New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-24
CURTIS CALLS SUFFERS
REFEREE OFFER ABSURD
To Deposit $4,000 Would Be
Conceding Governor Had
Some Claim, He Says.

"This latest statement of Governor
Suzer is absurd where 1t isn't rioicu-
lous." was the comment made by eH-
Judge George NJ. Curtis yesterday AFTER
noon when he read the statement WHICH
Governor Sulzer had made at Albany al
hour or so before.
"He asks me to deposit $1,000 con-
tlnued Mr.. Curtis. II have stated thaI /
would throw down the doors to Mr.. SUI
ger, waving the statute of limitations
if he would come into court with his
claim That of itself is the greatest OF
concessions ] will not deposit the
amount he claims. because I shall prove
he is not entitled to cent and IT old
deposit the amount OF his alleged claim
would be conceding that he has some
claim, when, in point of fact, ne mas
none"
Judge Curtis professed to be amused by
the Governors charge that he was a
criminal lawyer and an associate or cr1mi-
nails" To this he replied
well, in the first place, I have the
ability or learning to be criminal law
yer. John Graham says that criminal
law is a great science. My practice has
been largely civil-mostly will controver-
sies-and 7 have practised In twelve dif-
ferent states AS 10 my associates, they
can take care of themselves. I'm proud
of them.
Now, I notice that he carefully avoids
disputing any Of the statements in the
afidavlts published in The Tribune this
I uhn
Cleveland and my supposed hostility TO
him. 7 was once warm admlrer OF
| Grover Cleveland. but he did not treat a
J friend Of mine as I thought he deserved
and we came to a parting Of the ways.
| But ] never made any vile attacks on
him. as Mr.. Sulzer declares"
| At this point Mr.. Curtis WAS asked A
question which brought forth the follow
| ing:
THE gentlemen Of the press here viii
bear me out when | say that | was
dragged into this controversy and that
| 7 did not give out the petition signed by
] tho foreman OF the trial jury at Wind
sor and three lawyers OF the Andersons
| calling upon United States Attorney
Plumley to take action against William
Sulzer until a specific denial came forth
that such a petition was not I'm exist
ence This proves / did not seek noto-
rlety. as Mr.. Sulzer charges. And this
petition and the letter that accompanied
IT, which Mr. Suzer stigmatlzed as
forgeries. have been proved genuine by
one OF his own witnesses-Mr Plumley
himself.
Now as 10 the charge published in
one of the evening papers that some
body tried TO sell these documents that
were in my possession 10 Governor Sui
zer for $4,000: So far as I am con-
cerned. that is not true. and 7 do not
believe that any one else tried to sell
them. why doesn't sulzer give names
and dates? 7 have Now let him"
Asked II he had any other documents,
Mr.. Curtis said:
II have. but what is the use of making
them public now? why shoot a cannon
at a lark? II Governor Sulzer says any
thing that will demand my giving out
some fresh documents I will do so. But
his talk so far has not warranted any
such action. His statements are cobweb
creations OF his fertile Imagination. And
suppose that 7 must again formally
deny knowing Charles r. Murphy, the
Tammany leader or Patrick r. McCabe.
of Albany. l never saw either OF them
in my life'
Mr.. Curtis said he hoped only that Gov
ernor Sulzer would take advantage OF his
offer to thrash out in open court the
claim made by the Governor that Judge
Curtis owed him $4,000 for services rem
dcrcd I'm the Watson Anderson viii case.