Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-09-25

citizen can render the community
real service by discussing questions of
general interest. The Republican is
willing to open it's columns for con-
tributions on any subject, but under
this head all articles must be signed,
and will be published only where the
name of the author is signed that the
public may know who is responsible.
C. A. Clifford of Weippe contri-
butes the following:
Does the judicial mantle, which a
mistake conferred upon the editor of
the Orofino Tribune, conceal very
dirty suit of political underwear? If
circumstantial evidence is deserving
of consideration, believe it does.
On or about August A, 1914, ap-
peared in the probate court of Clear
water county as defendant in suit
entitled, John Mckinney vs.. G. A.
Clifford, Hearing in the case was
had, but no record of evidence offered
was made.
At the conclusion of the hearing it
was agreed that briefs should be sub
! mitted by counsel, very unusual
course in suits of this character, and
the proposition to do so believe, to
the best of my memory, originated
with my counsel, one Edward Hofsted.
Returning to my home l awaited de-
/ 81 ~ ha v,nrIsro until An
gust 20, when l went to Spokane and
entered hospital where remained
until September 2 when l returned to
my home where l learned no notiflca-
tion Of a decision had yet been re-
ceived.
However l did learn something in
regard to the case, as letter awaited
me bearing date Of August 30, 1914,
and written by prominent resident
Of Orofino, containing the information
that decision had been rendered and
was being held up until after the pri-
mary election.
Immediately wrote Mr.. Hofstede
informing him in regard to the letter
had received, and stating that be-
lieved the communication to be q
hoax, calling his attention, however,
to the fact that the unaccountable de-
lay of the court in deciding the case
| lent shadow of truth to the charge
contained in the letter.
At about noon on Sept. 8, re-
ceived letter dated Sept. 7th from
Mr.. Hofstede notifying me that de-
cision had been rendered on August
20. He further stated:
ION that day or the day following
I wrote you letter SO advising you. !"
He does not claim he mailed the
letter, which he does claim he wrote.
Again l quote:
"And if the notice did not reach
you the fault either lies with the
postal department or with me-
The closing paragraph of the letter
is as follows: IF you have any in
tention of appealing this case call at
my office after o'clock in the after
noon on the day of the receipt of this
letter, Sept. 8, 1914, as that is the
last day to appeal" There We have
it, Hinnisey. Now what do you make
of it?
Having carefully read this letter
and reconsidered the first letter had
relating to the subject, l began to
suspect there was really native of
Congo in the wood pile. Whether
would be able to capture him was
quite another proposition.
On Sept. l went to Orofno and
direct to Mr.. Hofstede's Office, where
he assured me was laboring under a
misapprehension if thought politics
was in any way connected with the
delay in rendering decision by the
probate judge. He did not, however,
offer any reason, valid or otherwise,
as to what had occasioned the delay,
beyond the brief statement that it had
taken him seven days to complete his
brief and had taken counsel fol
plaintiff six days to construct his.
But since it is reasonable to suppose
both gentlemen were enduring intel
lectual throes at the same time the
brief business at best only account.
for seven of the twenty-five days clap
sing between the date of hearing anC
that of the decision.
asked to see copy of the Ions
delayed instrument and was handed {
blank form which had been filled Out
showing the amount of judgment ane
cost, which can be copied by any
, bright school boy of the 9Th grade II
less than five minutes, yet it had TAX
, en- man holding responsible offic,
, twenty-five days to fill this blank
without any recorded evidence to b.
= examined.
. The common law holds (if not com
mon sense does), that there is no vol
p