CO129-380 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [9-10] — Page 80

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1 was again reinstated.

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I should like in conclusion to state, and I would most

respectfully hag sa bring te your notios and to that of the

Sacretary of State, that while Tatemfe action was pending in

the Qourt, and before I had appeared before the Exacntive

Gounell, Tatam offered through his Solleitor, Mr Gardiner to

settle the action for the sum of 3000, including all costs,

and further that he would appear before the Executive douncil

and withdraw the charges ne had made against me, I refused to

entertain the idea. I was confident in my integrity and honour,

I pergetved that it was the effort of an unpr ncipled man to

obtain Blackmail from a Government servant ( as on a former

occasion he had threatened to report me to the Government with

reference to the Butchery business unless I paid him 2500.)

The cause of action having become poblic property, had done

me much harm, and rather than submit to such extortion, I

preferred to thrash the matter out publicly. He later on throught his Solicitor, Mr Geräiner, on the 26th of May, 1910,

offered to withdraw the action on each party paying their

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own costs, I again refused through my Solicitors, Wilkinson

and Grist, unless he, Tatah, gave a full apology and withdrew

the charges of freud that he had made against me, Although

this wad a great temptation to one in my present position as

a Goverment servent particurly bearing in mind that I had only recently been suspended from my duties and narrowly

escaped dismissal from the Public Service. I preferred to go to trial and establish my good name, with the result that I won my motion, but could extract no costs out of my bitter

opponent.

Copies of this dorrespondence I herewith enclose. Under the oireuketanoss cherefore I trust that tha Goverment will see that I have suffered, apart from the mental worry and 111 hesitu, muon pecuniary loss, and I trwek that it w$11`appregiate the fact that I took the best

course