Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-06-12
Kalley,a Side of the Case.

Omaha, June so the Editor OF Inc
Bee: l notice in your paper an article cap
toned Justice Courts Blot Upon City" and
a statement made by Mr.. Mcclure.
As the Kelley Mercantile agency was
brought into this case. fee in justice to
ourselves In connection with this matter to
make reply. First it might be well to give
little history Of this case.
On the gath day of April. 1915. Mary
Ross purchased merchandise to the extent Of
$14.5o and paid 81 on account. as stnted,
leaving a balance of $3.50. The creditors
used their best efforts from tho date Of pur-
chase up to the 31st of January. 1915, COW
crng 4 period of about eight months, en-.
deavoring to collect the balance.
On the Sd day of January. 1915. this
claim was placed with us for collection. On
the 18th day Of January Mr.. and Mrs. Ross
were duly notified by letter Of the claim.
with request to make settlement Time from
the Sd to the 18th of January was spent in
locating the debtor. No response to this let
ter. and q second demand was made on the
10th Of January, with no response. On the
26th day of January further notice was
given these people. On the I'd Of February
fourth and on the 18th of February fifth
letter was written and stamped envelope
enclosed for a reply as to whether they did
or did not owe the bill. All Of these letters
had our return card on them and we feel
absolutely certain that each and every one
of them was delivered. as the Postofice de-
pertinent returned none of them to US.
Not being able to get any response from
letters and demands, on the LIST day Of
March, 1915, suit was instituted In the Jus
tice court of G. H. Kubat. Summons was
served in the case and these people notified
to make their appearance on the 10th Of
March. 1915. They paid no more heed to
this than they did to the previous letters,
and on the 10th Of March, 1918. Judgment
was entered by default for $3.50. On the
22d day Of March we sent them further no.
tice notifying them Of the Judgment and L
they did not make arrangements for settle
ment punishment proceedings would be in
stituted. No response was made to this and
on the 18th day Of May there was sarnish-
ment issued. After this garnishment had
been lodged with the employer, and the judg-
nent debtors money stopped. was the first
time they ever made an appearance at our
Office. which was on the third day Of June,
1916.
Now we wish to ask In the name Of rea-
son and in the name Of law and justice II
these people have not received absolutely
fair treatment. II they would have responded
to any OF our communications arrangements
could have been made to have settled this
account at whatever small payment per week
or per month these people could have af-
forded to pay.
Relative to the expense attached to the
collection In the form Of court costs, II this
bill had been $75 instead Of $3.50 the costs
would have been the same, and nothing
thought about II.
I'VE believe we are correctly informed when
we state that the costs would have he.n
more in the same case II the papers had
issued from the municipal court or the county
court.
Lastly. we wish to call attention to the
citizens Of this community that their good
money Is paying the Welfare board big sal
aries, and the community at large should be
benefited by their acts, and we wish to take
this particular case from another angle, and
cite another record to prove that these peo-
pie could have paid for clothing and necessi-
ties for their family If their funds had been
applied in the proper manner, and we do not
feel that the Welfare board is justified in
condemning anybody and protecting people
who, according to a ruling Of the juvenile
court OF this county on the Gath day of Feb
ruary. 1915, found that Camille Ross and
Mary Ross. his wife. were consumers of too
much liquor and not At custodians Of their
children. who were committed to the Deten-
ton home.
1t would seem that the Welfare board
should represent the real interests Of the
community and lay the blame Of some Of
the misery and sorrow where II belongs In
stead Of condemning innocent third parties,
who have merely done their duty in as gentle
way as could be under the circumstances.
A. R. KELLEY.