The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-16


Frank E. Corbett. of Butte, who is Mr..
Ciark's principal Western counsel. which
had occurred on the 5th OF August last, the
same day as DIR. Tracey's first two inter-
views with Justice Hunt. He said 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 private interview. He had taken Mr..
Corbett had told him that Mr.. j. S. NJ.
Neilf, of Helena. had telephoned TO Butte
that the Supreme Court might be infiu-
enced in the Welcome disbarment case.
Detailing the conversation, Mr.. Piggott
said that Mr.. Corbett apparently was very
much excited; his lips were trembling and
his manner was very nervous. Sitting OPP
posite me-" said the witness, The said he
did not want me TO get angry at what he
was about to tell me. He then told me of
the receipt OF the telephone message from
Mr. NELL. which had been as follows: We
can do business with the Supreme Court
He said he had spent two or three hours
with Mr.. Neil, and that the latter had said
TO him: We can get the Supreme Court.
They will come high, and the scheme will
have TO be capitalized for about five mil
lions He then proceeded to say that he
had applied various opprobrious epithets to
Mr.. NELL for such a presumption, saying
that he had secured a 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 il anything of the kind was under
taken we have had nothing TO do with II.
If he undertakes to do that. / myself Will
| get up in the Supreme Court and tell what
/ know about the proceeding. l have a
mind to do that Mr.. Corbett
added.
81 replied" continued the witness. "'you
can rest assured that If Neill approaches
me in the way you suggest you Will never
know of 1t. nor will the fact become public.
for I consider such an attack upon a mans
official integrity more serious than an at
tack upon his life. and / believe that a
nan making such an attack should De
killed by the man to whom he had mace
the proposition. l will endeavor to do hat
IL so approached. i would never have a
man arrested for such a proceeding, for l
would not want the publicity nor would L
want to bring a court into disrepute..
Justice Piggott said that after this In
terview MI. Corbett left him saying he
had to hurry to the train. but that more
than half an hour afterwards he had seen
that gentleman and two other men leaving
for the train. Justice Piggott said that
i'm the evening after this interview he had
called upon Justice Hunt and related what
had occurred between himself and Corbett
when Justice Hunt had related his expert
ence of the same day with DIR. Tracey.
CROSS-EXAMINATION.
On cross-examination Mr.. Piggott said
that at the time of Mr.. Corbett's visit he
had no reason to suspect that Mr.. Corbett's
motives were not the highest. They had
been friends for years. Senator Faulkner
lllSlStcu VII hIONln5 I'll RHC JaetANC
had since formed any doubts as to Mr.. Cor
belts motives, and, If soN why? To this
he replied: IT had no doubt until Justice
Hunt told me what had happened between
him and DR.. Tracey on the same day. 1 put
this and that together and I then concluded
that Mr.. Corbett and DR.. Tracey had con-
spired together to make an assault upon
the Supreme Court with their 100000; that
they had made their attack on Justice
IT, - - IL -~1 Shnk Nv I0~haff
knowing Justice Hunt would tell me of
this. had come to prepare me against re-
ceiVing his version Of the Interview" He
declined to say whether he now believed
Mr.. Corbett had lied, but said he wanted
to leave the facts to speak for themselves.
Attorney General Cornelius b. Nolan, of
Montana, testified that he had also an
experience with DIR. Tracey. He had con-
Quoted the prosecution in the Welcome
disbarment case, and while the case was
I'm progress, DR.. Tracey, who was also his
family physician. had come to him, he said.
at three different times. suggesting that
he (Nolan) could get money out OF the
case from Mr.. Clark. The witness said
that he had chatted with DIR. Tracey on
the decision of the first meeting until the
latter had asked him how much did he
think would be required.
81 replied" said the witness. eff ! should
lend myself to such a scheme 1 think l
ought to be entitled to 500. 000." The doc
tor said he thought the sum reasonable.
Later. on the same occasion, after he had
come to think the doctor serious, Mr.. Nolan
said he had told the doctor to go back to
Mr.. Clark and tell him that if his body
were a skeleton and filed with gold 1t
would not be sufficient to buy him.
AT the third interview Mr.. Nolan said
he had told DR.. Tracey that he had talked
enough. THE time has come" ne said he
had told the doctor, ito put up or shut up"
do you mean it?" the doctor asked.
81 do" was the reply.
Then the doctor said, "come to my
office at 4 o'clock to-day and arrangements
will be made for you to get your money
Then the witness said he had told DR.
Tracey again that Mr.. Clark did not nave
money enough to buy him and had had no
further conversation with him. Mr.. Nolan
said that while he had resented the ap.
proach TO him as an insult he said ne did
not blame DIR. Tracey. much as he blamed
those behind him, and that he still en-
ployed him as his family physician.
General Nolan admitted that he had
never reported Dr. Tracey's conduct to
the prosecuting attorney because largely
OF his personal friendship for him. He con-
sidered il his duty to vindicate the law.
who violated the law more than DR..
T'racey?" asked Mr.. Faulkner.
HE was not the arch criminal" was the
response.
Mr.. Nolan said he was not mere as coun-
sci in the case, but that he would expect
Mr.. Campbell to pay his expenses.
The committee then, at leo, adjourned un-
til tomorrow.