The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-30
LAWYER DISBARRED
D. B. Crewson Found Guilty
of Retaining Clients Money
SUSPENDED FOR 2 YEARS
Defense Did Not Attempt to
Deny Charges

After hearing before Judge Dale yes
terday D. B. Crewson. lawyer, was found
guilty of unprofessional conduct in re-
taining money collected by him for a
client and was, upon the decision of Judge
Dale. debarred from the practice of law
within the state of Kansas for a period of
two years.
The hearing was begun early yesterday
morning and continued until nearly 3
o'clock in the afternoon. But little evil
dence was introduced that would tend to
bring out more facts in the case than
were embodied in the first affidavit filed
by the complaining witness, Mrs. Mary
Burkwalter.
The complaining witness was the first
witness placed on the stand. She testi-
aed 10 substantially the same facts given
In the affidavit. She stated that she had
employed the defendant to collect Sl,0S0.97
due her from the J. L. Ford estate in
Neosho county and that he collected it
but reported that he had failed to make
the collection. She said she repeatedly
demanded the money from HON, but that
he stated positively that he had not re-
ceived it. She further said that she
learned on the 22d of April through J. y.
Iaymaker that he had made the collec-
ton and asked the county attorney to
correspond with the probate judge of
Neosho county and learn the truth of the
matter. She stated that CrewsOn then
admitted that he had made the collection
and agreed to pay her 500 of the amount
on that day and the balance the next
day. She further testified that he refused
to make the payment as promised the next
day. but that after twelve days Of worry
she succeeded in securing his note for
$500 and second mortgage on some Of his
property for the balance.
County Attorney Eckstein stated that
h had assisted Mrs. Burllwalter in secur-
ing a settlement with her attorney and
that he had visited the office of the de-
fendent in her company on several oc-
casions. He said Jnat Crewson had denied
that be made the collection for Mrs.
Burkwalter but afterwards admitted that
he had In the settlement Crewson claimed
over 500 due him from the complaining
witness for his legal services for period
Of three years. He stated that Mrs. Burk-
walter was unwilling to allow him $500.
but that upon his advice she agreed TO
allow Crewson $780,
Dr. Burkwalter. husband of the com
planning witness, testified TO the same
facts in regard to the conferences between
Mrs Burl6walter and her attorney.
Or Hutton and Rev Gassow. pastor Of
the Universalist church. were called to
the stand and questioned as TO the repu-
tation or the complaining witness. They
agreed in their statements that she had
the reputation of being a quarrelsome,
trouble-malzing woman and that her repu-
tation for truth was not good. Dr. firt
ton is one of the defendants in a libel
suit brought against the pastor and trus-
tees of the Universalist church by Mrs
Burkwalter, which is now pending trial.
The defense did not attempt to prove
that the defendant had not collected the
money or that he had not held it back
from Mrs. Burkwalter after collecting 1t,
but attempted to justify the action under
The circumstances. They attempted TO
show that Mrs Burkwalter was secured
and that she would lose. nothing by the
action and that the Sl00 allowed him by
The complaining witness would not nearly
ray him for his legal Services during the
three years he had been her attorney.
The prosecution was conducted by Judge
Wall a. Z. Helm and ]. B. Brubaker'
and Crewson was represented by 5. 5.
Asbbauph