The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-25
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1902.
MAKE KNOWN THE TRUTH.

action against the Butte lawyers
whom he says attempted to bride him
in connection with the notorious Min
ME Healey mining case, but to most
people it must seem that he waited
an unduly long time before taking the
step that will probably establish his
innocence or guilt of the charges that
have been made that he acted dis
honestly in deciding the case when
originally submitted to him. 1t is
now owe a year since his name was
connected with that of a I'M in
the affidavits made that he had yield
ed to improper influences in deciding
that case.
The accusations in those affidavits
were of a most serious nature and re-
hected not only on his good name as
a citizen. but also charged that as a
judge he was corrupt and untrust-
worthy. Instead of Their and there TAX
ing steps it is believed that almost
any man in his position would have
taken to vindicate himself and es-
1ablish his innocence, the judge con
tented himself with making a mere
denial OF the charges and then went
to a distant part of the country On a
pleasure trip. Even upon his return
he did nothing more and those Of his
friends and believers felt mortified
and astounded that he did not make
good their promises that he would
deal promptly and severely with his
t%raducers. Some who had suspended
Judgment began to believe that after
all there might be something in the
%affidavits, while others who from the
first believed that they contained the
truth were only strengthened in their
belief. Thus he suffered in the esti-
nation of two classes. But appar-
emily Indifferent to the opin-
ion of friends and the pub
lie and wholly disregardant of
what might be thought of a man rest
ing under the cloud that o~vershadow-
ed his reputation, Judge Harvey con
tinued to discharge his duties as judge
of a court and to try cases with the
same apparent ease Of mind and con
science as a man against whom not
a breath of suspicion had ever been
heard. much less one who had been
charged in sworn statements with I've.
Ing C. ,urt 1t cannot be said tina
he believed his 90 ,isions and rulings
would be accepted with the same :aitu
and cor fence by litigants al. The
public as though no such terrible ac.
cusatiOns had ever been made against
him and that he would be credited
with the same honesty and integrity
in all things as he was credited with
before they were made. Certainly he
must have realized that no matter
how honestly and fairly he decided
matters. by some one and somewhere
his rulings would be questioned anC
sinister motives imputed to them.
At last he has seer fit to take the
steps all had reasons for believing h.
would take at the beginning of tbs
d~isgraceful and d%isreputable affair.
He has begun proceedings in disbar
ment against two lawyers and a Grim
inal complaint has been lodged
against a citizen of Butte charging
him with having offered to bride
Judge Harvey. In the judges petition
against them it is alleged that the
lawyers. A. j.. Shores and Decay
Clark, the subject of the crimina
proceedings, offered him inducements
to reverse his decision in the Minnie
Healey case and to admit he had beer
bribed to render the decision in its
original form. For doing this ant
for resigning and leaving the state
which he alleges was also a part o
the proposal made to him, he wa:
to receive $25O,OOO. He Furthermore
charges that threats were made
against him by the accused that un
less he complied they would file al
fidavits containing %scandalous state
ments and charges against him. Herr
the matter now rests.
The whole state will watch witt
interest the development of the Pre-
ceedings and all will wish that ev
erythipg in connection with thu
shameful mess shall be fully and thor