The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-31
TELL Their STORY
Lawyers Begin Investigation Of
the Wilson's.
Slightly Different Version of
LoEett Fight.
HOW BATTLE STARTED
Some One Called Visitor a Bad
Name.
Then He Made a Rush and
Family Was on Him.

The committee consisting of S H
Allen, chairman, NJ. T. Campbell, Geo
Overmyer, Frank Foster and clad
Hamilton appointed by the Topeka Bar
association to hear evidence looking to
the disbaring OF A. P. Tone Wilson.
Clement L. Wilson and Anthony Viii
son from the bar association, providing
that the charges which have been rife
for months are proven, met yesterday
at the Office of S. H. Allen.
Frank Foster was not able to be
present at the meeting owing to other
business of an urgent nature Whlch
! win occupy his time until after the
election of next Tuesday, otherwise the
committee was about complete
number of witnesses were examined,
among them F. J. Lynch, who was act
/ Ing as an attorney for the Wilson's at
the time of the assault of r. A. LovetI
of Salina, who was taking deposltlohs
in their office.
The. fight as seen by Mr. Lynch was
about as described in the State Journal
! of last Thursday. Mr.. Lovett had been
sent by Judge Smith of the Thomas
/ county court to take dispositions IN
case against Clement L. Wilson who
! Is charged with unprofessional conduel
as lawyer and against whom disbar-
ment proceedings are now pending IN
that court.
1 was proceeding III dH OIueilS A4esAAA10A
along the lines usually pursued in such
cases and a commonplace question
was asked by Mr.. LOvett, which under
the circumstances seemed to anger the
witness, A. P. Tone Wilson, who called
Mr.. Lovett a vile name. Then the trou-
! BILE started and Mr.. Loyett reushed al
A. P. Tone Wilson and attempted to
strike him and the rest of the family
| rushed to the rescue OF Tone with the
1 exception of Clement L. Wilson, VINO
with the aid of Mr.. Humphrey finally
separated the men and partially re-
ssTnere is no doubt how the fight
] started for the words of abuse had no
more than left the lips Of Tone wilson
when Mr.. Lovett made dash for MN
and attempted to strike him ABOUT the
head and face The father and young
er son then took a hand and the result
was that Mr.. LOvett received pfetts
rough treatment and left the ONCE with
/ a battered face and blood streaming
from a cut on the side of his head
which was bleeding profusely-
THE stories first told of the affair
| duplicating Clement L. Wilson did him
an injustice as he did not strike bloW
and acted as a peacemaker-
About the same story Of the fight
was told by Mr. Humphrey who was
active as peacemaker and who was
at the time of the assault talking with
the elder Wilson. He said: The first
/ that 1 knew of the affair the fight was
I in progress and the Wilson's had Mr..
Lovett backed into a corner and were
/ pummelling him in a thorough man
ner. That is. all Of the Wilson's with
/ the exception of Clement L. Wilson,
who assisted me in separating the
fighting men and restoring quiet
A l. williams said: Il have had
some dealings with the Wilson's which
I do not look upon a s professional as
far al they were concerned and I know
of many others. About SIX months ago
Miss Bessie Hanrahan an employe in
| the city hand laundry came to my Of
/ fee and told me that she had placed a
note for $50 in the hands of the VIII
sons for collection and that they had
I collected it and turned less than half
of it over to her, claiming the remain
/ der as their commission for making
the collection.
II went to their office and made a
demand for the return or the money
they had collected less a fair commits
sion and was informed that the affair
did not concern me and that my client
had received all that she would get. I
demonstrated with them against such a
/ charge and one of the Wilson's told
me that as their business as collection
agents was looked upon as disreputable
| that they were entitled to charge what
ever they pleased.
Suit was then commenced against
them in the district court by our office
and at the trial Of the case a verdict
was awarded against them for the face
1 of the note less ten per cent which was
1 allowed them for collecting it. They
/ Immediately appealed the case but af-
! terwards dismissed the appeal and paid
/ the costs of the action"
Harry Bone, assistant United, States
attorney said, There has been more or
/ less complaint against the Wilson's
/ since I have been in office and consider
/ able of it was handed down to me when
4 my predecessor vacated the office. I
1 think that there are a number of mat
I ters now under investigation by the de-
/ partment at this time
Hardly a day passes that letters do
1 not reach nv office calling nv atten-
f ing that action be taken. They come
1 from all quarters OF the United States
and I have had an inquiry from Cuba.
+ A few days ago had letter from the
I secretary of Tom johnson, mayor of
/ Cleveland, Ohio enclosing a letter from
/ the Wilson's making therats as to the
/ course they would pursue in case col
lection of about 500 was not paid
forthwith and claiming that they knew
i nothing of the account.
st have received hundreds Of Just
such letters and 1t looks to me as
/ though blackmailing scheme of some
/ kind is being operated These letters
4 have sent to the department at
Washington with the suggestion that
an investigation be made as soon as
i possible and when it is made I VIII take
such action against them as the re-
/ port will warrant"
Numerous other complaints We're
made TO the committee of the conduct
+ of the Wilson's and while it is more
/ than likely that the fight which occurred
/ in their Office with Mr.. LoVett viii not
be considered in the deliberations other
deve- opraents are promised. The COM
mittee viii hear complaints the remain
/ der of the week and make a thorough
] Investigation and make their report to
/ the bar association some time the first
| of the week and If they find that the
I evidence VIII warrant the expulsion Of