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FELT POWER OF COURTJAMES GAH* HAD TIME TO REFLECT BEHIM) THE BARS., + --------He mi First Refused to Pay an Attorney Fee—In the Probate Coart—Other iusea. #-James Gahn had an experience yesterday that he will not soon forget and It will be profitable to others who may question the power of courts- He was sentenced tothree days’ imprisonment by Judge Leathers for contempt of court, but was released last night after his friends had Interceded for him and assured the court that Gahn was ignorant of the seriousness of offending the dignity of the court.Recently Gahn'a wife Instituted proceedings Tor divorce. She employed E. St George Rogers, an attorney, and paid him IS as a retainer. It was the agreement that $5 more was to be paid In a few days and a request foi JiO fees was to be made in an affidavit for allowance. A few days after the suit was filed Mrs. Gahn notifiedRogers that a conciliation had been effected and requested that the case be dismissed. Rogers refused unless the remaining 5 was paid. The payment was refused and Rogers complained to Judge Leathers. The judge then ordered Gahn to pay the attorney $10. When the writ was served Gahn told the deputy sheriff that he did not intend to pay the amount and said there was no court powerful enough tocompel him to pay it. He made a similar statement to Rogers and then Rogers had him cited to appear before the court for contempt. He was ordered to appear Monday but failed, through ignorance. It is said, and yesterday a deputy sheriff was sent after him.Judge Leathers told Gahn when ho was on the witness stand that since he had questioned the power of the court to enforce Its orders or separate him from hi*money, he would gratify his curiosity andsend him to Jail. Gahn tried to compromise by paving Rogers $5 and finally oft- red to pay $10 to get out of trouble, but his offercame too late and he was led to prison. His friends besieged the Juoge yesterday and told him that Gahn had disobeyed the order of the court tnrough Ignorance and that he had learned a lesson that would be of profit to him. The judge finally yielded and allowed him to be released late In the afternoon.
Newspaper Details
The Indianapolis Journal
Indianapolis, Indiana, US
Wed, Jul 17, 1901
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Monroe C.
IN, USA 26 Sep 2022
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