The Butte inter mountain., 1902-01-14

Mr.. Fitzgerald said letter being found
on page ld7 OF my official letter book:
Butte, Montana, jane 10. 1901
Mr.. Jas. B. Fitzgerald, Butte, Montana:
Dear Sir-Your resignation Is hereby
requested TO take effect not later than
the 1st day of July. 1901. and as much
earlier az you see lit to present IL. This
step Is taken because of numerous COM
plants In regard to your conduct which
Will be fully explained If 30 requested by
you. Respectfully your.
tSigned.) PETER BREEN.
County Attorney"
/ submit to an impartial public II
this was taking an unfair advantage Of
Mr.. Fitzgerald or dismissing him without
giving him an opportunity to explain.
In answer to the above Mr.. Fitzgerald
called upon m eand after a few minutes
conversation said that he would quit
then and there and not walt until the
LIST of July.
! regret very much that Mr. F'itzger-
aids name IL In any manner brought
into the controversy, but II Is not OF my
doing and ] merely make this statement
I'm answer TO accusations brought against
me. ] will further add that II any com
mittee or citizens or city officials desire
the evidence on which / acted, they can
have 1t by calling at my office.
Has Removed No Constables.
In regard to the cahrge that l have
at the present, or any other time, re-
moved any constable, ! will say that IL is
a mistake; that the same constables, as
far as | know, are serving throughout
Silver Bow county that were elected by
the people to so serve, except In the
township Of Walkerylle, one constable
who was so elected did not attempt In
any manner to qualify.
The county commissioners appointed
Tim Shea to fiji the vacancy and from
last accounts, contrary to the wish Of
some Of the city officials, Mr.. Shea was
still acting. Constable Purcell never
filed an official bond as required by law
and was very recently, upon complaint
Of the justice OF the peace of Walker
vile township and without my knowl-
edge, removed by the board of county
commissioners for failure to furnish said
bond, and ! did not know until the pres
ent date what the reason for the removal
or resignation of Mr.. Purcell was. ]
will further add that almost the only
complaint made against any consta bic
of the county Of Silver Bow has come
from the chief of police, and his action
In this matter Ia public property and
not necessary to repeat at this time.
Any citizen who knows anything about
law, whatever. knows that the county
attorney has no power or authority In
the absence Of the commission of some
crime to remove any other elective officer
and could then only proceed by legal
process to accomplish said removal.
AS stated In the beginning very much
regret being called upon to engage In
any newspaper controversy OF any kind
or character, but feel that ] am forced
to 50 do, and In conclusion will say that
If live during the balance Of my term
] viii as stubbornly attempt to enforce
the laws Of the state Of Montana for the
good OF the citizens OF Silver Bow county
as have In the past.
In so doing l shall attempt TO do so
without fear or faycr, and leave 1t to an
impartial public TO examine the facts
above set forth and ask themselves If
there Is anything or any act of unfair
ness performed by me that would call
for a rebuke from any sef-respecting,
law-abiding citizen Of this community.
Respectfully submitted,
PETER BREEN,
County Attorney.