Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-29
Mr.. NACEL 'FESSES UP
Yes, He Was Retained to De-
fend Oil Concern.
BUT DIDN'T DO VERY MUCH
Now He Is Calmly Running Re-
publican Headquarters
WHEN HITCHCOCK IS AWAY
Statement From Judge Priest, An
swering the President, Drew Ad-
mission From Mr.. Nagel

| CHICAGO, September 29.-CharleS Nagel
Of st. Louis, who in the absence of Chair
| man Hitchcock is in charge Of the repub
out statement admitting that the law
| firm of which he is member is acting in
| a professional capacity for the Waters
Pierce Oil Company. Judge Nagers state
made by Judge Henry s. Priest of St.
Louis, democrat. who was referred to
| by President Roosevelt in a letter to Mr..
Bryan as trust attorney supporting Mr..
| been retained in a legal capacity by the
| oil company. and stated that Judge Nagel,
republican national committeeman from
Missouri, was similarly retained.
Firm Got Cold Feet.
Judge Nagel In his statement declared
that the employment of his firm by the
Waters-Pierce Company began some
years ago. when 1t undertook an exam
ination of the Missouri laws wit reference
to the operation Of the Waters-Pierce
Company under them. When Attorney
General Hadley began his suit to oust the
company Judge Nagers firm was engaged
to direct the defense.
I'm the course Of a few months" said
the statement, lit developed that our re-
lation to the case was not what we had
understood 1t to be. Our firm thereupon
refused to receive further fees as gen.
eral counsel, and asked the consent of our
client to withdraw from the particular
case in question. This was refused
Since then Judge Nape1 concludes tho
firms connection with the company has
been confined to this one case, presenting
thQse points Of law on which they believe
decision in the case must finally turn.
Priest Drew His Fire.
ST. LOUIS, September 29.-Henry S.
Priest last night gave out a statement in
reply to that portion Of President Roose-
velt's latest answer to William J. Bryan
In which reference 10 made to Mr.. Priest
as q trust attorney who 10 supporting
Bryan for President. Mr.. Priest begins
by denying that he is an officer of the
Waters-Pierce OIL Company.
He says that his firm was retained by
Henry Clay Pierce in 1904 to represent
minority interest In the defense Of the
company in suit instituted against it by
Attorney General Hadley of this state,
and that another attorney for this COM
pany was Mr.. Nagel, the present repub-
lican national committeeman from Mis-
souri,.
Explains Bribery Utterance.
But" he continues, lit is added that 1
said: Bribery is a conventional offense.'
These words are taken from the middle Of
q sentence in an extemporaneous address
to q jury In which they were used solely
for the purpose of making a comparison
between the defendant and the chief wit
ness against him, who was q confessed
perjurer. and made the statement
quoted in comparing the two men for the
purpose Of putting their moral characters
before the jury to be weighed by 1t In
reaching a conclusion. A conventional Of
tense Is one defined by a legislative con-
vention and is denominated nahum pro-
hibtum. to distinguish 1t in character
from an offense which is malum in Sc. /
| then condemned unqualihedly and un-
equivocaliy both bribery and lying.
But as II to add still further to the
criticism of me. 1t Is said that r. NJ
Snyder, in whose behalf l was speaking,
was millionaire. 1t seems / am always
thrown in very excellent company on both
| sides Of the political line in my legal en-
gagements.
"Height of Absurdity.'
Mr.. Snyder's regular attorney Mr..
NdIOuci LdtHTop lS q very uIStiHSuiSneO
republican and is at present an enthusias-
tic supporter Of Judge Taft. Mr. Warner,
the republican senator from this state,
| was associated with me in that case. 1t is
the height of absurdity to attempt to in
| f1uence public opinion for or against either
of the candidates by showing that this
that or the other attorney who represents
a personal or corporate clientage is for or
! against him.
Il intend to vote for Bryan as 1 have
| in the past