The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-05
Mr., BRYAN PROTESTS
AGAINST SUMMONS
ssnss IN Sew York tn Purge Himself
Of Contempt Charge and rays
Respects 10 Unjust Procedure

New York, Jan. william j..
Bryan, ex-secretary OF state came
here today at his own expense to
purge himself of the charge that he
was in contempt of the supreme Court
of New York. but after the purging
process was over. relieved himself OF
views concerning the injustice or the
law of this State. which permits
nonresident OF the state, VINO Is not
even a party TO civil suit. to be an
moved and put to needless expense.
petros r. TatAntis,a Greek importer
of New York Ia suing the newspaper
Atlantis for 800, 600 damages because
of an article blaming him for stir
ring IN trouble between Mr.. Bryan
then Secretary OF state. and Agamem-
non Schiiemnnn. formerly Greek min
lister at Washington. by writing let
ter TO Mr.. Bryan accusing Minister
Schliemann OF saying things about
BRYAN. IT was alleged In the news
paper article that Tatanis said In his
letter that Minister Schiiemann ex-
pressed his contempt for Secretary
Bryan's knowledge of affairs in the
Balkans II was also said that Minis
ter Schiiemann had stated that he got
from 6SEEctAGy SN~ASN i'hcs 49,
tion concerning the fire control Of the
battlesi,ips Mississippi and Idaho. sold
by this government to Greece. which
should have been known only to the
Navy Department.
Served With Order.
When Mr. Bryan came here IN De-
cember to hid Henry Ford farewell
before he sailed for Europe he was
served with an order by Justice Gle
gerich directing him to testify before
trial in behalf of Tatanis Mr.. Bryan
went to Miami. Fla. to his winter
home. and was there on the following
Saturday when he was supposed to
testify here. Counsel for Tatanis got
an order directing Mr.. Bryan to show
cause why he should not be punished
for contempt of court for not testify
ing but the order could not be served
on him until he came here last Sat
urday 10 meet Mr. Ford on his return,
Mr. Bryan then assured counsel for
Tatanis that while he YVES compelled
to go to Washington SUNDAY night, he
would return here voluntarily today
and testify.
Mr.. Bryan was examined today at
the Holland House in the morning,
and ut the Manhattan Club In the af-
tsrnoon by Herbert Barry. counsel for
Tatanis. and was cross-examined by
A. C. Vandiver, counsel for the de-
PENDANT. Mr.. Bryan denied that he
gave any Navy Department secrets to
Minister achiiemann. and said that the
matter of the sale OF the battleships
wac not within his province. unless
certain details had been attended to
by sone of hts subordinates without
his knowledge.
81 never heard of any criticism con-
corning ME made by Minister Schiie-
mann said Mr.. Bryan, land I never
received. or heard OF. any letter pur-
porting TO come from Mr.. Tatanis
which caused hard feeling between
Minister Schiiemann and myself.
Voices Emphatic Protest.
This ended the examination of Mr..
Bryan. but when his testimony was
concluded he said he desired TO make
emphatic protest against being COM
PEELED to appear, because it was the
only way In which he could avoid con-
tempt proceedings.
AS a nonresident. desire TO regis
ter a protest against the New York
law, assuming that 1t has been obeyed
! In this case, which enables q party
to a suit to transfer to other persons
an expense that the party ought to
ray himself. In this case, l was served
with a subpoena on leaving the city
after a few days visit to New York.
II vas about p. VI. on Saturday.
TIE subpoena Required that / APP
pear at court week from that day,
which would have necessitated my re-
naming In New York for week, a
. would have required me to return
her. from wherever ! might have
been.
This being q civil suit between pri :
Vate individuals the law that per-
mits a litiEant TO make this require
nsnt Of q. nonresident is. I think, an
injustice 10 nonresidents upon whom
the burden 10 thrown"