1895. Mr.. Lane told her that
her husband had been very good to him and
had lent him money. She added: II had
heard such persons talk before"
This "Reminiscences was cut of by the ohjec-
ton Of Col. Franklin Bartlett for the plaintiff.
Mrs. Green went on to say that Mr.. Lane told
her he was a great friend OF her husband and
he was going to get rid Of a personally tax
based on n valuation Of S5O.OOO against her
husband and he would also attend to tho tax
against her. Mr.. Lane had an affidavit which
he had drawn up which he wanted her to sign.
but as she testified:
Il have seen too much OF the world and OF
lawyers. and | would not sign anything unless
he put in black and white what he was going
to charge mo. told him So"
Q.-What did he say? A.-Oh. he said. I'VE
are very dear friends. your husband and I. and
won't charge anything but | told him I
know too much Of the world to take stock in
that good friends business. He told me that
as l had married a Nermonter. and
as our house. our furniture and our cemetery
were in Vermont | should not be liable to tax
alton in New York.
1t was then that Mr.. Lane wrote. she said.
and signed the following:
las TO wha. l shall charge you in the matter
OF your tax assessment. It will be made salts
factory to you after the approval Of Mr.. Green
Regarding the statement Of Mr.. Lane that
she caught him by the coat and whilo he was
up against the wall forced him to sign tn" pa
per. her examination proceeded:
WIZ have you to say about having as
saulted him when he signed that paper? A
No. sir. All the clerks were in sight. and If I
had wanted to have him put out | would have
Did you assault him? A.-No. sir. I did
not. ] would not have. ~.
Odd You stand him up against the wall
and did YOU TAX" hold of his coat +? .A.-No. sir.
He did not, stand against the wal. nor did I
Odd you shake your finger at him at the
time? A.-No. sir. did not shake my finger
Odd you threaten him in any way? A
No. sir. Not at all. ! did not know what he
was going to write. He seemed to be trying to
0,-why did he say he wanted you to sign an
afldavitI $50 as to show Commissioner
husband. and to show also that | was non
resident; He was trying to represent that no
ws shS % sya id~ That " w 2se she .i,s did finally sign an
affidavit she thought she was doing 50 to help
her hp sbs fho case she On Wo A6i55il n 10; l % s sRs told
further with him to help her husbands case.
and dismissed him. She wanted to get another
1 missiGnel At ON 5n' A nsfr b M ff'f Isn ,n was sax PRESENT sem,
but he took no part in the case:
admitted that she. made two ahldavits for MIR.
Lane, but she said, that both were. as she sup
pGWSGSa sa for n.R Red h h sh% did G nnt have an office in
tn" Gf Hnr bnnd Ba n6d sh Ecs SAD I'D ths ci h1h a s pr ,h to
rnH .oS She did no business there IN 1873. !"
aYinDo mt you go%d naye , hSndgeds of !h us ;mds Of {
dSn't Gav: ANYTHING era am IN debt there:
amount to hundreds OF thousands2 A.-Some-
times more than that: put IN January. the
Q.-Didn't you transact all your business
there? A,-No, sir. ! had a lot Of dead beats
who were trying to get m . into different things.
She said that several employees Of the bank
were put at her service when She required
writer Tie bank people would not permit
ANYONE to impose on her. because she is a
stockholder, When asked, how much stock
she holds. she said she could not say. because
she buys and sells 90 much.
Wheeler II. Peckham testified that he ap-
peared for Mrs. Green to vacRte her assess
mcnt and examined the witnesses. II he had
known that another lawyer was in the case he
would not have taken charge. He had received
a fee Of $500 from Mrs. Green.
Newton =, Phelps an smployee OF the bank,
the bank, testified that they did not near Mrs,
Green use threatening language to Mr.. Lane
when he signed the paper or SEQ her take him
by the coat.
The case was not concluded.