Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-09-24
ACCUSERS DID NOT APPEAR WHEN
CASE CAME UP IN Open COURT
Interest of Client His Excuse For Not Pushing Charges
When Testimony Was in Order-DeCded Preference
Shown For Newspaper Trial of Case
After 1t Had Been Decided.

"IN VIEW OF THE STATEMENT
WHICH HAVE SEEN IN THE
EVENING PAPER TO THE Eff
FEET THAT THERE WAS NO ONE
WITH COURAGE ENOUGH TO
MIR. BURSUM IN
1 DEEM 1T MY DUTY TO
MY CLIENT TO SAY THAT BUT
FOR A STIPULATION WHICH WAS
sIGNED-I WAS PREPARED TO
CONFRONT MIR. BURSUM IN
COURT AND SHOW THAT THE
REPORT OF THE COLORADO
TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY
WAS CORRECT."-Neill B. Field, in
the morning paper.
The above interesting statement
from Attorney Field appeared in to-
days issue of the. Morning Journal
with the customary headlines. At
torney Field in a brief interview
further compromised himself along
the same lines. The statement is
deeply interesting to the people Of
this city and of the territory at large
in view of the active part Attorney
Field took in the recent so-called
good government campaign and re-
form movement.
There are a few questions being
asked today which are also inter-
esting.
lie Sat Still.
1t would appear from the above
statement Of the eminent attorney of
Albuquerque that he means to say
that he sat i'm the court room at Sill
yer City with evidence sufficient to
convict II. O. Bursum of having mis-
appropriated the funds of the terri
torial penitentiary and then and
there allowed the court to render
a judgment in favor of Mr.. Bursum
for $4,333.56 without lifting his voice
in protest.
1t would also appear that this
same Attorney Field heard the at
torney general of New Mexico say
that he had no evidence to disprove
the report made by Referee c. v.
Stafford, but Attorney Field, although
he now says he had plenty of evil
dence, did not make one move to
place it in the hands of the proper
territorial officials.
Was IL Good Government"
1t is rather hard to believe that
good government can be harmonized
so easily with such conduct.
Having secured a stipulation to
save his client from possible loss, the
eminent counsel sat in the court
judgment for over $4,000 against the
people of New Mexico, although he
now says he was prepared to have
proven Saftords report untrue and
the report of the Colorado expert
correct. except for the stipulation.
And why did he stipulate if he had
all the evidence to sustain his eX-
pert report?
This may or may not be in accord
with the practice Of the territorial
bar but the fact remains that the
people of New Mexico, including one
II. O. Bursum, would like to know
what evidence the eminent counsel
had in his possession. That was why
II. O. Bursum fought through sixty
days Of the recent legislature to get a
law allowing him a trial in open
court instead of by secret inquisi-
ton. Mr.. Bursum took his case into
open court in order to get an OppOr-
tunity TO defend himself against any
charge that could be brought against
him.
Should be Tried i'm Court.
II MT. Flelu mad Such evidence IN
his possession as would dispToye the
report of Referee Stafford. the court
and not the morning paper was the
place TO boast about IL.
The thing thar rufhed the eminent
attorneys pride perhaps, was the
statement I'm The Citizen that the
aCcusers of II. o, Bursum dared not
face him In open court.
The chief acCuseTs of n. BuTsum
were late executive, a late attorney
general late prison superintendent
and the Morning Journal Of this city,
They We're not I'm court with any
evidence.
The Colorado company and fits eX-
pert We're more than anything else
mere agents I'm the employ Of 9TH
ers so that Attorney Field somewhat
presumed upon his own importance
i'm the premises.
At the same time. iu view Of the
fact that he prevailed upon the other
persons interested TO safeguard his
client 60 appears rather peculiar that
with the overwhelming evidence,
which he says he possesses, ne did
not prefer 10 fight the case.
No Love for Bursum.
1t is quite certain that there eX-