Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-25
Judge Wolfe, of Clinton, Orders
Investigation Into Prosecu-
ton of Liquor Dealers
D'ssARMenr MAY FOLLOW
In His Order, Judge Wolfe Expresses
Confidence That Many Recent Suits
Have Been Brought Either for Black
mail or the Purpose of Venting Per.
sonal spite-creates Sensation.
Special to Times Repuhlican

Special to Times Republican.
Clinton, Nov. 25.-Judge p B. Wolfe
of this city, created considerable of a
sensation here by ordering an investi-
cation into the motives which have
prompted the prosecution Of Clinton
liquor dealers in the past few months
and has appointed three Clinton at
torneys as a committee of the bar to
make an investigation and report to
him. If the rumors are proven true
that many of these cases were COM
menced for blackmail, there will be
some disbarred lawyers In this section.
The order of Judge Wolfe is as fol-
lows:
1.-THE court being satisfied from the
proceedings in the various liquod cases
that they are not prosecuted in good
faith but that they are prosecuted for
the purpose of extorting money, At
torneys A. L. Schuyler c. w. Chase
and F. w. Ellis are appointed a COM
mittee Of the bar to make an investiga-
ton of the case and report the result
to the court with view to the COM
Increment of disbarment proceedings"
Attorney Schuyler, one OF the MEM
bers of the committee. in an Inter-
view said:
Judge Wolfe and some OF the men,
bers of the bar are of the opinion that
the proceedings brought against the IL
"a IND ,,po cf fho
liquor dealers and the members OF the
Ministerial association reached an I'M
Outstanding, are not brought in good
faith. but on the contrary. We're brought
for one of two purposes; either for di-
rect financial gain which some people
would call blackmail, or for the pur-
pose Of venting personal spite. The
motive is bad in either event; for so
long as the liquor dealers are acting in
good faith and live up to the material
requirements of the mulct law, as out
lined by responsible citizens OF Clinton,
any endeavor to harass or embarass
them Is unwarranted and Is not in ac-
cord with the general sentiment in the
community. The court, feeling its Dig
nifty insulted by the bringing from
time to time of suits which were not
prosecuted in good faith. but which
were dismissed apparently after the
Payment of financial consideration to
bring about such dismissals, feels 1t Is
being used for the furtherance of the
unlawful desire Of complainants and
attorneys to extort money from men
who are making an honest and fair en-
deavor to conduct their business as
closely within the terms OF the law as
possible. I apprehend the purpose of
the committee is to report upon invests
cation, whether the suits have been
brought for that purpose, or have re-
suited in such extortion and black
mail. have not given my personal I
attention nor investigation to this mat
ter. UP to the present time, but do
know that such conditions have. to a |
degree, occurred in the past in this |
county and without Investigation am
aware of the fact that some cases
brought under the present regime have
been offered to be settled for money
no injunctions to Is
sue. I do not care to express myself
at this time as to the particular mat
ters which will come under our in
vestigation, but I understand that,
based on the report of this committee. |
the court will either exonerate the par
Ties under suspicion or disbarment pro-
will be begun as the facts dis
closed will warrant"