Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-01
URGE DISBARMENT
OF NOTED LAWYER,
JOSEPH H. CHOATE
Former U. S. Ambassador to
Great Britain Charged with
Selling Out Client
LOSING LITIGANT ACCUSER
American Bar Association Asked
to ExpeI Its Most Shin
ing Light
LOSING LITIGANT ACCUSER
Associated Pressl

Lawyers attending the American Bar
association meeting here were aston
ished at the publication in an afternoon
paper Of the report that sensational
charges had been preferred in the as
( sociation against Joseph H. Choate of
New York, former ambassador to Great
Britain.
All agre the charges have been made
ct least twice before in meetings of
the associa ton, but most of the dele
gates were in ignorance Of their pre-
sentation at today's session.
George w. Cbamlee of Tennessee ON
the floor of the convention today an
nounced he had petition to offer
President Libby repelied that the ped-
tion would be received.
This petition, which was received
without being read in the convention,
contained the charges against Mr..
Choate, prepared by James R Watts of
New York.
The charges have not been presented
to the grievance committee; IN fact,
the grievance committee has had no
meeting here, as there were no grieY-
anees to come before 1t.
But two members of the committee
are present, and they have heard moth
ing of the alleged charges The MEM
bers present are Fred Lehman of st.
Louis and George r. Peck OF Chicago.
President Libby was asked tonight
for a statement in regard to the mat
ter. He replied:
WILL NOT DISCUSS CHARGES
''There is no reason for me discussing
!. sshis affair, as there Is no such question
roefore the convention"
Had the charges been referred to the
grievance committee no action could
have been taken within a year.
The charges reclte that Joseph H.
sChoate has been guilty OF violation of
Ithe constitution Of the American Bar
Association in q failure to uphold the
honor Of the profession Of the law, and
a petition that he be expelled from the
bar association was also presented to
the association today.
These charges were filed by Watts
through his attorney, George w. Cham
lee of this city, a member Of the bar
association The charges are that Mr.
Choate has violated the confidence of
his clients, James r. Watts and wife;
that he violated the canons of ethics
of the American Bar association, has
been guilty of divers and many offenseS
in violation of good morals and fair
dealings, and has brought dishonor and
disgrace upon the American Bar associ-
talon Of the United States of America
The first charge has to do with GER
tain litigation entrusted to Mr.. Choate
and his associates in the firm OF
Evarts Choate & Beaman of New
York city and in an associate partner
ship with Treadwell of Cleveland.
DETAILS OF CHARGES
In 1885 Mr. Watts engaged the firm
of Evarts, Choate & Beaman to bring
suit against Walter Weston and AL
fred Weston, former business as
sociates, for $3.50. 900 damages. This
suit was filed. The petition alleges
that not long afterward Mr.. Watts
was In the office of Mr. Choate and
overheard by accident a conversation
between Mr.. Choate and an attorney
in which this attorney, representing
Weston Bros. offered to Treadwell of
Cleveland Choates trial attorney"
the sum of $50,OO0 to compromise the
case.
Mr.. Watts now says in his petition
to the bar association that he believes
his lawsuit was "sold out" or thrown
away" only nominal damages were
granted, the sum, in fact being 6 cents. !
Other charges relate to an alleged |
wrongful appropriation Of $3.50 col |
lected by the firm Of Evarts. Choate |
Il Beaman for Mrs. James Watts and |
the alleged wrongful detention of notes
for $4,000 against solvent parties placed |
in the hands of Mr.. Choate's law firm |
for collection in 1891, and the failure of |
Mr.. Choate's firm to bring suit for |
S25, 900 said to have been wrongfully |
in the possession of Walter Weston in |
1885.
Mr. Choate is charged also with al
legged failure of his firm to account for
about $1,000 collected by a receiver for |
the sale of certain business.