The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-06-20
by A. +. Moore.

Staff Correspondence to The Press.
Parmelee Wickes, Yale IA, Columbia
Lam rs, for IS years an assistant
corporation counsel for the city of
New York, since 1889 prominent
member of the bar of the metropolis,
member of the Lawyers club. the
University club, the Yale club, the
Psi Epsilon club, the New York Ath-
letic club and the Mendelssohn Glee
club, son of an old-time and respect
ed New York family. himself respect
ed, able, well-to-do.
Lewis Jarvis, lock box 1904, New
York, whose title to distinction rested
upon the possession of Tiffany let
ter heads and the authorship of let
ters of alleged Matchmaking charac-
ter sent to persons interested in the
outcome of suits in which Thomas
p. Wickes was one of the attorneys.
And Wjckes is Jarvis"
The exposure resulting from
Wickes' arrest on charge of black
mail has caused sensation in New
York, especially among members of
the Bar association.
Wickes does not deny that some
six years ago he signed an applica-
ton for a postoffice box in the name
of Jarvis" that Jarvis Is none other
than himself, and that he has been
writing letters all these years in the
g In, 10
that he has done nothing criminal.
Meanwhile he is out on $1,000 cash
bail which he furnished, not one of
his many club or professional friends
coming forward to comfort him in his
hour of distress.
While the present action against
Wickes grows out of letter in
which Jarvis" threatened to charge
DR.. Edward Weston, wealthy manu-
facturer of Waverly. N. j., with per-
iurv. most of the Jarvis" letters
that have thus far come to light
have been of an innocent character
written for the sole purpose of BOOST
ing Thomas p. Wickes as one of the
ablest men of the New York bar.
The apparent uselessness of great
many of these letters has led to the
belief of many that Wickes is sub
ject to "a mania.
In the Weston letters Jarvis"
urged that gentleman to settle suit
for damages which had been brought
against him by DR.. A. p. Grinnell, a
highly respectable resident of Yer
mont. AS a result of mistaken iden-
tity Weston had caused the arrest OF
DIR. Grinnell. The latter secured a
Judgment for $12,500 and another for
$4,000 against Weston. Then there
was a mistrial, and, a few weeks ago,
n fourth hearing of the case. Wickes
was one of Grinnells lawyers. While
the case was pending on court Wes-
ton was deluged with letters from
Jarvis" advising him to pay and not
prolong the litigation. Here is a
sample of the Jarvis" literature:
"May l write that many of your
friends think you have pursued this
lawsuit with DIR. Grinnell long
enough? You must know you can
never win the case. You admit that
YOU caused the arrest AS
long as your answer remains what
it is. the case can not be changed;
and you could not alter your answer
so as to make it effectively and le-
gally different without running the
risk of a prosecution for perjury.
IF Mr.. Wickes had made the final
address to the jury / believe that
the verdict would have been at least
$4,000 against you. But the pub
LEFTY given to the matter hurts your
good name-all your friends here are
saying so. 1t is not a matter of
money with you-of course | know
that; but would it not be better for
your reputation to stop the case
here?"
In another letter Jarvis" said:
will you continue to be led like a
blind man, upon advice which, | still
believe, must be against your own
good judgment, but which, just as
surely as you live, will take you to
Sing Sing?"