Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-12-29
NAVAJO COUNTY
ATTORNEY BACKS
UP GRAND JURY
Shocked BY Imputations in
Article in Evening Paper;
ReSents Claim That Put
ney and Magee Dictated.


expressed in a letter to Carl c.
Magee, editor OF the Albuquerque
Morning Journal, his surprise and
annoyance at the article carried in
an evening paper last Saturday
with reference to the part which
Robert E. Putney and Carl c. Ma
gee were claimed to have played
in the actions of the Navajo county
grand jury.
He not only denies that Mr.. Ma
gee and Mr.. Putney were in charge
of the grand jury but points out
that they were only once at the
court house in Holbrook.
The letter follows;
"Mr. Carl C. Magee, Editor OF the
Albuquerque Morning Journal,
Albuquerque, N. M.
Dear Mr.. Mageei I cannot pass
unnoticed certain things said In
a late issue of one Of your local
without some COM
ments.
You can imagine my annoy
ance at reading that yourself and
Mr.. Putney have been the moving
cause to action in the matters that
have received the consideration of
the grand jury of Navajo county.
And you will further realize how
1 resent the further implication
from the article printed in this
sheet that the twenty-one members
of the grand jury and the judge
of the superior court and the rest
of the actors here were simply a
of pliable puppets to come
and go and act as you and Mr..
Putney dictated.
1.-THE members of the grand Jury
would feel complimented no doubt
to learn that they were mere fig
ure-heads, at the beck and call of
some great power located in Albu-
querque.
IT resent the idea that the pa
per put out in its sensational and
article. These grand
jurors are as fine d body of men
as 1t has been my lot to meet in
many a day. Independent in mind,
broad in their views, charitable in
their attitude towards the faults
of others, yet the insinuation goes
out that they are a lot Of dupes and
rogues.
This Is the first thing that I
desire to take issue with your con-
upon. 1t has not been
my good fortune to meet finer
body of men in many day than
the members of the present grand
jury panel. They are representa-
tive men from all the walks of life,
men of force, wisdom and judg-
ment and they have conscientious
ly tried to do their duty, pleasant
or unpleasant.
And if you and Mr., Putney
were in charge of this grand jury
during its deliberations, you were
certainly very clever about the en-
tire matter, because l never once
saw either of you about the court
house except the day that Mr.. Put
ney testified before that body
when called upon by them and
by them to appear.
Some one has said later in my
presence that you were present the
first day, but I do not remember
seeing you.
another tnfng that sounds
rather amusing to me is that the
officers of the First National bank
take the attitude that they are
the benefactors of this part Of the
country, and have built up the
whole of Northern Arizona. Even
now they are relying upon their
role to get them out
Of this, their latest predicament.
"They pose as great public ben
efactors, but somehow / fail to
see the point. 1t is even being ar
gued here in Holbrook that we
do well to have a care, that II we
attack such powerful men they
will lay in waste the local banks
and break us all If we dare TO
cross them. Then let it come. If
we are to be in subsection to this
great invisible power for the
rest or our lives. If we have TO
pay such a price, let us have the
wreck, and perhaps out of the
ruin we can reconstruct our brok-
en- fortunes and gain a new and
more enduring strength. At least
we shall have demonstrated that
we were not afraid.
And / am most surprised when
hear them say that they are In
no way responsible for the failure
Of the Holbrook State bank, eth
er legally, morally or financially.
Again | am forced to take issue.
Even L. M. Reynolds, when con-
fronted on the 18th day of De-
cember, 1921, with the ruined de-
positors gave to the public the
facts that thoroughly established
the relation of these people to
the Holbrook State bank.
"If the First National bank can
make me believe that 1t was not
in any way aware OF the follow
ing conditions, l can possibly
agree that they were not to
blame:
81. There was more county
money, newly deposited, at the
time Of the failure. than there had
been for months.
"2. An immense sum, compar-
Ing the amount owned with the
capital stock of the bank, was
invested in two loans. The lack of
security for these loans made the
Holbrook State bank shaky.
"3. The notes acquired by the
Holbrook State bank. after being
sent by the said bank to the First
National and marked without
Recourse" We're afterward charged
back against the Holbrook State
bank.
"These and many other circum-
stances convince me where the
real guilt and blame rests. or at
least should rest.
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) "THOS. r. GREER.
County Attorney Navajo County"