The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-17
JIM LANES PARTNER.
The Retirement From Business of Al
bert Perry OF Doniphan.

Atchison, Kan, Jan. 17.-Albert Per-
~, lawyer in Doniphan county nearly
half a century, at one time law partner
of Jim Lane, was here this week to
try his last law suit. The case was a
real estate suit of Syffe against Denton.
An amicable settlement was reached,
and Mr.. Perry says that as he has no
troubles Of his own he will refuse to
engage in those of others the rest of his
life.
Mr.. Perry owns an s0-acre tract of
land near Troy containing a fine or
chard and an artificial private fishing
pond. He proposes to spend his time
in looking after the orchard and trying
to catch the fish. After so years of sue
lated a fortune sufficient to enable him
to retire. There have been few cases of
great Importance in the Twenty-second
judicial district in which Mr.. Perry has
not had a. hand.
The case Of Mr. Perry's which at
tracted the most attention possibly was
that of Governor George T. Anthony
against the late Solomon Miller, VINO
was editor of the Troy Chief. 1t was
the first libel suit brought in Kansas,
and was discussed over the entire state
People came from long distances to
hear the arguments. Mr.. Perry was as
sisted by Judge w. D. Webb of Atcht-
SON. while Mr.. Anthony was represent
ed by the late Judge Nathan Price OF
of Stockton. The trial lasted a week.
The arguments were five hours long.
Many lawyers from Topeka, Lawrence,
Leavenworth and Atchison attended
the trial.
George T. Anthony was at that time
connected with the internal revenue
Office in Topeka. A letter containing
a check for $23 was sent him from
MarySville by a man named Van Bus
kirk. The letter requested that a
license to sell liquor be granted Van
Buskirk. A government license cost
$23. Mr.. Anthony put the letter into
The man in Marysville continued to
sell liquor Some time later Anthony
had Van Buskirk arrested for selling
liquor without a license. Van Bus
kirk was taken to Leavenworth for
trial When it developed that the
money had been sent to Anthony for a
license Anthony told Van Buskirk to
pay the costs of the suit and they
would let it go at that.
f'Sol'' Miller thereup wrote a scath-
ing article on Anthony headed Needs
Overhauling." and stating that An
thony needed investigating, that he
license and had appropriated it to his
own use. The Troy Chief was at that
time one of the influential papers of
the state, and the article created much
comment. Anthony brought the suit
for libel. The jury was out eighteen
hours and failed to agree. Nine We're
for acquittal of Miller and three for
his conviction. The case was never
brought up for another trial.
Mr. Perry's legal partnership with
Jim" Lane was in Doniphan. FIRE.
quently, when Mr.. Perry was in court
at the county seat. Troy, he would be
surrounded by crowds of men who
told him not to let his partner venture
within the town limits or they would
hang him. In spite of the threats,
Mr.. Lane would accompany Mr.. Perry
to Troy. While Perry rode openly
up the highway, Lane would go around
the outskirts and before his arrival
was discovered by his enemies he
would be mounted on dry goods
box in the midst of the crowd in front
of the Highly house In a few moments
he would have the belligerent assembly
enthralled by his rough eloquence.
After the speech many of the audience
would accompany him half way back
to Doniphan, with cneers of applause.
His enemies feared to attack him
under these conditions.
Mr.. Perry is a brother-in-law OF
Cyrus Leland. His wife died about
year ago. He has never taken any
interest in the political field further
than to cast his vote for Republic
can candidate. Mr.. Perry came to
Kansas from Ohio. He was a warm
personal friend of the late President
James A. Garfield, and with his wife
frequently visited Mr.. and Mrs. Gar
field in their Ohio home.