The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-23
TOM POTTER ANGRY
Objects to Being Called a
B~1ackmai1er by Vice
Chancellor Pitney.
REFRIGERATION DEMANDED
Incident Arising Out of the Acts
of the State Reformatory Com
observation-disclosures in
the Outcome.

Yesterday morning after the argument
in the injunction case of Thomas Potter
against the Commissioners of the State
Reformatory, heard before Vice Chan
cellor Pitney in Chancery Chambers, His
Honor dismissed the rule to show cause
and in doing so criticized Mr.. Potter's
action as "a palpable trick to levy
blackmail and to obstruct the work of
the commission"
Ex-Judge William p. Douglass, counsel
to Mr.. Potter, reported these words to
his client and it is rumored about town
this morning that Mr.. Potter has written
a firm but dignifed letter to Vice Cham
cellor Pitney asking, if His Honor be
correctly reported, that a retraction be
made as publicly as the words COM
planned of were uttered.
Mr.. Potter was in his office. Exchange
place, this morning when a News
representative called to ask if the rumor
was true.
Let us suppose" said Mr.. Potter,
that the rumor is true, don't you think
it would be obviously improper of me to
say anything about it. I VIII neither
deny nor affirm the accuracy of the
statement"
Notwithstanding Mr.. Potter's refusal
to say anything about it it is well
and the lawyers in this city are much
interested in the outcome.
RENTED STATE LAND.
The case which has given rise to the
pretty quarrel is the outcome of the act
of Messrs. William A. IRE of Hoboken,
Thomas M. Gopsill of Jersey City
Daxy n @ g1Fa+4 Tlot-sa1x Ea ,ra1lx noxtG
Chambers and J. j. Daily, commissioner
under the State Reformatory act passed
during the last session of the Legisla-
ture to build a new State prison. They
began work a month ago on the Edgar
Farm at Railway. Mr.. Potter leased
this farm on April, 1894. which is State
property, from Secretary of State KEEL
sey at an annual rent of $3.50. He PAID
the rent of the first year. In March last
the commission was appointed to build
the new r~efornatory on the very ground
leased by Mr.. Potter. Three months later
the engineer appointed by the commits.
sion named surveyed that portion of the
farm needed by the State FOR the build
ing and 1aborers began to excavate fol
the foundations. Mr.. Potter at once
procured a temporary restraining ;s ran ng nor orde 81
the land virtually by reason of his yearly
lease and he has certain rights which
the commission must respect.
His counsel, Judge Douglass. commended
yesterday that his client would gladly
give permission to dig UP the meadow II
they had first been polite enough to ask
but to come on the lane and proceed tc
~excavate without notifying his client
was an understandable trespass 'and
abuse of the liberty n rights OF Mr.
Potter. -
On the other hand. Mr.. VIM. H, Corbin,
for the Commissioners, commended that
the commission was appointed before the
expiration of Mr.. Potter's lease and
when it did expire the State had a per
feet right to enter into possession OF It's
own. While admitting the fact that Mr..
Potter paid $40 to Mr.. Kelsey in payment
of one months rent for the succeeding errna
in accepting the money.
vice Chancellor Pitney agreed with
the Commissioners that the State was IN
the right IN excavating. and In dismiss.
ing the restraining order made use OF
the words complained of by Mr.. Pos-r