The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-16
JUSTICE PIGGOTT'S WAY.
Would Kill a Man Who Approached
Him With Bride.

Washington Feb. 16-At the night
session of the senate committee on
privileges and elections, Justice Will
liam I. PiggOtt, another member of
the bench OF the Montana supreme
court, was heard. He was questioned
by Senator Chandler. His testimony
was related in a slow and impressive
manner. II was on different lines from
that of Justice Hunt, but received
equally close attention. Mr.. Piggott' $
statement covered an interview with
Mr. Frank z. Corbett, Of Butte, who
is Mr.. Clarks principal western coun-
sci, which had occurred on the 5th of
August last, the same day as DR.. Ira
cey's first two interviews with Justice
Hunt.
He said that he met Mr.. Corbett on
the street and the latter told him that
he had come from Helena in a special
train to see him, and requested a pri-
Vate interview. He had taken Mr.. Cor
bett to his rooms at the capitol, when
Corbett told him that Mr.. Neill, of
Helena. had telephoned to Butte that
the supreme court might be Influenced
in the Wei come disbarment.
Detailing the conversation Mr. Pig
gott said Mr.. COrbett apparently was
very much excited; his lips were trem-
bling and his manner was very ner-
vOOs.
Sitting opposite me-" said the wit
ness, ''he said he did not want me to
get angry at what he was about to tell
me. re then IOl0 me OF the receipt Oh
the telephone message from Mr.. Neill,
which had been as follows:
- We can do business with the su-
prone court
He said he had spent two or three
hours with Mr.. NeiH and that the lat
ter had said to him We can get the su-
preme court. They will come high and
the scheme will have to be capitalized
for about five millions. He then pro-
ceeded to say that he had applied va
TiO1lS OnnrnhiOlC PnithptS n Mr. Npill
for such a presumption, saying that he
had secured special train and come
over from Butte for the purpose of
heading off any effort in the line of
such an outrageous proceeding and to
assure you that if anything of the kind
was undertaken we have had nothing
to do with it. If he undertakes to do
that, 1, myself, will get up in the su-
preTne court and tell what 1 know
about the proceedings. l have a mind
to do that anyway. Mr.. Corbett added.
Il replied" continued the witness
you can rest assured that if Neill ap-
proaches me in the way you suggest
you Will never know it nor will the fact
! become public, for 1 consider such an
attack upon a mans official integrity
more serious than an attack upon his
! life and 1 believe man making such
/ an attack should be killed by the man
| to whom he had made the proposition
! I will endeavor to do that if so ap-
/ preached. l would never have a mar
arrested for such a proceeding. for
| would not want the publicity, MOI
would ! want to bring a court into dis
i reDute"
Justice Piggott said after this inter
view Mr.. Corbett left him, saying he
had to hurry to the train. but NOR,
than half an hour afterwards he had
seen that gentleman and two others
| leaving for the train.
Justice Piggott said that in the even
| ing after this interview he had called
upon Justice Hunt and related what hal
| occurred between himself and Corbett
when Justice Hunt had related his ex
perienee of the same day with DR.
| Tracey.
+ On cross examination Mr. Piggot
said that at the time of Mr.. Corbett'
! visit he had no reason to suspect tina
Mr.. Corbett's motives were not TIL
highest. They had been friends 70
years.
Senator Faulkner insisted upon know
ing whether the justice had sine
formed any doubts as to Mr. Cor
belts motives. and if SO. why To thi
he replied:
4 had no doubts until Justice Hun
! told me what had happened between
him and DR.. Tracey on the same day