Semi-weekly herald., 1908-10-26
The Pulliam.Lane
Collection Bureau

The office of district attorney is one
of great importance to the citizens
and taxpayers of this district
In the first place, the occupant of
that office should possess the high
est degree of integrity and should po-
sess high ideal of his duties and off
cial conduct. Otherwise, the office
may become one of oppression and
blackmail, instead of one for the pro
lection and safe guarding of the lives.
liberties and property rights of our
citizens.
How easy It would be for design.
| ing person to use the office for op-
preston and blackmail and to make
more out of such practice than the
legitimate fees of the office.
| Frequently we hear of cases where
the office of district attorney and the
criminal complaint or indictment are
used as collection agency for the
collection of debts, and other forms of
oppression.
| Complaints have been made that the
present incumbent of that office and
| his deputy have not conducted the
affairs of the office upon a very high
| plane, but, on the contrary. the dis
trict attorney and his deputy, George
w. Lane have both used the office as
an instrument Of oppression and as a
means for the collection of debts.
James A. Pulliam and George
a~tv, In. tha
practice of law. Mr.. Pulliam is the
district attorney and George W. Lane
his deputy. Under the rules of pro-
fessional ethics neither of the part.
ners, principal or deputy, would be
at liberty to take collections or other
| civil business growing out Of any Grim
| inal matter pending or likely to be
pending in the district
We have known cases where differ
ent kinds of letter heads and sta
tionery have been used by this firm
and its members during this partner
| ship and while holding the office Of
district attorney and deputy, such as
"Pulliam and Lane, Attorneys at
Law" George w. Lane, Attorney at
Law"-some of which we have in our
possession.
We know of cases where a criminal
prosecution was pending in this dis.
trict, in connection with which prose-
cution property rights were involved.
1t seems to have been desirable 10 use
the criminal prosecution to compel
settlement of civil and property rights.
In the case In question we suppose
Mr.. Pulliam represented the people to
see that parties were punished for
alleged offenses? Mr.. Lane, his part
ner. and deputy, took the civil matter
and represented the creditors. Not
only that, but Mr.. Lane wrote letters
to the friends of the accused urging
the settlement of the money matters
to avoid prosecution, and therein says:
| (Using the exact language of Mr..
Lanes letter.
"You will also release him from
the danger Of a criminal prosecu-
tion; I am not advised concerning
the merits Of the criminal action,
but ! know that II he has to de-
fend against II he will be put to
considerable expense"
This letter is in our possession and
is signed by George w. Lane. Why
did Mr.. Lane take this matter to set
tie in his individual name while he
was the partner of Mr.. Pulliam, and
Mr.. Pulliam's deputy. and what right
did he have to take the matter at all
while occupying the position Of part
ner and deputy?
What right had he and Mr.. Pull
liam to settle the money matters and
dismiss the criminal charge, and what
right had they to use the criminal
charge to compel the friends OF the
accused to surrender up property
rights rather than see their friend
stand trial upon a criminal charge
1t looks like a case of blackmail,
wherein Pulliam catches the victim
with the criminal complaint and holds
him with such weapon while Lane
does the skinning act
Mr.. Lane, deny these charges II you
dare!
In the second place. the district
attorney can give a good economical
administration and accomplish results ;
on the other hand, he may be an ex-
pensive CRATER and accomplish no
results.
We can show by the records In
any county In the district that Mr
, Pulliam and Mr.. Lane both have been
expensive luxuries. For instance, q
man is supposed to have committed
the larceny of colt. There Is but
one offense committed. The case
comes up to Mr.. Pulliam and Mr.
Lane. An information for larceny II
filed; another for having receives
stolen property; another for obtain
ing property under false pretenses
Then Messrs. Pulliam and Lane vii
lie awake nights to think Of som'
: other charges that they might pos
q sibly make, and come in court an'
file some indictment for other and Gi
q vsrs offsnses--ths product Of thoi
, dreams.