The Parker post., 1917-10-20
LOCAL JUSTICE
IN TROUBLE
HE FACES SERIOUS CHARGES OF
OF PURJURY AND IRREGULAR
ITY IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY
AS JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

As an aftermath of the Parker
bank cases, in which r. H. Fuller,
cashier Of the Commercial Bank. was
acquitted in the superior court of
Yuma county, Thursday of last week,
John +. Collins, justice of the peace
Of this precinct, faces serious charges
Of perjury and conspiracy.
The perjury charge is the result
of Collins denial, while under cross
examination In the Fuller case, that
he was present and participated in
meeting held In the basement of the
new hotel building, at which meeting
he promised to bind over to the SUI
perior court r. H. Fuller, o. M.
Spence and Frederick M. Hall. The
alleged meeting occurred some days
before the accused bank officials were
arrested. and it Is said that at this
meeting the bonds that he demanded
from each Of the bank officials was
set at the suggestion of one of the
men present. and the local justice of
named.
Two Of the men present at the
meeting have given full particulars
Of the proceedings. One Of them, B.
D. Film, has made affidavit regarding
the purposes and objects of the gath
ering, at which the men were tried,
bonds set several days before they
were even arrested.
1t has been known for some time
that the Parker justice of the peace
had entered into an agreement before
complaints wereS filed to railroad"
Fuller, Spence and Hail, but no one
believed that he would perjure him
self while under oath on the witness
stand. when questioned regarding
the matter. When asked about the
meeting in the hotel. basement by
Attorney Gust, the parker justice did
considerable sQutrming and tried to
evade direct answer. However, the
attorney pressed Collins for an an
swer. yes or no, and Collins answer
4d. mo"
Here Is the affidavit Of B. D. Film,
who was present at the basement
meeting. and upon which allegation
a complaint Is to be filed before the
county attorney charging Collins
with perjury. A recall petition is to
be started at once against the local
Justice of the peace, and in due
course special election will be
called for the election of a new
Justice of the peace for this precinct.
: Affidavit Of B. D. Film.
state Of Arizona, County of Yu-
MAS.
Bernard D. Film, being first duly
sworn. upon his OATH deposes and
says:
That he is resident of Parker,
Yuma county, state of Arizona, and
over the age of twenty-one years.
THAT on or about the eighteenth
day OF July, 1917, he was present at
meeting held in the then abandon
ed basement Of the new hotel build
Ing, situate at the corner of Califor-
MIA and Arizona avenues, In said
town of Parker. county and state
aforesaid. and that there were also
present at said meeting the following
! named persons: B. B. Brown, Walter
Nelson, Charles Detr1ck and John F.
Collins. the last named person being
at that time and now justice of the
peace of the Parker precinct.
That said meeting was called for
the purpose of discussing the bring
Ing of criminal actions against the
officers Of the Commercial Bank Of
Parker, to-wit: o. M, Spence. presi-
dent, r. H. Fuller, cashier, Frederick
NJ. Hall, director and attorney.
THAT at said meeting the said
Walter Nelson and Charles DERRICK
undertook and agreed to sign COM
plants, to be issued by said John F.
Collins. justice Of the peace, as afore-
said, against the said Spence, Fuller
and Hall.
''That at said meeting the said
John F. Collins, Justice Of the peace,
as aforesaid, requested suggestions as
to the amount of bonds to be fixed
upon his binding over the said
Spence. Fuller and Hall to the su-
perior court of Yuma county. and
that the said B. B. Brown suggested
that honda he fxad In the niIrn nR fon