The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-17

Thomas J. Study former city at
torney through misunderstanding or
misinterpretation of contract
binding him to the Palladium for his
advice and counsel in the water
works matter has accepted a con-
tract with the Richmond City Water
Works company and has become one
of the now already large army of le-
gal advisors of that company.
On December Sd, 1909, r. G. Leeds,
editor of the Palladium, foreseeing
the probable action of the Richmond
City Water Works in the present
fight with the city for new con-
tract, retained T. ]. Study and II. u.
Johnson as attorneys for the Palla-
ium to assist the city administration
in it's fight for an equitable contract
with the Richmond City Water Works
company. Mr.. Leeds through his rep
resentatives made contract with Mr..
Study which was supposed to be bind
ing on both parties in the water works
matter. 1t was supposed at that time
that the company would try to hire all
available legal talent and for that
reason the Palladium retained the at
torneys above mentioned to head off
any move by the company to corner
the entire local legal fraternity.
The city was not in a position at
that time to take the matter up SO
the Palladium made the contract with
the idea that if the city did not en-
ploy sufficient counsel to fight the
matter it would be in position to Of
fer the assistance of its two attorneys.
johnson Stands Pat.
The Palladium was of the opinion
that the retainer of $4,000 which had
been paid to the two attorneys would,
according to it's Interpretation of the
contract, bind them until released, but
such it seems, was not the case, ex-
cept with Mr.. Johnson, who sticks by
the agreement as understood by him
and the representative of the Palla-
dium.
Mr.. Study today when confronted
with the proposition that he had been
decidedly unfair in accepting con-
tract with the water works company,
after having been retained by the Pal
ladium stated that he did not under
stand that he should act as attorney
In all matters pertaining to the water
works matter but merely in regard to
the purchase of the plant" which he
claimed was the question up at that
time. Mr.. Study made the claim in
justification of his act that he had
no intention of violating any agree
ment which he had entered into but
that he was of the opinion that the
retainer fee contract did not cover the
matter now up. When shown the re-
ceipt he claimed never to have seen it
except to sign it and then he did not
read it over. He said he now had only
verbal contract with the Water
Works company and if he decided not
to act for the r. c. w. w. Co., he
could not represent either side.
Opinion Of Mr.. Study.
He said that the Palladium had con.
suited him about other matters and he
presumed the advice he gave at those
times covered the amount paid him,
Mr.. Study admitted that he had been
retained by the company only in Ger.
tain matters and that he had no idea
of being retained by the other side
when he agreed to serve the Water
Works company. In Justice to Mr.
johnson 1t must be stated that he
understood the contract as drawn:
that he was retained until released in
the water works matter. He said that
he could not speak for Mr.. Study bu,
the matter was clear to him as the
case he had been retained on and he
would carry out the agreement.
Mr. Dill last night confirmed the
statement of Mr.. Study that the com
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