The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1921-07-07
MIR. PRATT TO
SUE LEADERS
OF THE RECALL
Says He will Bring Libel Suit
Against Four Men Who
Signed Document
CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED
County Commissioner Declares His
Accusers Must Prove Charges
Before a Jury

"Am / going to resign? / am not.
But shall Immediately bring charges
of criminal libel against and sue for
recovery Of damages from all Of
the signers of the recall charges"
said County Commissioner r. E. Pratt
when he was asked what answer he
had to make to the allegations which
Were filed with the county auditor
last Saturday.
"The charges filed against me are
nothing more nor less than political
propaganda manufactured for the pur-
poses Of deceiving the public and you
may say for me that before my ac-
cusers carry the charges to the peo-
pie for their verdict they are going
to prove them in a court Of justice be-
fore a jury" continued Mr.. Pratt. eff
am guilty Of any offense against
society or against the taxpayers Of
this county want to know it but in
sist that my case be tried in a court
upon its merits and where real evi-
dence in the case may be segregated
from political propaganda. / want
to know too whether the laws of this
ficial any protection against political
WIN SSCh w uCldllS
character, rob him of his reputation
for common honesty, drag his name in
the mire, and destroy the public con-
fidence in him and his works.
"Fight! To be sure ] am going to
fight! To the court of last appeal and
with my last dollar! It's time for a
showdown and we are going to have
it."
The charges as filed Saturday are
signed by E. w. r. Taylor, Prosser;
II. z. Robinson, White Bluffs; c. z.
Briggs, Hanford, and A. E. Whan,
Benton City. T. j. Stockdale, who
was one of the instigators of the re-
call movement signed the document
only as a notary public in acknowl-
edging the signatures of the other
four men.
In brief the charges against Com
missioner Pratt are: First. That in
January, 1921, he conspired and
agreed with Commissioner French
that H. L. Small should be hired to
work the roads near Whitstran and to
use team belonging to French; that
Small was paid $27.50 for his work
and French got some Of the money.
Second. That some time later
Tony Smlth and FRANK Jones were
similarly employed to haul gravel
near Whitstran with French's teams
and that they We're paid at different
times a total of $202.50 some part
Of which French received. @h
Third. That this spring Pratt
and French expended $1,000 on the
road between Kennewick and Finley,
the work being done by force account
instead of by contract.
Fourth. That Pratt bought sec
ond-hand Cleveland Tractor for $1,000
which cost new $1,000 and that the
tractor has been of no use to the
county; also that Pratt permitted
French to buy two trucks for $11,-
500 when the regular retail price Of
each was $5050.40.
Fifth. That in September, 1920,
Pratt voted to allow claim Of $1S7,
to pay the expenses Of Commissioners
French and Bash to the annual con-
vention of county commissioners of
the state
Sixth. That Pratt voted to issue
warrants against the general road and
bridge fund in the sum of S4500.00 in
excess Of 80 per cent Of the levy for
the year. .-4