The Portland daily press., 1899-02-14
THE sTuRols SUIT.
A statement, ny Attorney samuel l..
bates,
To the Editor Of she Press:

10 INC EuttOr % Me ffess.
Your reputation and character for
courtesy and fairness, gives me confidence
that you VIII allow me space In your
paper for the purpose of correcting some
untruthful and misleading statements,
which appeared In the Auburn report OF
the case Sturgis against johnson In
my profession we are continually engaged
In contests, and must become accustomed
TO adverse criticism, and l had intended
TO pay no attention TO the matter, but
the statements were perverted SO far from
the truth, that my friends urge me not to
allow them 70 so unchailenged. AS a
matter OF fact the published report was
more incorrect than even Mr.. Sturgis' &C.
count. One afternoon last August, MI.
Sturgis and MIR. johnson came into my
Office, and told the following story in
which they both agreed: AR. johnson was
stated In the car bound from Rigby park
to Portland, when Mir. sturgis got on
board the car following man whom he
was accusing of stealing bis pocket book.
The alleged thief was trying to get away,
and several Of the passengers, among
them MIR. johnson. stepped forward with
the intention of seising him. Mr.. john
son said to MIR. sturgis: "Is this the
man who has your pocket books' When
Immediately MIR. Stursis turned upon
him and replied, mo you've got 1t he
passed it to you" MIR johnson was of
course much surprised, and denying tina
.,,ug,tlnp la raturnad m his aant Mr.
sturgis then followed him to his seat,
still accusing him Of having the money,
threatening to have him arrested and tell.
ing him: ~ will stick to you until we
get to Portland and have you searched.
If you haven't got 1t you won't object to
being searched. !" BY the time the city
was reached MIR. Sturgis began to think
he was mistaken. They came together to
my office, where MIR. John son had bust
ness. We attended to the matter In regard
to which he called to see me, while Mr..
Sturgis remained in the outer Office. Mr..
johnson then called him in, and they
told me the above story. There was no
dispute between them as to the facts Mr..
Sturgis said: Il thought that he had
pass I'd my pocket book to johnson beoaus Sc
these fellows always work two together. !"
He SAID that he had come to the con-
clusion that he was mistaken, and that
he was sorry and wanted to settle the
matter In some way. MIR johnson was
angry and wanted suit brought at once.
MIR. Sturgis said to rue ~ wish you
would ADVISE him tn settle, l don't want
to 90 to court This declined to do,
and told them 1t was their matter TO settle
between themselves. They finally agreed
upon settlement Of one hundred dollars
to be paid in two notes one on demand
and one on sixty days l wrote the notes
for them, and at the request of Mr..
sturgis wrote the retraction and apology
which he sign d with the notes, and all
were given to MIR. johnson.
knew nothing further OF the matter
until learned that the notes had been
collected and that MIR. Sturgis had
brought suit against MIR. johnson to re-
cover the money back, and that would
be summo ned as witness in the case
There was no intimidation, and no illegal
threats were made by either party
while they were In my Office.
Among the members OF Cumberland
Bar where / am acquainted, believe that
this statement on my part will be entire
ly unnecessary; hut the Sturgis report of
the affair viii, Of course, be read by
people to whom | ain personally un-
SHOWN. During my few years of practice.
1t has ALWAYS been my aim to do nothing
that could lower the high reputation of
Cum berland Bar, or injure my own good
name. And as long as l continue to
practice law, and l purpose to make IL
my life work, my clients shall have my
best honest effort but my oath of admit
lance shall not be broken. Thanking you
in advance for kindly publishing tails let
ter, l am
Yours respectfully,
SAMUEL Il. BATES.
DoetIanA Eabrrturv IRfh 1904