Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-09-21
Says "If There Has Been Any
Act in My Official or Private
Life Not Bearing Closest
Scrutiny | Will Resign"
MEMBER OF BAR JARS HIM
Movement on Foot in Chicago to
Ignore Him-Lawyers Says: "His
Actions Have Been Investigated
for the Past Two Years and the
Results Are Not Caluculated to
Increase Respect of the People
for the Judiciary or the Law.

Chicago, Sept. 21.-His pugnacity
aroused by many rumors as to the
cause of his intended resignation and
by publication of the fact that he
was shadowed for two years, Judge
Peter S. Grosscup, of the United
States district court of appeals de-
cided today that he may withhold his
resignation, which was intended to
take effect October 8.
For two years Laurence Richie,
formerly one of the best of secret
service men, has watched Judge
Grosscup. In a statement to the
press, Richie declared that he began
spying on the jurist after his rever-
sal of United States Judge K. NJ.
Lands $29,O0O,00O fine imposed on
the Standard Oil Company for rebat-
ing. Riches work was for an east
ern monthly magazine, the name of
which he withholds.
The detective denies that federal
authorities employed him to watch
Grosscup, yet it is persistently re-
ported that discoveries unearthed by
Richie were turned over to President
Taft and Attorney General Wicker
sham. Richie says that he exam
ined the property owned by Judge
Grosscup and the time each piece
was purchased, and the circum-
stances surrounding the deals. 1t is
known that the jurist is comfortably
situated financially. His court deci-
sions we're thoroughly scrutinized
from the standpoint of lawyer and
layman. and his private life was
watched. Ritchie does not state
what the magazine hoped to prove.
Judge Grosscup said today he was
not surprised at the statement of
Richie.
81 have known of this espionage
for two years. he said. For a time
| was informed that the federal gov
ernment was doing it. l do not be-
lieve this If magazine ordered the
espionage, let it print the result.
81 have not as yet sent in my
resignation and If there is any inti-
nation by reputable man or maga-
zine that there has been any act in
my official or private life not bear
ing the closest scrutiny, | will never
resign. l will force my enemies into
the open and make them prefer
charges. l will meet them openly" 4"
A movement to ignore Judge Gross
cup when he steps from the bench,
was started in the Chicago bar asso-
citation here today with a published
letter by Attorney Chas Aldrich, ad-
dressed to the members of the Chi
cagO Bar. This letter says in part
1T is known to many men that Judge
Grosscup's resignation is the result
of far more compelling causes than
la desire to transfer himself from the
United States court of appeals to the
great court of public opinion. His
actions have been investigated for
the past two years and the results
are not calculated to increase the re-
spect of the people for the judiciary
and its administration OF the law.
Il venture to hope that If Presi-
dent Taft accepts the resignation,
the state and the Chicago Bar Asso-
citation will not, through banquets
and eulOgistic speeches, commit
members to approval of career
which has been reproach to the
judiciary and to the bar.