The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-08-31
Integrity and the American
Bar Association Has
Been Asked
To Expel Him from that
Body--Watts and Wife
Done up
by Choatc In big Coal Deal and
the Client Sold out by the Attor-
ney Is the Claim of Plaintiff.
BY limited Press Wire.


Chattanooga, Tenn, Aug. 81
Charges that Joseph II. Choate, of
New York, has been guilty Of viola
tions of professional integrity and Of
violating the constitution of the
American Bar association and a pc
tition that he be expelled have been
filed by James r. watts. of New
York, through Attorney George w.
Chamlee, of this city.
The charges that Choate violated
the condolences of his clients, Watts
and wife, that he violated the canons
of ethics of the bar association; has
been guilty OF divers and many Of
fenses in violation Of good morals and
fair dealing and has brought dis
honor and disgrace upon the Ameri-
can Bar association.
Six different charges are contained
in the allegations.
The first charge has to do with Ger
tain ltigatlons entrusted to Choate
and his associates In the firm of
Evarts, Choate and Beaman in New
York, and in an associate partner
ship with Treadwell Cleveland, slso
of New York City. It is alleged that
petitioner Watts had large and valu
able coal business in the year 1884,
and made a contract with two men by
the name of Weston. AS a part OF
the trade 1t is alleged that the Wes-
tons guaranteed to Watts certain
prices for coal, that the contract was
worth 100000 to Watts and was run
until 1901; the business was with the
Primrose colliery,. OF Pennsylvania.
In 1885 the firm of Weston brothers
and Watts was dissolved and James
r. Watts became sole owner of tho
business in New York under the
guaranty from the Weston brothers
for fulfillment of contract by the
Primrose colliery upto the year of
| 1901. / is alleged that soon after the
dissolution of the firm of Weston
brothers and Watts. the Primrose
colliery claimed to be in financial
straits wanted to borrow money from
Watts without security and when he
declined the money 1t Is claimed the
colliery preached tho contract.
In 1885, Watts engaged the firm u.
Evarts, Choate and Beaman to bring
suit against Walter Weston and AL
fred Weston for $35O,0O0 damages.
This suit was filed.
The petitioner alleged that not long
afterward he was In the office of
Mr.. Choate and overheard by accident
a conversation between Mr. Choate
and an attorney in which this at
torney representing Weston brothers,
| offered to Treadwell Cleveland,
Choate's trial attorney and the man
to whom this particular case had
been delegated, the sum of $4,000 to
compromise the case. Watts now
says in his petition to the Bar asso-
citation that he believes his law suit
| was sold out or thrown away. Only
nominal damages were granted, the
sum in fact being six sents.
The second charge relates to an all
| legged wrongful appropriation OF
money collected by the firm of Everts
Choate and Beaman for Mrs. James
r. Watts, the amount said to be $3.50.
| The third charge states that Choate's
law firm in 1901 had turned over to
| them notes for collection amounting
| to $4,000 signed or lndorsed by solvent
| parties and that Choate's firm would
| not return the notes nor would make
| settlement on the basis of any col
lection.