The San Francisco call., 1897-08-22
POTTER AMONG
Those WHO PINE
The Doctor Wants to See
Editor Hearst $4,000
Worth.
Papers Long Ready to Be Served
Gather Dust While Idly
Waiting.
The Attack Upon the Home for Inc
briates Not to Be Forgotten Nor
Even Forgiven.

Dr. Samuel Potter is also on the list.
He wants to see w. R. Hearst. he fairly
yearns to show the New York editor that
to the pastime of blackmailing reputa-
tions there may be an expensive after
math. For DR.. Potter is simply another
citizen used as target by the Examiner.
The doctor feels resentful about 1t. he
has suit for $4,000 damages pending,
but dust gathers on his papers and Mr..
Hearst won't come near enough to let the
papers be taken from the plgeon-hole and
served.
The Potter case is an old and familiar
one, dating back several years. The doc
tor is at the head of an Institution known
as Home for Inebriates. Some OF the
gentlemen periodically ensconsed there
along with their own collections OF snakes
and spotted toads have found the en-
vlronment uncongenial. AT times they
have imagined themselves confined in the
midst of geological garden, where the
elephants had horns and the zebra
Haunted whiskers, and it has annoyed
them so that they raised the voice OF
lamentation.
To the un prejudced it would seem pos
slble that a trait-jacket full OF dellrlum
tremens was not to be depended upon In
the matter of giving evidence. Yet the
testimony of patients still shaky and
pining notably for "bracer" was freely
accepted by the Examiner. The Home
for Inebriates was pointed to as an en-
phasized type of hades, distinguished
chiefly for the gnashing of teeth and the
abuse of the helpless. DR.. Potter was de-
nounced in bitterest terms, and what ap-
peared to be a deli berate attempt to
wreck the institution was inaugurated
and for days was the principal Joy OF the
paper that had declared war. BY every
art known to the brand of journalism
prevalent on Mission street evidence was
sought, and after receiving deft finishing
touches presented for the edifcation Of
the community and the curdIing OF its
blood. In getting the evidence, such as it
was, bad faith was exercised, family
secrets betrayed and people made to suf-
fer shame for the delinquencies of parent
or brother, over which decency draws the
veil with silence or words of pity.
Finally DR.. Potter brought suit, but
even then Mr.. Hearst had acquired the
habit of agile and effective disappearance.
Here to-day and there tomorrow. with
further dates uncertain, he avoided serv-
ice. Once he cana to the City, stayed a
few hours, saw nobody he could we'll avoid
seeing and the dust on the papers was not
disturbed. DR.. Potter is not pleased at this
circumstance, for, he says, he paid law
yer to watch the case, and, while the law
yer accepted the responsibility and an ac-
companying fee, the watching was not at
tended to. Anyhow, Mr.. Hearst got away
without having gladdened DIR. Potter by
any sign of his presence. he has ever
since been away; but while this fact in
itself may have a tendency to gladden., it
seems to lack about $50 600 OF being per.
feet.
DR.. Potter is not a man to let 60 easily.
He is inclined to be stubborn. There is
every indication that he will nourish and
sustain this suit indefinitely. Willie may
keep out of California until gray hairs
crown him and his spine bows with the
weight of years, but when he shall return,
here expectant, ready to greet him, to
make him feel at home, to touch his con-
science and his purse, he will find the Pot
ter suit along with that Of Mr.. Riley here
tofore casually mentioned. And, with
every desire 10 avoid slang, 1t may be
added that there are others.