The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-23
LIVELY TILT BETWEEN
OPPOSING ATTORNEYS

NEW YORK, Dec. PA sensation devel-
oped at the hearing of the United States
Shipbuilding receivership proceedings to-
day. No witnesses were examined because
of the absence of Counsel Untermeyer. of
the suing bondholders, who is i'll. Before
the examiner could announce a postpone
ment of the hearing Attorney Guthrie arose
and called the examiners attention to the
publication of certain letters and cable
grams in New York paper, which the at
torney claimed were privileged and were
not yet introduced as evidence. He openly
charged gross contempt of court against the
person who gave the letters to the press.
and requested the court to postpone further
hearing of the case until the contempt of
court proceedings were inquired into. At
torneys Guthrie, counsel FOR Schwab, and
verbal war and strong language and cutting
inSlnuati0ns were used on both Sides Both
attorneys. however, agreed that it was the
contempt of court the person who gave the
information TO the press.
Mr.. Guthrie said in part: Il desire to call
the examiners attention to the publication
in a newspaper in this city this morning,
of the letters. kilograms and cables, which
have been the object of examination at
several hearings before you. These letters,
evidence, because Mr.. Alexander felt con-
strained 10 plead privilege and confidence
because they were the private communica-
tons from members of the law firm In re-
lation to the private business of their
clients. Pending the ruling of the court
on the question of the admissablity of
those communications which you said you
would certify TO the court and while these
letters, kilograms and cables were claimed
to be privileged. they were furnished to a
newspaper and published this morning. We
understand this publication to be a direct
contempt of court and that the person
guilty of causing their publication is guilty
of a gross contempt We ask you, there
fore, that at the next hearing We may
temporarily suspend the taking of testimony
of complainant witnesses and take testi-
mony as to the person who gave publication
10 these letters. cables and kilograms
Mr.. Wollman, associate counsel with
Samuel Untermyer, replied: IF there is
to be any insinuations that Mr.. Untermyer
or myself had anything to do with giving
publicity TO these communications | here
declare that IL is absolutely untrue Net
Their Mr.. Untermyer nor L had anything 10
do with giving out those letter kilograms
and cables TO the press. Mr.. Guthrie knows
there are many copies of them in exist
ence and that copies could easily be OBJ
tanned. / was much surprised at seeing
them published this morning as Mr.. Guth-
RE could have been"
81 hope so, for the good name of the
bar" exclaimed Mr.. Guthrie.
You have done much in this case against
the good name of the bar. Mr.. Guthrie. -
replied Mr. Wollman. Your course ia :
been reprehensible. L do not know nor do
not care what the law is but the persons
who gave these communications to the
ject to- Mr.. Guthrie's insinuation when Mr..
Guthrie knows as he does, how easy II is
to get these copies
After some further. discussion between
counsel IL was agreed they should Coop
crate In an effort to learn who gave out
xhe communications in question