Barbour County index., 1910-12-07
A STATEMENT OF FACTS
County Attorney Field Makes Com
pIete Explanation of Matters
Raised in the Campaign of
1910, Which Were In
tended to Injure
Him, but Mis-
carried.

il is sufficient for the Index to say
that the statement was submitted
for publication over a week ago but
on account of the rush of work, the
publishers were not able to handle
it until this week. We commend a |
careful reading to every citizen of
Barber county who desires to know
the facts. Mr. Martin, who made
the attack, is also urged to read it, |
and if he does, he will doubtless feel |
badly for having made his campaign |
error:
Several months before the cleo
tion my opponent for the office of
County Attorney began publishing a
series of newspaper articles, consist
ing of personal attacks upon me,
based upon what he was pleased to
call my record as County Attorney.
1t was my intention to pay absolute
ly no attention to these attacks and
the splendid majority given me at
the recent election has apparently
justified my position. Before the
election, however, 1 announced to
quite a number of people that af-
ter the election 1 would take UP
such of his articles as appeared to
have any weight or were given any
consideration by the people and an
swer them. 1t was my position that
If these articles were answered dur
ing the campaign, Iwould be placing
myself in the same attitude as Mr..
Martin, namely, that of making
newspaper fight for the votes of the
people. Mr.. Martin was not partic-
ularly interested in the welfare Of
the people and only saw fit to pub
lish these articles when he desired
their votes. l wished to make my
statement at time when that pur-
pose could rot be ascribed to
me The result Of the election has
probably rendered this statement
unnecessary, but some people still
expect it and hence 1 shall cover a
few of the leading points.
THE NEWKIRK CASE
l was elected the first time, in
November, 1908 l took my office
in January, 1909. Sometime be-
fore l went into the office Mr. Ed
Newkirk and another were arrested
on a complaint charging a felony
for grand larceny. l was employ
NT. 40.
tin has stated that the county was
my client at that time. That state
ment is not true, as. the dates dis
prove it. 1 took the position then,
and the District Court afterward
sustained it, that no felony had been
committed, and this case ought to
have been disposed of in the JUS
tice Court before l became County
Attorney However, Newkirk and
the other defendant were bound ov-
er to await trial in February, 1909.
AT that time l was County Attorney
and was unable to prosecute by rea-
son of having been concerned in the
defense prior to taking my office.
Mr.. Martin stated that l assisted in
the trial on the defense in February
1909. That statement is not true
and the record will support me in
this statement. 1t is true that
was unable to prosecute at that
time, but it was by reason of hav-
ing had a position on the other side
prior to taking my office, and this
is liable to occur in any case where
a lawyer has any private business
prior to going into office of County
Attorney. However, in order thai
the County might not suffer,
made an agreement with the Board
of County Commissioners that
would prosecute, free of charge, al
cases in the February term oi
Court after 1 go out of office, in
which the incoming County Attorne!
Is interested in the defense, and that
contract is now in force.
THE M'GREGoR TAX CASE
In the fall of 1908 Col. .McGregol
and H. w. Skinner entered into 6
written contract in my office con
corning the sale of a piece Of rea-
estate. DIR. Stout, the County AS
SCISSOR, placed this contract on the
tax rolls on March 1st, 1909 for as
asessment as personal property of Mr.
McGregor. Mr. McGregor refused
to list it for taxation. claiming thai
1t was not taxable, and it was placet
on the tax rolls. over his protest
after DR.. Stout and i had examined
the law concerning it. Mr.. Nc