New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-29
DIR. D. c. POTTER on PERJURY.
HE THINKS FALSE SWEARING HAS BEEN
RESORTED TO IN SOME OF THE
LITIGATION AGAINST HIM.

LITIGATION AGAINST HIM
The Rev. Dr. Daniel c. Potter, OF the Baptist
Tabernacle preached 10 his flock yesterday morn
ing in the Welsh Congregat ional Church, East
Eleventh St. on the evils resulting from false
oaths. DR.. Potter said in part
Has the binding application Of an oath lost its
force? How comes II that the most solemn Of OBJ
n6thiHg but the truth""s so easily taken and so
lightly regarded? How is II that, instead OF the
truth. witnesses deliberately tell what they
know is false? In my own experience have seen
an attorney-at-aw on the witness stand. sworn TO
his employer to how he should answer. De
tected in this act, be admitted that his reply would
have been in accordance with the answering sig
sb Gag S5 In me eG Of perjury he yoRns %
dence-but that's another matter.
This is grave matter This case Is not excep-
then and Is II not time 10 point out the danger and
wckedness Of false swearing? This subject is a
GA th-taking IN Jurisprudence The machinery Of
the courts is set in motion by afhdavits. 1t is
have witnessed shameful examples OF possibili-
es IN ard ne beo
they could defend themselves Among marked ex-
Mission Society restraining me from a hearing in
court Offering as ground and reason for their
Court grants my prayer. il Cthe city Mission So
ciety) will suffer irreparable damage, because then
II could not hold religious services in our Taber-
nacle.
As further example Of the evils Of false oaths.
the preacher reviewed the case OF the private de-
tective Gibson. and his employer. Shrady. the for
Of whom last week convicted OF perjury
and the latter indicted by the Grand Jury for the
same offence. DR.. Potter speculated TO what
would have been the fate OF the young man Jack
son, against whom Gibson is alleged 10 have
trumped up evidence. had not upright Judge
detected the perjury and caused the perjurers
punishment Continuing. he said:
But the city has many detective agencies full OF
Just such fellows as this man Gibson, the perurer
NJ - xe n m u nd
ing the private detective i'm possible He mas been
developed as the superserviceabie agent OF those
who have schemes TO ha tch. have been compelled
watch and study these men because Of the at
tention they have bestowed on me during the last
five years. They seek 70 manufacture facts for use
poyers More than one Of them has said 20 me-
tbinrs We have 70 ind hem for If we don't sors
one else Will ard then are out OF employment.
things; II we cannot find them, make them"
The preacher here depressed TO refer 20 an Incl
dent that he said occurred az the hearing Of Of
his suits growing out OF his troubles with the Bap-
list City Mission Society. He said:
George Wildwood Murray presented affidavit
MURRAY had a letter in his possession from DR..
either Murrays client. whom he had arrested for
burglary, and who jumped his bail, or some other
burglar stole those letters or else they taken
from the United States mail before they reached
me. But think OF the temerty OF a man who will
go into court and make affidavit that he has a let
ter from friend OF yours to you.
Reverting to the prvate-detective theme. DR. Pot
ter said
There should be such legislation 10 make # i'm |
possible for these dimenove sleuths TO hear
Ing in any in this State So long they are
possible perjury Is certain to continue. know Of
nothing that vtay affects the relations or life !,
nothing that SO overbaances the scales Of justice
as the false oath have with my heard |
the millionaire swear falsely. | have heard the law |
clerk admit that at the wish OF his employer he |
would make d false oath. | have heard the paid |
hirelng say that he would Try 10 swear the limo |
cent away, and In some OF our own matters |
have seen page after page Of false swearing some |
OF il most gratuitous and malicious. In the papers
in which the injunction granted temporarily in |
the Supreme Court there pages Of false tbs:
and | do not hesitate TO say that the attorney for
the Baptist City Mission Society knew and knows |
that they are false.
Ii il time for "a crusade against false swearing |
II is time for crusade against the hireling pro-
fessiOna perjurer. II j. time 10 speak ont against
the false oath The evil Imagination. the foul pur-
pose and false OATH God defend from such
a combination. II & well-nigh irresistible