Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-01-08
AMOUNT OF FEES
PAID LAWYER IS
UNDER INQUIRY
Former Police Judge Hahn's
Name Figures in Pro-
oeedings.
PROFESSION TO TAKE
UP MATTER AT ONCE
Case Bears on Alleged $25, 600
Payment-Ex-Negro Prize
Fighter a Party.

According to information obtained
this morning the Essex County Law
yers' Club is to be called upon TO
determine as to the amount OF fees
a lawyer may charge a client on the
basis of services rendered, whether or
not the work performed in specified
case was commensurate with the
sum charged as fees and other points
bearing upon the rights of a lawyer.
The case may be carried further,
as allegations made are likely to call
for a thorough sitting of the matter
in the interests Of all concerned.
Nothing of criminal nature is being
discussed in connection with the pro-
posed proceedings and 1t Is said cam
not be until every fact has been
brought to light.
Halsey M. Barrett, as special mas
ter in chancery, has been furnished
with directions to investigate trans
action In which former Police Judge
Simon Hahn figures. Vice-Chancellor
James e. Howell, to whose attention
the matter was called by Alderman
+ Theodore d. Gottlieb, local lawyer,
designated Mr.. Barrett to make an
Investigation.
1t is said that Mr.. Barrett will re-
port his findings to the Lawyers
& Club, which will judge from the
facts submitted what further action
should be taken.
The payment of $4,000 by Charles
a M Kase, a wealthy Newarker, to Mr..
Hahn, representing Charles Peaker
negro, in settlement OF an affair alleg-
4 ing serious indiscretions, is part of the
Btory
~ Peaker, it is said declares he re-
ceived but a small portion Of this
amoney.
Mr.. Hahn admits that he retained
s10,0 900 of this amount. and paid to the
tsregory detective agency. which was
engaged on the case in Feaker ba-
half, a liberal sum.
Peaker. in December, 1913, called
upon Hahn and told of suspicious
s conduct and asked that separation
Proceedings be started. The Gregory
d Detective Agency here came into the
case,
Peaker took the evidence to Judge
Hahn. and, after an investigation,
Judge Hahn decided to go ahead with
the case. There were several con-
ferences between Kase and Judge
Hahn. AS result of them, it is said,
Kase gave checks, one for $4,000 and
one for $4,000.
JUST who the checks were made
payable to is not known, but they
were oashed at the Fidelity Trust
Company at a time when both Judge
Hahn and Kase were present, some
time in December, 1913.
OF the $4,000 check $1,000 went to
Peaker and $4,5O0, it is said, went to
the Gregory Detective Agency.
Judge Hahn said today that OF the
$4,000 check he retained $4,000. Il
took this only as fee. That was my
only interest in the matter at that
time Peaker said he was satisfied
TO get $4,000; that was all he wanted"
Mr. Hahn declared.
Last Tuesday Peaker came into
my office and demanded some more
money!" he continued. I gave him
81 800 which | had retained expecting
that some day Peaker would come
back and want more money. As far
as disbarment proceedings are con-
cerned, If such are in contemplation,
have nothing to fear. My actions
were simply those of P lawyer
toward his client Peaker@got what
money he asked for
Mr.. Kass was seen in his Office, l72
Broad street, today by reporter OF
the Evening Star.
II know nothing about the case"
he said. "You won't get anything
from me.
Everybody has got something.
Even Gregory, the detective, has got
his now. This colored man, Picker or
Peaker. whom I never saw, Is re-
sponsible for the trouble. ] don't
know what the trouble is all about.
Somebody says 1t is blackmail. That's
what 1t is, blackmail pure and sim
pie.
'oThis fellow Picker or Peaker has
been going around and making
trouble. I'm going out now to get
a lawyer" concluded Kase. II haven't
got one now, but I suppose I'd better
get one"
Peaker is a colored boxer, said to
possess considerable ability A few
years ago he appeared in frequent
glove contests In this city, New York,
Philadelphia and other places and
won many OF his battles. He has not
figured In ring matters of late, 1t is
CONTINUED on Page e, Column ~
-----------------