New-York tribune., 1911-12-08
JUDGE EXPLAINS CHARGES
inspired by Politicians and Dis
gruntled Lawyers, Says Ray.
UPH0LDS COURTS DIGNITY
Sorry to Say, He Declares, That
He Has Found It Necessary
to Admonish Counsel.

Judge George w. Ray. or the United
States Circuit Court. said yesterday that
the charges preferred against him by the
Cayuga County Bar Association were en-
tirely inspired by his political and private
enemies and by lawyers whom he had
made to respect the dignity OF the court.
II would say again everything l have
said" was Judge Rays answer to the
charges "and there has been nothing In
my political or judicial life that would war
rant anybody to attach suspicion TO my
acts. I am ready to face any man for any,
thing have ever done. Personally. ! do
not care what becomes of these charges,
and am not worrying about them"
The incident that gave his opponents a
hook TO hang their charges on, Judge Ray
said grew out Of a misunderstanding.
During the trial Of three Italians accused
of counterfeiting Judge Ray remarked 70
Leonard II. Soaring in the Circuit Court
at Auburn, that It was for the first time in
his experience OF more than forty years no
attempt had been made to care for the
rights OF a defendant by advising him OF
these rights. The remark made was not
meant for Mr.. Soaring, who had just been
CdI4cu 4QlO LHt case Dy JuNSC nay "l4O
assigned him as counsel for one Of the de-
PENDANTS in the absence OF Mr.. Laird. who
had originally been assigned to this mans
defence.
'I wrote 10 Mr.. Soaring on November .
explaining the matter" Judge Ray SAID,
"and I received a letter from him dated
November g. in which he thanked me for
the explanation and expressed himself as
entirely satisfied with IL Thus the incident
would have been forgotten II other inau-
erces had not set TO work to make capital
Of IT,
THE dignity OF the court has been always
carefully guarded by me- and. I am sorry
TO say. I have found occasion 70 admonish
counsel that they were not paying due re-
spect TO IT, am informed that one or two
Of the men whom had TO sdmonish are
among those now after me"
Judge Ray added that one Of the men
most active in the matter was an upstate
lawyer and politician. whose request to ap-
point certain three receivers for large
power company had been refused by the
Judge because the men had been interested
in the enterprise.
In league with this man we're two cit-
gems Of MS home town, Norwich, y. !"
whose enmity toward the Judge was OF long
standing Judge Ray. before his appoint
ment to the bench. was a member OF Con-
gress for twelve years serving on the Judi
ciary Committee, Of which he was chair
man during his last two terms. He oo-
tained an appointment for one OF these two
men. Later this man got into trouble, and
his removal was contemplated. He came
to Judge Ray asking support. The judge
told him that. having been appointed 10
the bench, he could not use political infu'
ence, and from that time on this man be-
came his enemy.
The other Norwich man, Judge Ray SAID
hated him for having years ago been called
b account for a grievous wrong done 10
member Of Judge Rays family. This man
has been trying 10 attack my private life'
Judge Ray said, ''and circulated scurrilous
stories about me trying TO get the election
70 the presidency Of the Norwich Board OF
Education. which have held for fourteen
years How we'll founded his stories must
be was shown by the election, in which ne
received two votes. while the rest OF the
three hundred returned we're given for me-