The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-21
Richard l.. Thomas, Who Resigned
Today as Clerk of the Shawnee
County District Court.

That he might dodge the expensive
litigation in connection with the custer
suit recently filed against him, Clerk
Thomas last night announced his ia
tention to resign. After a consultation
with his attorneys this morning, for
NAL resignation was prepared and was
sent to Judge Dana at 1:SO this after
noon. This action will mean the imme-
dfate dismissal of the custer proceed
ings now pending in the supreme court
The controversy over fees due the
county from Thomas office will be de-
termined by the courts in civil action
to be filed in a few days by County At
torney Simon
In filing his resignation, with the
court, Thomas makes clear his inten-
ton not to withdraw as a candidate
for denomination. He contends that the
charges against his office are unjust
and that he has followed the estab-
Ished customs of the office in his
custer case would probably not be
reached by the supreme court until
sometime next fall, and it was believed
that the showing which the state
would be able to make on application
for temporary removal would perhaps
result in Thomas removal pending
final decision. Should Thomas win this
suit. it would be only after lengthy and
expensive litigation in which time he
could not participate in the earnings Of
his office. 1t was to avoid this situa-
ton that the resignation was today
sent to the court.
Thomas Issues Statement.
Following the filing OF the resigna-
ton, Thomas gave out the following
statement concerning the issues in the
case and the circumstances which
caused him to resign:
For almost a year the controversy
concerning the compensation of the
clerk of the district court of this coun-
ty and now involved in the action pend
ing in the supreme court and in actions
threatened, has made so much addi-
tional work for me that 1 haven't the
physical strength to continue perform
ing the duties of my office and at the
same time give the necessary attention
to the litigation referred to. In addi-
ton to my own situation L have been
caused a great deal of anxiety on ac-
count of the condition of my aged
mother who is keenly sensitive of the
injustice that has been done me.
4 want my friends to understand
that 1 do not admit any of the charges
that have been made against me. on
the contrary 1 assert that they are all
untrue and on account of my long resi-
dence in this county and my close as
sociation with so many of its citizens
in different relations requiring trust and |
L Ie0l III etShliAS l1leA~
criticism of my motives and conduct
be withheld.
Upon my election I took charge OF |
the office and have given it my per- |
sonal attention, endeavoring to per |
form the duties Of the Office and serve |
its patrons in the very best manner |
possible. l have made it a practice |
to endure any discomfort of my own |
either by working over-hours or BY |
coming to the office at any hour of the /
night if such service would in any /
way accommodate any one having bus /
mess in the Office. In addition to the |
work for which I have collected fees,
I have worked as hard and as diligent- /
ly in hundreds of cases where no fees
have been paid nor can be collected.
In charging fees I used the schedule
provided by law as interpreted by nv
predecessors and by persons upo1
whose judgments I relied, and the fact
that no attorney has ever sought to |
retax fees charged by me would ind
cate that there has been no miscon- |
duct in this matter. I have positive
ly made no arbitrary over-charg.s
whatever, and all of the moneys that