The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-09-25


fledlity to the interests of his clients
brought him an enormous practice, an
/ idea OF the extent OF which may be
CLEANED from the fact that during the
two years Immediately preceding his
appointment to the supreme bench he
tried more cases than any other OF the
500 members OF the Allegheny county
bar. His direct examination OF wit
nesses was always concise, clear, and
thorough, bringing out all the perth
nent facts in an orderly manner en-
abling the jury to grasp every detail.
In cross-examination he eXcelled, and
during the latter years Of his practice
he was regarded by the bar as one Of
the leading authorities on medical
jurisprudence.
ALWAYS COURTEOUS; ALWAYS
CLEVER.
Invariably courteous to witnesses
and opposing counsel, he succeeded in
developing his own case and weaken
ing the force of adverse testimony,
while retaining the good will of even
his opponent While invective formed
no part Of his nature, he could still
be sufficiently severe with dishonest
or untruthful witness to break the
force of his testimony before the court
and jury. His questions, though they
came like thunderbolts, were so evil
IDENTIFY fair that they aroused no pre-
iudice against him,
Uniformly considerate OF his brother
lawyers. he retained their good will
oven after the hardest fought legal
battle While not afraid to antagonize
the position of the court II need be,
his demeanor towards the bench was
always most profoundly respectful and
his arguments We're always listened to
with the most careful attention.
One OF the most effective testimo-
mails to his high standing at the bar
Is to be found in the fact that in pre-
senting petitions and documents for
the signature of the judges, Mr.. Pot
ter's brief verbal statement of their
contents seemed always sufficient to
secure the proper action without fur
ther scrutiny by the court as to what
the papers contained. This confidence
in him on the part Of the court, as in
all other cases, was gained only by
years of the strictest adherence to
truth in all his dealings with the bench
and bar.
His early association with banking
developed a taste for economies, and
he has been for many years careful
student of finance and kindred sub
iects and has acquired a reputation in
/ that field His intimate knowledge of
corporation and fiscal matters give
him leadership in community in
which he organized and developed to
successful operation a number of flnan
cial institutions. Trust companies, ma
tional banks state banks insurance
companies and corporations OF a gen
at the close of long practice al the
lished. and by his ability piloted tC
prosperity. In many of these he was
a director, and for all of them he was
counsel
A HARD AND DEVOTED STUDENT
He is a hard student in the very
broadcast sense, having acquired fine
library covering the very widest range
of scientific study; he is, moreover, a
devoted student of current history and
keeps thoroughly informed of all the
passing problems of any moment.
AS the best key to mans real char
acter is always the reputation he en-
joys among those with whom he comes
in daily contact, ii would crafty any
citizen of the commonwealth interest
ed IN the supreme bench to hear the
UNMARRIED expressions Of members of
the legal profession and others who
are familiar with the character and
ability of Mr. Justice Potter His
whole life has been characterized by
industry and integrity of the highest
order. His standing and success as a
citizen, a business man and a law.
yer form the basis of that firm con.
idence which the community at large
has in his future, as one OF those into
whose keeping has fallen the most
sacred trust of the commonwealth
Viewed from the standpoint Of the
lawyer. in that cold unsympathetiC
light under which the legal profes
sion scrutinizes the Judge he is a
reliable and substantial figure. In
brief. he is a man whose nature
abounds in those sturdy qualities
which desplse pedantry and pretense
and look askance upon sham and so
phistry.
He brought 10 his present position
a broad general equipment and a deer
ruman sympathy which has made hin
most valuable acquisition to th'
bench.
FIRM AND COURAGEOUS.
While possessing a demeanor that i!
simple and unaffected and a modesty
that is naive, his bearing is sucf
as always to bespeak that dignity
which is so becoming the exalted posi-
tion to which he has attained.
Justice Potter, while firm and coura.
geous in his convictions, is of a kindly
chivalrous disposition, and with q
charming magnetism Of person thai
. makes lasting friendships, and it was
these characteristics that enabled him
eral character were successfully estab
bar in which he was often Obliged tC
employ the utmost limit of insistanct
with his brother attorneys and thu
court, in the trial of causes, to lay
aside the weapons of forensic strife
and take with him the respect anC
hearty good will of his late opponents
at the bar.
Justice Potter is a staunch Repub