The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-22

rams name cut large fgurs In yester-
days hearing before Special Examiner
Mabey on Peter Powers suit against the
Northern Pacific Railroad. George Alfred
Lamb. Peter Powers lawyer, made his
statement on the witness stand, In which
he said: THE people behind this suit,
or my clients, as I understood. were
Camille weidenfeld. II. Content & Co.. Z.
r. Thomas, Parker C. Chanler and w.
Bourke Cochran"
Lamb shared the witness stand with his
client. who was brought down from Lud-
low street jail to testify. Both told prac-
tically the same story as to the origin
and development OF the suit brought In
Powers name against the Northern Pa
cihc
Lamb was called first. and w. d. Guth-
rie questioned him closely as TO his right
to practice in the Federal courts, here and
In Minnesota.
In reply TO Mr.. Lamb. Power said that
he connected Chanler and Bourke Cock
ran on the telephone In Lambs office
on possibly 40 or so occasions. The wit
ness denied having ever acted as a chauf-
feur, for Lamb or anyone else. He knew
neither Bouden nor Chapman. but he had
tomobile transactions.
INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS
After Powers testimony was all In an
adjournment was taken TO Tuesday next.
when Mr.. Guthrie promises some more
interesting developments. Is Is possible
that Mr.. Co asSan may be put on the
stand. Power was taken back to jail. but
an application Is TO be made before Judge
Lacombe who is at Athens. N Y, for
his release and DISCHARGE. 1t will be
urged that the plaintiffs voluntary ap-
pearance has purged him of contempt.
w. Burke Cochran, who is at Port
Washington. L. l., was called up on the
telephone by a reporter and he told OF
the testimony Of Lamb and Power as TO
his alleged connection with the Northern
Pacific litigation. Mr.. Cochran made the
following statement:
You can absolutely deny for me that
I ever had any participation in the Power
suit as a 'backer' or otherwise. l never
knew OF the suit till four weeks ago,
when c. weidenfeld called on me for
professional advice In connection with the
suit 1 never had any communication
about it. either direct or indirect, with
Lamb OF Power"
NOTORIOUS LITIGATION.
When Mr.. Lamb took the stand the at
mosphere was charged with expectancy.
After the surprising turn In the proceed
ings yesterday. when Mr. Lamb was
freed from preliminary charges OF con-
tempt of court and thereupon promised
that he and his client. Power, would tell
all they knew about the notorious liti-
gation, IL was generally concluded that
the climax OF this midsummer madness
would be reached in the disclosure of the
true story of the attempt to prevent the
merger that caused the Wall street panic
Of May, 1901
Mr.. Guthrie questioned Lamb first as
to his having been admitted TO practice
In the United States circuit court of
Minnesota He said that on the motion
of Lawyer Lancaster OF Minneapolis. the
members of the firm, Lamb * Guernsey,
had been made attorneys OF record In the
Minnesota court for the purpose OF this
litigation.
BEGINNING OF THE SUIT.
After stating that the suits of Milton
L. Bouden, Sophia Chapman and John ID.
Marquand respectively, against the
Northern Pacific had been begun by the
firm of Lamb az Guernsey, Mr.. Lamb told
of the drawing OF the complaint In the
Power case He said that the pre-
liminary work was done on train be-
tween New York and Chicago. when he
connection with the proposed suit. Upon
arriving I'm Chicago. he had conference
with Mr.. Moore OF the law firm of Bulk
lev. Gray g. Moore, and Judge Lancaster
of Minneapolis.
When they had discussed the case, IL
was concluded that the best place 10 be-
gin the suit was In Minneapolis. and ac-
cordingiy Mr.. Lamb went with Judge Ian
caster TO the office Of the latter, In Min
,,aa,.olia usherp the cOmplatnt drawn
up. a..
said Mr. Guthrie. why Capt. Stern was
used as a go-between In these casesY
'sro conceal the persons behind the liti-
CATION" said Mr. Lamb. In firm and GER
tain voice.
And who were they2' II understand
that the persons I represented were Ca
mile Weidenfeld, Edward X. Thomas OF
Thomas g. Post, H. Content & Co. and w.
Bourke Cochran"
COCHRAN IN THE CASE.
rs II not true that your knowledge Of
Mr.. Cockran's connection with the case
came through Mr.. weidenfeldT'
mo | have been present during tele-
phone conversations between Mr.. Weld
enfield and Mr. Cochran on this matter.
saw and knew that Mr.. Cochran was In
the case"
AS lar DaCk as Jnhu"'s VI ''' 'O"'
Yes"
Even as far back as December. before
this case was begun7" Yes"
Did YOU ever know Bourne Cochran In
these suits as associate counsel2'
mo: in no case except the Bay state
Gas litigation"
You have said that some OF your clients
suffered losses I'm the Northern Pacific
affair. VIII you state who they were?''
Mr.. Lamb hesitatcd To answer thla. and
Mr. Guthrie reminded him that this was
one of the questions ne had In yesterdays
agreement promised 10 answer.
The matter was passed over for the
time.
RECEIVED PERQUIsITE.
The next point taken up was that OF
the expenses OF the litigation.
You have said. Mr. Lamb continued
LAWYER Guthrie. that you received Si0.-
600 or yi2. 600 I'm this case" II have actu-
ally received only 20 per cent OF that