The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-08-07
DETAILS ABOUT THE
FAMOUS SAYRE CASE
4iERIFF AND PROSECUTOR TELL
4 THEIR SIDE
Both Say They Repeatedly Offered to
Cause the Arrest of Sayre, but Dubbs
Refused to Make Complaint.


and in order to get both sides of the
story before the people of Genesee
county, The Messenger has taken
pains to get the facts connected with
the famous Sayre case at Flushing, as
they are represented by the sheriff, the
prosecutor and his assistant. This is
done because the prosecutors and sher-
iff's offices have been subjected to con-
siderable criticism in the matter and.
we believe, have eminent right to be
heard.
In the first place brief restatement
of the facts in the case may be enlight-
ening, which are as follows: On the
seventh of July last. Ira T. Sayre, a
prominent lawyer and politician, of
Flushing, became involved in quarrel
with ]. H. Dubbs, a tenant of one of
his store buildings. There had been i'll
feeling between the men for some time
and on the occasion in question, Sayre
had served notice of ejecthent on his
tenant. The quarrel had waxed warm,
Dubbs had thrown a milk bottle at
Sayre, the two men had clenched and
were mixing it nightly when Mrs.
Dubbs interfered and separated them.
After this Sayre returned to his Office
and soon reappeared at Dubbs' store
with revolver in his hand. On his en-
try Dubbs' picked up one of the wire
frame chairs with which his restaurant
is equipped and, with strong language.
threatened Sayre with it, and Sayre, in
turn, fired his revolver. Dubbs says he
thinks Sayre fired at him, and Sayre
says he did not intend to hit Dubbs but
merely meant to intimidate him and to
recover his hat which he had lost in the
earlier affray
Regardless of the conflicting stories
of the two men, the fact remains that
during the progress of quarrel, and in
a public place of business, one man
fired revolver, with what intent re-
mains to be determined, but it is ad-
mitted that he fired the revolver and a
decent regard for law and order has
seemed to indicate that he should be
brought to some accounting for his act.
He has not been brought to any ac-
counting and an effort has been made
to lay the blame for the situation at the
door of the prosecuting attorney. This
effort, we have much reason to believe,
has proceeded from political enemies of
the prosecutor, who were really opposed
to him before this occurrence took
place, and who have merely seized upon
it as pretext to arouse public preju-
dice and to secure his retirement from
office, of which they had been desirous
all along.
To return to discussion of the facts,
let us state that on the evening of the
day when the trouble occurred, the
sheriff learned Of it through friend
who had heard something of the story.
He Immediately called up Flushing on
the telephone and made inquiry about
the matter and was informed that there
had been a little trouble but that it had
been smoothed out and his presence was
not required. With commehdable per-
ception, the sheriff refused to acquiesce
in this solution of the matter and i'm
mediately got into his automobile and
went to Flushing that same night. He
went at once to the Dubbs store and
the first greeting he received was from
Mrs. Dubbs who inquired "Who sent
for you?" He replied that nobody had
sent for him, but that he had heard
something of the trouble and had con-
sidered it his duty to come over and
find out about it. Then he went over
the facts with Mr.. Dubbs and at the
conclusion of the latter's story told him
that he considered he had good sase
for felonious assault against Sayre and
that if he would swear to complaint
he would see that Sayre was arrested
at once. Dubbs then conferred with
his wife and finally told the sheriff,
} lyNo, my wife don't want me to-"
The day following the melee Mr..
Dubbs called up the prosecutors Office
and requested that someone be sent
over to investigate the case. Let us
say right here that Mr., Bishop was
away on his vacation at this time and
his assistant, Mr.. Blackney, was busily
engaged in looking after all of the du-
ties Of the office that had formerly been
divided between the two men. Mr..
Blackney found it impossible to go to
Flushing that day, but on the succeed
ing day, in company with the sheriff, he
went over. He listened to the story Of
the affair, as the sheriff had previously
done. told Dubbs that be was entitled