The San Francisco call., 1909-07-18

LAWYER ACCUSED
BY STENOGRAPHER
James Walter Scott Faces
Charges Brought by Mrs.
Louise White, a Widow
Attorney Denies Woman's AlIe-
cations and Points to Delay
in Bringing Complaint

Mrs. Louise r. White, a widow living
at 236 Diamond street. swore to a com
pIaint before Police Judge Deasy yes
terday charging James Walter Scott,
a n attorney with Offices in the Union
trust building, with criminal assault
July Is. Scott, who was arrested by De-
tectives Burke and Armstrong, denied
the woman and pointed out that while
she alleges that the attack was made
Thursday she returned to work Friday,
was in the office all that day and yes
terday morning appeared and secured
payment for her weeks salary. II was
after she received the check from Scott
that she lodged the complaint against
him. Scott is the attorney who de-
Tended Peter Claudianes, the man who
dynamited the Gallagher property in
Oakland.
In her statement to the police Mrs.
White said that she took a position in
place OF Scott's regular stenographer
last Monday, and that he began to
- Se@h fiCA Will lOO uluCH freedom a1Ier
she had been there two days. Wednes-
day, she said, his conduct was offensive
and Thursday, she alleged, he sent the
onfce boy away, locked the door and at
lacKed ner. Her cries, she said. were
stif1ed by the hand of her assailant.
DENIES THE CHARGE
After Scott had been booked at tho
city prison he was released on 81 900
cash bail, put up by Attorney McCIos-
Key representing Attorney w. 6
barnes. When seen during the after
noon Scott said: MY regular stem
ographer is away this week on her va
cation and 1 engaged Mrs. White. She
worked during the week, including
Thursday and Friday. Friday she
worked as usual and this morning she
came for her salary and / made out
check for her. There was nothing be-
tween us that can suggest why she
should have brought this charge / am
innocent of the accusation. | think
that should be demonstrated by her
own act in returning to work FRIDAY
and IN appearing at my office this
morning Thursday afternoon she left
the office apparently in good spirits I
am told by the elevator boy in the
building that she chatted gayly with
him and gave him some candy which
she was carrying.
can not understand ~the motive
which may lay behind the charge.
can not see that she is trying to black
mail me. l do not understand the mat
ter, at all; although / fully realize the
seriousness of the position in which
have been placed by this woman's ac-
tion.
ACTS ON FRIENDS ADVICE
Mrs. White could not be seen at her
home, 2S6 Diamond street last even
Ing. Her mother said that she had
gone to spend the night with friends.
When asked to explain her daughters
conduct in returning to work Friday,
after the day on which. according to to
the complaint, the attack was made.
Mrs. Whites parent said:
My daughter came home Thursday
night with an excited look in her eyes.
but she made no complaint Friday
she went to work again without saw
ing anything about the treatment she
had received. But Friday night she told
her experience to a friend of the fam
lily and he advised that she have Scott
arrested"
When pressed to explain why Mrs
White had returned Friday, her mother
was unable to give any clear answer to
the question.