The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-03
CHARGE WAS FALSE
John NJ. Miller, Formerly Of Mime
apolis, Is Cleared Of Libels
Of Clerk.
Case Results in Disbarment Of the
Clerk in the California
s5
Courts.

Late Los Angeles papers give the dec1-,
sion Of the superior court there disbarrins
Frank G. Bryant, a lawyer, from practic-
ing insthe courts Of California. Qncident-
ally, this action marks the failure OF q
malicious attempt to besmirch John; ~.
Miller, who before he went to California.
was a prominent and highly respected
attorney'in Minneapolis.)
The circumstances leading up to the
trial Of this disbarment case have been
known to The Journal since 1901, and
are mainly as follows: s
Bryant was clerk In Mr.. Millers law
office in 1901, and in assisting a woman
to sell a piece of real estate pocketed
81, 900 Of the $4,000 purchase price, say
ing that she had agreed to allow him all
over $4,000 that he could sell it for
When the woman told Mr.. Miller OF
the transaction he called his. clerk in and
he admitted having retained the $1,000
and was INN ediately discharged from
service. .s
Shortly afterwards when Bryant was
pursued by the woman and threatened
with arrest, he made the charge that
| his employer, Mr.. Miller, knew all about
the land deal for the woman. He also
said that he was introduced to the client
by Mr.. Miller, who told him to do what
| he could to. help her sell the. land, and
| that he gave Mr.. Miller one-half Of the
| 81, 900, tho the woman testified that she
| had never talked with Mr.. Miller about
selling the land or introduced her to
Bryant. {!
| One Of the Ave daily papers published
| in Los Angeles pretended to give cred
ence to Bryant's story, and published his
version Of the affair while Mr.. Miller was
away. with his family
| After his return, when the article was
| brought to his attention, Mr.. Miller de
cided on vindication for himself, with
| just punishment for Bryant and asked the
bar association to investigate the charges
! in the following letter, addressed to judge
Lucien Shaw, president Of the bar asso-
citation:
MY Dear Sir: Within the week my attention
has been called to article published in the
Los Angeles Times OF June %, 1901 Column B.
page y, which contains statements derogatorJ
| Of my. character both as gentleman and as ar
officer Of the courts of the state Of California
which. If only half true. should bar ME from
association with respectable men, whether law
yers or laymen. Being member of the bal
Of the state, respectfully ask that the associa
ton named, of which you are its worthy presi
dent, take steps as soon as may be possibly con
venient, toward a full investigation OF the mat
ters mentioned in the article, 50 far as the!
| tend to aspersion OF my character, with
view to the institution of disbarment proceed
| ings against me, If there be found shad
| of truth in the matter referred to- am; yer.
respectfully, John NJ Miller
l The committee appointed by the ba
association to investigate the matter
after hearing all parties and numerous
/ witnesses, made this report: =
Our conclusions as to the charges made agains
or reflections cast upon Mr.. Miller are as fol
lows:
! First-That the real estate transaction re
ferred to in the newspaper article was conducts
carried on and contaminated by the said Franz
lG. Bryant alone, and without the knowledge o
Mr.. Miller. g,..
i second-That Mr. Miller was in no way ;.
party to or connected with said transaction.
4 Third-That he did not at any time, denan
or receive any part Of the $4,000 alleged to hav
fbeen received by Mr.. Bryant, or receiver an
benefit from said transaction, either directly b
I Indirectly. ~ stg. ) az
Fourth-That Mr.. Miller was :not guilty q
any unprofessional or wrongful act or conduct /
connection with said transaction.
Fifth-That he is entitled to be fully exor
Grated from any participation in the said transat
ton, and from any reflection upon his tntef
rity and professional conduct and standing col
tanned in said newspaper article
A separate report will be made as to the rehet
. tions upon Mr.; Bryant.
The committee report as to M,
| Bryant recommended that the bar asso
} citation should begin proceedings to disba
Bryant. Such proceeding was begun wit
the result above mentioned. J.
Judge Miller has always been held
the highest esteem by members OF tn
j bar and public. and his vindication by tn
: bar association IS taken as an evidenc
: Of his worth, ability and standing.