Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-28
HALF FOR JUDGE
Former Chicago Justice Ac-
- cused of Operating a sszssa
Collection Mill"
CONNECTED WITH HIS OFFICE
Sued by Creditors Who Employed
Him He Declares Their Con-
tracts Were Illegal.

Chicago, Aug, 2S.-A collection mill, |
with half the money for the judge, |
is the latest wrinkle in the line of |
sure things" What is more, the man
who engineered the mill, under the |
old justice shop regime, and who can
didly admits the illegally of con-
tract under which he operated, now is
in the employ of the city's law depart
ment.
Former Justice of the Peace Arthur
V. Lee of Hyde Park is the man, and
the National Investment and Security
company was his client. Litigation
grew out of the contest and yesterday
Lee was ordered to pay back $165 by
Judge Maxwell of the municipal court
An effort of the creditors of the
company to make the former peace
magistrate surrender $265 secured by
him brought to light the contract
which Mr. Lee, now an assistant to
Corporation Counsel Brundage, has re-
lpudiated as illegal. He declares that
/ the contract. and supposedly its acts
under it, was contrary to public pol
icy in the administration of justice"
| The creditors of the company. admit
ting the illegality of the contract, aver
that that is more reason why Mr. Lee
should surrender the $265. But Mr.
Lee will continue 10 stand upon his
legal rights under the illegal contract
! until Judge Maxwell has given d de-
eision.
Gets salary and Half.
II The company, which was a subscrip-
tiCn agency. now is defunct. having
! liquidated its affairs about two years
ago. It's creditors are represented by
! Attorney Elmer Beach. According to
( the testimony submitted by them. JUS
tice Lee went to the office of the COM
( pany and solicited the collection of
its claims. There were several thou
sand of these. the amounts varying
from So to $35 They allege that a
K contract was signed whereby the mag
Y istrate was TO be paid $3.50 day while
\ engaged in the work of the company
\ and to receive half of the amounts
Y collected. The clerical work of fill
q ling out the summonses, praecipes and
y other legal documents was to be done
Z by clerks of the company. Justice Lee
y only affixing his signature to them.
al 1t is alleged that the magistrate
y was paid 500 in advance and that he
& collected $165 from debtors of the cor
lporation. As he failed to turn any o
K the money over, the corporation i:
y said to have discontinued the suits.
ri After the office of justice of thC
y lpeace had been abolished and the com
K Ipany's business had been transferred
Y Ito other hands the effort to procure
X a part of the money collected was con
Y tinued by its creditors. Suit was be
4 gun in the municipal court The eX
z listence of an agreement between Jus
: tice Lee and the corporation was ad
mitted by his attorneys. but the con
: tention was made that the contrac
i was null and void, being prejudicia
to public policy as affecting the dutie
of county official.
Refuses TO Give Up Fees.
The attorneys for the creditors the
took another attitude and admitte
the nullity of the contract, but dc
manded that the former justice pa
over the amounts collected by hin
1t was contended that he had no NOR
ilright to withhold them than to apprt
Ilpriate any other amount paid into hi
court in judgments
Attorney Lee recently was a cal
didate for the republican nominatio
for municipal judge. He was a jul
| tice of the peace in Hyde Park for l
Ilyears and has taken an active pal
in politics in that section.