The Yale expositor., 1916-06-29
AN ATTORNEY AND HIS LARGE
FEES IN INHERITANCE TAX
CASES UNDER FIRE.
MUST EXPLAIN TO JUDGE
The Militia Mobilization Is Rapid and
AS Compared With Conditions in
1893 Shows Real Work Has
Been Done.
fGurd M. Hayes.l

/
clined to take jurisdiction in the in
formation filed by six members of the
Ingham county bar concerning the
professional conduct of Attorney
James N. Thompson, of Lansing,
Judge Howard West of the Ingham
! circuit had received the document al
leging fraud, deceit and malpractice on
Thompson's part, and had issued an
order requiring Thompson to appear
in court July and show cause why
he should not be disbarred from the
practice Of law in Michigan.
Because Of the state offices he has
held and his Masonic connections
Thompson is known in practically ev-
cry city and village in the state. In
1912 he was grandmother of the Mich
igan Grand Lodge, F & A. NJ, and
at the same time was the grand high
priest of the Michigan Grand Chapter,
X. A. M.
For a number of years he was
member of the state board of educa-
ton and later served as a member of
the state board of tax commissioners.
Prominent in social and business az
fairs of the Capital City, he has been
universally respected and the charges
of his brother lawyers came like a
bolt from the blue.
Despite his claims to the executors
OF several non-residents OF the state
that it was the universal policy of the
state to collect Inheritance taxes on
the full market value of the stocks,
Thompson had in his possession let
| ter written by Attorney General Roger
I. Wykes November 201912, in which
he was informed TO the contrary.
This letter was not a part of the
original document filed with the SUI
preme court as it was not discovered
until later day. However, it will
be presented to the circuit court as
evidence against Thompson in the dis
barment proceedings which will be
heard next month.
Judge West, before whom the dis
barment proceedings will be argued,
was the jurist who gained fame few
years back by citing former governor
| Hazen 8. Pingree for contempt of
court He also presided during the
famous military scandal and was the
! Judge who imposed sentence upon for
mer State Treasurer Frank P. Ola.
zier.
While Il has been limited that a
grand jury may grow out OF the pres
ent proceedings, Attorney Cumins
| would not discuss this feature. He
has admitted, however that a request
for grand jury has been considered.
Thomas A Lawler, whose name ap-
pears in the information as having
drafted the bill amending the inheri-
lance tax law, admits that the meas
ure was prepared in the attorney gen.
! erals department under his direction.
Like Judge of Probate Henry NJ.
Gardner, Mr.. LAWYER declares that the
bill is an excellent measure. IF any
one has abused the law that is not the
fault of the law itself.
Mr.. Lawler was asked whether he
requested Judge Gardner to name
James II. Thompson as the Michigan
representative of the nonresident es-
tates.
To this question Mr.. Lawler replied
| that he did not remember having ask
ed Judge Gardner to apptin Mr..
Thompson.
81 welcome a full investigation of
every official action of mine" de-
clared Judge Henry NJ. Gardner. my
books are open and my record is
clear l court the fullest investiga-
ton and when they have finished
they will find Henry NJ Gardner to be
as clean as a hounds tooth"
Judge Gardner says he first ap-
pointed James Fl. Thompson as admin
istrator of an estate at the suggestion
OF Thomas A. LAWYER According to
Judge Gardner, Mr.. Lawler explained
that Mr.. Thompson was a new lawyer
in Lansing well versed in the admins
tration of tax laws and that It would
be an excellent thing to throw little
business his way.
Judge Gardner said he had no
knowledge of any big fees. but en-
| phsticafly asserted that a fee of 81, 700
for handling an inheritance tax matter
in the probate court, was in his opin-
ion, greatly in excess of what such a
job was worth.
Mr.. Thompson makes this state
ment: 1.-THE first information that
had of any complaints or criticisms
about my manner of handling the in
heritance taxes upon stocks or bonds
owned by nonresidents in corpora
tons which had property in Michigan,
came to me through indirect sources.
He estate or representative OF an es-
tate for whom | have performed ser
vices and from whom ! have collect
ed fees, has ever made any complaint
to me without the same being adjust
ed satisfactorily TO all parties inter
ested.
Under the amendment to the tax