New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-06-15
SAYS WICKES CONFESSED.
ADMITTED HE VAS JARVIS
Statement Of His Lac Partner in
GrinReU- w eStOn Case.

Immaculate in attire and naughty in de-
meanor, Thomas P. Wckes, the lawyer and
club member who was indicted on Tuesday by
the grand jury charge of backmail, on the
strength of letters signed Lewis Jarvis, ap-
peared unperturbed yesterday. AT the Office OF
Job E. Hedges, No. 141 Broadway, whom ne has
retained counsel, he refused to discuss the
strange doings of Lewis Jarvis
In addition to Mr.. Hedges 1 have retained
eminent counsel in this case said Mr.. Wickes
1T seems best to make no statement at pres
ent 1 am confident that L will be acquitted OF
all wrongdoing when the case comes before the
court. I do not loo. worried or troubled, do L!
Well, not. l have taken couEs Il with Fran
els NJ. Scott. who joins with Mr. Hedges in ad-
vising that 1 make no statement. That is all
1 have to say
Thomas c. O'Sullivan. ex-State Senator, threw
interesting light on the case. Mr. Wckes
associated with Mr.. O'Sullivan counsel for
DR.. Ashbel P. Grinnell in the suits for damages
against Edward Weston.
II am sure Tom Wickes must be demented
or he would never have blighted a brilliant
career in such shocking fashion," said Mr..
O'SuilvaE. THE first l knew OF the doings of
Mr.. Wickes one ngh- near the beginning of
the fourth tris: when Mr.. Osborne. counsel for
Mr.. Weston, told me of the Lewis Jarvis letters.
1 refused to believe what Mr.. Osborne in
tiTnated. Only when Mr. Osl,crne made motion
to amend answer June = did 1 ask Mr..
Wickes for some explanation He said the only
threats he had made were in the courtroom, an6
at once consented to accept the amendment
which spelled doom for him. 1 still had
plete confidence in my fellow counsel. so asked
him to come TO NV Office and explain to DR..
Grinnell and myself what letters he had written.
He made several appointments but failed to
keep them
Last Sunday, however, he came to my house
with DR.. Grinnell and brought copies of the
letters. Mr.. Wickes then admitted that he had
written the letters to Mr.. Weston signed Lewis
Jarvis He said he had taken the box at the
postoffice several years ago to conduct some cor
respondence which he wished to carry on under
assumed name He told me that he had
relative named Lewis Jarvis, and that 1t
known to his family that he used this fictitious
name Mr.. Wickes told me that he only in
tended 10 warn Mr.. Weston and had inten-
tion of threatening him L at told him that
I sorry for him, but ask him to with
draw from the case. Dr. Grinnell then decided
that owing to the conduct of Mr. Wickes he did
not to continue the action, which had
sumed tainted look, SO I conferred with MIR.
Osborne, with the result that 2 juror with
drawn and the case stopped. We agreed never
to bring suit again.
DIR. Grinlell was responsible for Mr.. wickes
coming into the case associate counsel
against my better judgment. 1 had nothing
against Mr.. Wickes. but prefer TO conduct my
cases singehanded. DR.. Grinnell and Mr. Wickes
distant relatives. however. so finally con-
sented. In the whole conduct of the trial
found Tom Wickes most upright. honest and
regardfui of the ethics of the profession. never
heard him suggest improper thing in connec-
ton with the conduct of the trial. l have al
ways had a high regard for him. and I have
the same feeling at the present time. For some
months past he has seemed to be in great
mental anguish, There seems to be something
back of all this even more terrible than the
present ''lamentable indiscretion Mr.. Wickes
lawyers in New-York, polished man. stand
ing high in business and social life-for Such
a one to so smirch a brilliant career and dis
tingushed name I can only account for in one
way-dementia."
At the office of District Attorney Jerome moth
ing was given out on the case Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Rand. who has charge of the
case seems to think the Lewis jarvis letters
were not the work of an unbalanced mind MI
Osborne reiterated the statement that he had
other letters written by Lewis Jarvis" which
would prove damaging to the accused lawyer
when produced in court. 1t seemed to be the
opinion of a number of lawyers that the black
Wickes but that he would be convicted and
fined on the count of writing anonymous letters
Of an annoying nature. Other lawyers expressed
the opinion that the suit would be settled out of
court by entering the plea of mental derange-
ment.
eign power which covers blackmail, but Mr..
Wickes intends to face the music he is
confident that he will prove himself innocept.
The court records show that he had a lucrative
practice.