Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-01
SCHRIvER IN A
DETAILED REPLY
Makes Answer to Campaign
Charges Regarding Busch
Estate at Sears.
lis VERIFIED BY CAMPBELL
Property Legitimately Awarded to
Insure Attorneys Fees Sub
ject to Mortgage.

The following communication was
given out today by Harry NJ. Schriyer
in vindication of his connection with
the Busch estate at Sears, the contro-
versy over which led to the assault
committed by Harry NJ McCaskrin on
W. c. Maucker Thursday night:
Rock Island, April 1.-Editor
The Argus: Assuming the public is
prepared in every campaign to hear
a lot of ridiculous campaign stor-
les, / have refrained from answer
ing any of them. But as the mayor
and some of his friends have seen
fit during the last few days to circu-
late a report that some years ago
| robbed some orphan children re-
siding at Sears of some property,
deem il advisable to make the fol-
lowing statement in answer TO this
Infamous and unfair charge.
The owner of the property in
question died during the summer of
1905, leaving last will and tesla
ment in which she bequeathed her
property to her husband, subject to
a mortgage. Shortly afterwards, the
husband was indicted on a serious
charge and engaged me to defend
him. He decided the property to me
to secure my attorneys fees, sub
ject to the mortgage and with the
further agreement that l pay off
his personal debts and stand the ex-
penses of his trial in the circuit
court. which | did. a bill was filed
to set aside the will and in the mean
and the property sold at public auc-
ton at the court house by the mas
ter in chancery to satisfy the mort
gage judgment. To protect myself,
had the property bid in at said
public sale for $63S.25. l paid the
personal debts of the owner and eX-
penses of getting evidence and pre-
pairing for trial, amounting to
$229.2O, making a total of $867.45
l had invested in the property.
REPAIRED THE PROPERTY.
The house was unfinished up
stairs, neither lathed, ,plastered nor
partitioned into rooms, implanted
and in very poor condition, nor was
there any cellar. l had the same
appraised by real estate man, who
me an equity in said premises of
$38255.
While under no legal liability to
do so at that time, l gave Hon.
Thomas Campbell, legal guardian
for the children. the sum of 5000
for their benefit, leaving me $1S2.55
equity in the property for my legal
services in defending the owner in
the circuit court on criminal
charge, and this is very modest
fee, considering the work in con-
nection with a case of this charac-
ter. | attended the preliminary
hearing, made several trips into the
northern part of the state, where the
defendant formerly lived and all
told devoted over two weeks time to
the case, including the trial So it
is very plain to anyone when the
facts are truthfully stated that no
one was taken advantage of nor was
my conduct dishonorable or unpro- /
fessional.
INVITES COMPARISON.
My professional career during the /
last II years I have practiced law
in this community as we'll as my
private lie is open TO the WOrl0. .
| have lived in this county all my
life and it is for the citizens of this
city to judge my reputation, charac-
ter, sobriety. decency and quaIifica-
lions compared with those of my .
abusive and unfair opponent /
In conclusion ! wish to say that /
l have made a clean canvass, while /
on the contrary, my opponent has /
maligned and villified me. Malicious
stories without number have been
about me that | have
promised positions to various per-
sons, that I am unfavorable to IN
ion labor, that | have dangerous al
liances. etc. etc, These and the
hundreds of other absurd stories I
brand as absolutely false and of
course are calculated to mislead the
public.
Yours for fairness,
HARRY NJ. SCHRIVER.
UPHELD BY MIR. CAMPBELL.