The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-21
SULzER ONCE FACED
CHARGE Of PERJURY
so SAYS A NEW YORK At
ToRNEY AND FORMER
JUDGE.
WAS NEVER TRIED
OLD CASE RESURRECTED BY
PACkY M'CABE IN FIGHTING
PRIMARY BILL ADVOCATED
ny GOVERNOR.
i WAS NEVER TRIED

NEW YORK, June 20.---Governor
William Sulzer was. with Felix Nc
Closkey, of Brooklyn, presented by
a Jury for perjury and conspiracy at
the close of an unsuccessful law suit
in Vermont In 1882, said ex-Judge
George NJ. Curtis. now practicing law
at Beekman street, in a statement
to the Sun today. Judge Curtis
statement follows:
Il am very reluctant to tell you
even this. The jury which found in
favor of Mrs. Mary Maud Carr Wat
son. who had been sued for $4,000
for legal fees by Mr.. Sulzer, also pre-
sented through their foreman in writ
ing a petition to the United States
district attorney that Mr.. Sulzer and
Mr.. McCloskey be punished for per-
jury and conspiracy.
Original Paper Lost
II understand that the original
paper was put on file, but has been
lost or mislaid. but there is an attest
ed copy of the same now in existence
to my personal knowledge
Frank Plumley, now representa-
tive in congress. was then United
States district attorney.
At the same time Governor Sulzer.
then a young lawyer. had desk In
the office OF Judge Curtis Mr.. Cl tits
had been attorney for Mrs, Watson in
her action to break the will OF her
grandfather. John Anderson. New
York tobacco man, who died In 1881
leaving about S2.500,00o, Judge
Curtis succeeded in breaking the will
and then Mr.. Sulzer. who had helped
in some details of the case, sued Mrs,
Watson for $4,000 for his services.
Felix McC1oskey. of Brooklyn. was
the principal witness next to Mr.
Sulzer himself. McCloskey was the
son OF a former sergeant-at-arms OF
the house, 1t was said today. No one
could be found who had seen him with
In a. year. Judge Curtis said that
Joseph II. Choate In cross-examinine
McC1oskey one day called him 'the
modern Munchausen."
Expired by Limitation.
The presentment against Mr.. Sui
ger and McCloskey must have ex-
pired in 1892. The federal statute of
limitations sets three years In such
cases. Such a presentment does not
demand that the United States attor-
ney shall act. He may do as he likes.
AS for the attested copy of the
presentment. Judge Curtis. who has
served on the bench of the Marine
court, now the City court, declared
today:
II will rot make public this copy
of the presentment unless forced to
do so. Nothing but a lawful sub
poena will bring 1t out"
The matter had been pretty we'll
forgotten when Patrick f. McCabe,
Democratic leader OF Albany. in an
attack on Governor Sulzer on We'd
nesday said
s'The governor Called me "A little
boss Tweed in his remarks, but l as
sure the governor never was ac-
cused of perjury in the State of Yer
mont"
Sulxer VIII Answer.
McCabe did not explain what he
meant by this reference. and Gov
ernor Sulxer. when asked about IT.
handed ont a typewriter statement
which read:
For the present shall treat that
vile and villainous matter with the
contempt II deserves
Judge Curtis was appealed TO to-
day on the ground of the public
right to know the facts in regard
to McCabe's allusion with the above
results.
Mr.. Suffers action against Mrs.
Watson was filed In the United States
District court. and 1t went to trial be-
fore a jury and Judge Lacombe, at
Windsor. VT, in May. 1889.