The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-17
Judge Potter Revealed Court
Secrets to Governor Stone.
CONCERNED THE RIPPER BILL"
Told the Governor How the Court Stood On
ihs Question Of The CansiItuiIsnaIIy
ofths Law.

Philadelphia. IA, Oct. 1.-THE Press. a
which Postmaster General Charles Emor
smith is the editor-in-chief reltcrates tn
Charges IL made In May last that suprem
Court Justice William Plumer Potter be
trayed to the governor the secrets OF IN,
supreme court, reported the standing o
ms associates in advance of decisions
and received suggestions from the COVER
nor relative TO his views on impending
iesislaiion In which the chief executive OF
the state was interested.
Justice Potter. whose home is IN pitts.
burg, was appointed last winter by Gov
ernor Stone to nll vacancy on the
supreme bench caused by the death OF
Justice Green lie was nominated IN
August BY the Republicans to succeed
himself for the full term of twenty-one
years. Since 1890 Justice Potter has been
the law partner OF Governor stone under
the firm name OF Stone 4 Potter, with
offices in Pittsbure
CHARGES BY a NEWSPAPER.
on May of the present year the Press
published the following dispatch:
Harrisburg May 1.-Governor Stone
has been informed by Judge Potter. OF
the supreme rourt. that majority of
the members Of the highest judicial
tribunal OF the state is in favor OF
declaring the PttSburg Ripper legis-
ton constitutional
Judge Potter has been keeplng Gov
ernor Stone informed regarding the
standing OF the members of the court
ever since the case was argued Last
week On the day after the argument
ne told Governor Stone that three OF
the members OF the court were i'm
favor OF sustaining the act lie placed
Justice Fell in the doubtful list at
that time. but expressed the opinion
mat there was good reason 10 believe
that he would be the fourth 10 favor
the Ripper on the same occasion
ne Informed the governor that Justice
Dean was dead against g."
Since that time Justice Potter has
conveyed 10 Harrisburg the news that
majority OF the supreme court Judges
nave privately declared in favor OF
the Pittsburg Ripper"
From the Information given by Jus
uce Potter TO the governor. II would
appear that Judges Mitchell Fen.
Brown and Potter will stand FOR the
constitutionality OF the bill. and Chief
Justice McCollom and Judges Dean
and Mestrezat will oppose that view
OF the measure.
FORECAST PROVED CORRECT.
On the same day Governor stone and |
Justice Potter denied the allegations con.
'ained IN the Press dispatch. However.
on May p, when the court handed down
rs decision, the justices stood Just as the
Press quoted Justice Potter Justices
NItchell, Potter. Brown and Fell con-
'ututing majority declaring I'm favor
u the constitutonality OF the act while
justices McCollum Mestrezat and Dean,
minority. took the opposing view.
The Press now Gays its dispatch of Nav |
was prompted by report over the
telephone between the governor. who was
n Harrisburg. and Judge Potter, in Phil
delpha Copies OF these repor,s ec-
ording 10 the Press were I'm the posses
Ion OF members OF the legislature some
ays before and had been read by sen-
tors and assemblymen who secured their
nformation regarding the standing Of the
upreme court on the Ripper" leeisla
ion from the statement made by IlSge |
otter To Governor Stone
The Press reproduces parts of what nur |
orts 10 be long conversation over the |
elephone:
Governor Stone-"The Ripper" mart
Is mere incident or the bill Thsfs
the position 70 take. and We want the
law sustained if possible The Penn
syiVania railroad people are for a.
blselows lawyers will drop out OF the
case | had them employ Dale
Ire Judse-We stand good show OF
Fell The old man just home ia dead
against IL ,Justice Dean had lust re-
turned from trip abroad For Gods ]
sake don't let on. I am doing everv
thing ! can. think II ought 10 be I
i've. We can't say anything. I tust '
found out this afternoon that Justice
Mitchell seems hurt that more was Z
not said about his opinion. 1
Governor Stone-Give him A write nm I
he felt hurt. He has no suspicion 7
that ] am saying anything 10 you.
WRITE UP" APPEARED. !,
The following day the Philadelphia or
IN Of Governor Stone puhlisbed n y
write up and a picture OF Justice Nit ;
Ell on it's first page. Justice Mitchell y
liVered the opinion OF the supreme !,
urt declaring the governors right TO :,
I the school appropria tons
4 Is no secret I'm newspaper and pol,u- u
circles that the Press obtained its
formation as 10 Shat passed between -
'vernor Stone and the supreme court u
stice through leak" I'm the telephone
rvice between Harrisburg and Philadel- :,
N. -
10 prevent similar trouble I'm the future "
legislature. which was ia session AZ
: time OF the Stone-Potte expoae =,
,mptly passed an amendment which :,
- approved by Governor Stone on .Iuly =,
of which the following Is the title. =,
n act making ~ miSdemeanor FOR a ! ,h
-son connected with any line of ,als. =.
'ph or telephone within the state 10 20
;, or cause Ia be used. or make lnoup | g.
cause 10 be made known or I'm anv 81
nner divulge the contents Of any teIe ,N
lphc or telephone dispatch. and pr.. ~
ibng the punishment therefore" n.
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