Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-07-17
EDITOR HERALD:
BoscoBEL, Wis, july II, 1902.

EDITOR HERALD:
DEAR SIR:-Having supported Gov
ernor LaFollette, in every campaign
since he first became a candidate for
governor, and having been one OF the
delegates from this county to the State
Convention in 1898, when we were not
in the "loaded wagon" and such sup
port having been without hope OF per-
sonal reward or ACKNOWLEDGMENT on my
part. have not up to this time deemed
it proper OF necessary to make further
public professions Of my faith in him
and his fights for reform than is shown
bv nv constant efforts in his behalf
during the past six years. Still, an at
tempt having been made to identity
me with the opposition to him, and
being now a candidate for the nomina-
ton and election to the Assembly, It
may be pardonable for me to state the
facts regarding what I understand is
the foundation of such charge. When
Attorney A. FL. Long, of Prairie du
Chen, was appointed by the Governor
to a position at Madison, he turned
over tx some law business. Among
other Il a ers was case OF j. A. Hag-
gertv. q. VS.. the estate of Balthasar
Oppreich., late of Crawford county,
deceased. | was to act as attorney for
the heirs of the deceased. 0. B. Thomas
was attorney for the estate and also
for the claimant, j. A. Haggerty. Mr..
Haggertys claim amounted to 50, 10000
and was unsecured. There were about
100000 of other unsecured claims,
and secured claims to the amount OF
about S5OO000 We affected compro-
mise with the unsecured creditors at
rs cents on the dollar, and took up the
secured Indebtedness at par. To do
this we had to raise nearly 100000
on the farm left by Mr.. Oppreicht.
One of the sons of the deceased was
under age. In borrowing the money
for this purpose it was necessary to
take what is known as an infant heir
proceeding in the County Court of
Crawford County, in order to get such
title to the land as would be satisfac-
tory to the people loaning us the mon
ey. This proceeding was set for JAN
uary 22nd, last, at Prairie du Chen,
and at the same time Mr.. Haggerty was
to get his money and the compromise
settlement was to be completed. On
the next day was to be at Lancaster,
on the Varrell will case. TO complete
the arrangements I had to be in Bos-
cobel a part of the day of the 22nd.
Hence | arranged with the County
Judge to meet me at the DOusman
House in Prairie du Chen on the ar
rival of the passenger train from the
east which gets there about six o'clock
o. a., and my client and Thomas and
Haggerty we're notified to be there to
look after their interests and complete
the settlement, thus enabling me to
get to Lancaster the next day. Ac-
cordingly I went to Prairie du Chen
that day and on the train mentioned.
I met the County Judge at the Dous-
man House as agreed. We went to
supper together. After supper Mr..
Thomas and his client, Mr.. Haggerty,
and one of my clients. MIR. Jos. OPP
preicht, came as per agreement. |
asked the hotel clerk for a room for
us, and he gave us the ladies' waiting
room at the north end of the hotel.
We held court in that room during
that evening and completed the bust
ness mentioned. There were present
the five persons mentioned; the County
Judge, O. B. Thomas and his client,
Mr.. Haggerty, my client, Joseph OPP
preicht, and myself. The transaction
of the business occupied about two
hours Not word regarding politics
in any shape or manner was spoken in
my presence by any one. We finished
the business about ten o'clock p. IN.