New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-03
A. VIOLET FIGHTS BACK
Cotton Man Pleads Justification
in Washington Suit.
AMPLIFIES STATEMENTS
Saws w. r. Jerome Advised Him
to Have Former Partner
Arrested for Attempt
ed Extortion.

1lGdOlTk anu oiiH'AsS
alleged statements on which he has been
sued by William Lanier Washington his
former partner In the stock and cotton
brokerage business. for $4,000 damages
for alleged Islander, Atwood Violet, senior
member of the firm Of Atwood Violet q
Co, fled his answer TO the suit In the
Supreme Court yesterday.
Mr.. Violet says that he consulted VIII
lam Travers Jerome in regard to the al
legged conduct OF Washington In taking
records from his office at night and holding
them for the payment OF money, ana tha'
the lawyer advised him that 1t was an at
tempt at extortion, and that Mr.. violet
should cause the arrest of Washington
He declares that Washington held these
records from his office to compel the pay
ment Of $500, on the failure OF which ne
threatened to place before the Cotton Elk
change certain transactions OF the nrm
OF Atwood Violet & Co. on the PROOF OF
which the firm was subject to the action
of the exchange. Mr.. Violet says that
he paid the demand made by Washington
not because it had any moral or business
justification. but because at his advanced
axe ne ola not WdlIt W nave ehhS
with his former partner
Mr. Washington. who lives at No. l2J
West 57th street, and is a descendant OF
the family which gave the country Jus
first President. brought suit on twelve
separate allegations. asking s2o.Vo DAM
ages on each. One of these allegations
was that Mr. Violet had declared In
the presence Of a witness: He Is thier'
and has stolen money from Atwood Vio-
lett & Co." Another statement attributed
10 the defendant was: Mr.. Washington
was absolutely dishonest and appropriated
to himself funds to which he was In no
way entitled, and in doing so robbed me
The first serious trouble between the
partners began when, as Violet alleges
Washington made out a check In the
name Of the firm. and to the firm and IN
dorsed by himself. for $500 which the
books showed at the time was his interest
in the business. but which was reduced
10 slS2 by an Indebtedness Of 1885, TO the
firm on his personal account
About a month later, Violet says. wash
ington called at the office of Brainero
Avery a lawyer, and told him of having
"a method of bringing Mr.. Violet to
terms" Washington told Avery, accord
ing to the allegations. that he had pass
kew by means Of which he entered the
Office Of Atwood Violet & Co. at night
and had made a careful examination OIL
certain papers in the defendants desk ana
Of the files. letter books and accounts.
Washington represented that he knew
of transactions by the firm which could
be questioned by the Cotton Exchange as
In violation Of the exchange rules.
The statement is also attributed to Mr..
Washington that he had searched the
private papers of Mr.. Violet, thinking
he might find some papers that involved
the senior partner with some woman. he
failed to find any such papers. However
II is alleged. he took from the files on
these night visits correspondence and
other papers. Of which In some instances
ne had photographs made.
Mr. Violet goes on to say that Mr.. WASH
ington made the statement that unless
he settled matters In dispute with him
at once he would furnish TO the Cotton
Exchange the alleged proof of the firm 5
violation of the rules of the exchange;
also, IL the exchange failed to act. Wash
ington was prepared to send his supposed
documentary proofs through the mails to
the members, and publish them in news
papers
Mr.. Washington is alleged to have said:
II have claws to fight, and / will blow
the old man sky high"
Mr.. Violet states on information and
belief that Mr.. Washington said he would
compromise for $500, and later reduced
the figure to $500. Mr.. Violet says he
consulted Mr. Jerome. who told him TO
pay the money demanded by Mr.. Wash
ington in marked bills. and then cause
his arrest for attempted extortion.
A date was fixed for the meeting TO
carry out this plan. 1t was held In the
ONCE Of Mr.. Avery, who. however. was
not acting for Mr.. Washington. At a
certain point In the conference. according
to Mr.. Violet, he said: Mr. Jerome Is
outside, and he will come in ard take
charge Of the negotiations from this
point"
Thereupon, says Mr.. Violet, the plain
tiff and his attorney, who was also pres
ent, jumped to their feet and one OF them
exclaimed: Don't let him In; we have
been caught In trap"
MIR. Violet denies that he called Mr.,
Washington a criminal. but says he sim
ply stated the facts Of the case as he
knew them upon information and belief,
and that his statements In the matter re-
lated only TO the relations Of Mr. WASH