The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-04-26
Attorney Disbarred.

The newspapers published on Saturday a
| dispatch from Washington stating that T.
j. Deavitt, Esq, OF Montpelier Vt, had
been disbarred from pracicing before the
| interior department.
| Respecting this matter Mr.. Deavitt saws
all the knowledge he has of his disbarment
Is from newspaper reports, although It is
not entirely unexpected since receiving re-
Gently letter from the commissioner of
pensions suggesting disbarment. "Such ac-
tion," Mr.. Deavitt says, "is injurious and
unwarranted." He says he has Deen O PEN
sion claim attorney continuously since 1866
and has endeavored to follow the rule in
the oath OF his admission to the bar, "That
he would do no falsehood, nor consent that
any be done in court, but would act in the
office OF attorney within the court with all
good fidelity as well to the court as to his
client" His pension practice has been
pleasant and profitable. Pensions" he
continued, "are tokens of the nations JUS
tice, humanity and gratitude to those, who
in time OF war took up arms against its
enemies. When they are the old folks 1t
gives them blankets when cold, food when
hungry, medicine when sick, far nobler
than building costly tombstones for the dead
that tends to make the surviving veteran
who has been refused a pension, feel that
the only good soldier is the dead soldier.
To secure such assistance, given by law, TO
needy and worthy soldiers and their wild
ows is pleasure indeed"
Prompted by waiting clients and rejected
claimants, and dropping off in his own in
come from his pension practice from $1,000
10 $4OO year, (attorneys receive no fee in
rejected pension claims), Mr.. Deavitt wrote
an open letter last winter that he sent to a
number OF Congressman, prepared largely
from the annual report of different commits.
sioners OF pensions, showing the treatment
OF the pension cases OF the old soldiers by
the present administration in an unfavor-
able light. Several Congressmen wrote M,
Deavitt, endorsing his statements and 80
Letting more copies OF his letter than he
was able to supply. 1t was printed in the
Congressional Record and given greater
publicity than he anticipated. This letter
Is the cause OF all the trouble with Mr..
Deavitt. Instead of answering his charges,
II they could be answered, Mr., Deavitt says
the department of the interior has disbarred
him from further practice without any in
vestigation or hearing.
Mr.. Deavitt says the commissioner of pen
sions wrote him some time since, calling
his attention to his open letter and alleging
that II contained false statements which
Mr.. Deavitt answered in part as follows
VI have not the slightest malice, II know
myself, toward any official of the depart
ment OF the interior or the bureau OF PEN
sions where l have had long and glad
soma practice. You would hardly expect
me to prove all the statements in my olen
letter by charge it contained false state
ments without naming the statements you
believe to be false. II you will select the
statements in my open letter you claim are
false, will try and convince you Of their
truthfulness." The commissioner of pen.
sions did not point out any particular state
ment of Mr.. Deavitt that he claimed was
false, and made no reply to Mr.. Deavitt's
letter. Mr.. Deavitt expects soon to be Of
fcially notified of his disbarment from the
secretary OF the interior.