The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-22
MucKRAkERs FOLLOW eRosscup
Circuit Court Judge May Recall Res
lgnatlon

Circuit Court Judge May Recall Res
/ lgnation
Chicago, H.. Sept 22.-Judge Peter
is. Grosscup's resignation from the
United States Circuit Court of APP
peals was followed today by reports
that he had been Swallowed for two
or three years, not only by an ex-Se-
lcret Service operative called Law
lrence Richie, but by at least two and
POSSIBLY three other persons. The
private and professional life Of the
Judge has been the subject Of inquiry
practically ever since his famous Stan
dard OIL decision. The purpose Of
the investigation has been revealed
by but one of those who have been
shadowing him, and that man disap-
]peared a month ago from boarding
house in Los Angeles, Cal.
Those who have been investigating
Judge Grosscup as far as they are
known are. Lawrence Richie, former
lily in the Federal Secret Service and
|, now said to oe working for an East
| ern magazine, who went to Wisconsin
on Sunday on a vacation; George
/ Shoaff a Socialist magazine writer,
who dropped out of sight month ago
an investigator seen in Ohio and
brought to Chicago, who asserted he
was working Tor weekly New York
publication, and Chicago detective,
Whose name is known to two or three
people now connected with the gam
bling investigation, but who could not
be found tonight.
Judge Grosscup admitted today that
friends had informed him OF Riches
surveillance. He admitted also that
he knew of inquiries into his business
laffairs at Charleston, West Va, and
at Nation, Ill.,, where he is interested
lin traction properties. Other inquir-
les led Investigators to New York and
to the summer home OF Henry w.
Bishop at Ptts6eld Mass, Master
in Chancery of the Federal courts in
Illinois, and 10 the former home OF
Judge Grosscup in Ohio
The investigation in New York and
Massachusetts began a few days az
ter the reversal of the Standard OIL
case by the Court of Appeals. East
ern papers at that time reported that
Judge Grosscup had been seen in
company with two attorneys for the
! oil company.
Shoaff's inquiry is believed to have
been backed by Eugene V. Debs and
. other Socialists, who had objected TO
the jurist's decisions in labor cases.
Shoaff had some little reputation as a
Socialist writer and investigator. He
| IA. ~ he nf tho 10 hnr
! difficulties in Colorado. About year
and half ago he began an investiga-
ton into Judge Groscup's private life,
much of its results being published
by The Appeal to Reason. II related
principally to the early life OF the
Judge In Boston and Ohio.
Two months ago Shoaff dropped the
Grosscup investigation and went TO
Los Angeles to work on the McNamar
case for Socialist publications. lie
was accompanied by Alexander Irvine
a former preacher In New York and
Socialist. They boarded at the
home of o. H. Gable, Shoaff's brother
| in law, In Los Angeles. month age
TODAY Shaoff told Irvine early in the
evening that he was going to show
I'D Gen. Otis" owner of The Los An
! eeles Times. An hour later he dis
appeared. When his sister went to
Hook for him she found the room dis
ordered and a blackjack lying outside
the door. He has not been seen
since.
Judge Grosscup resents the inslnu
lation that there is any mystery In his
life in need OF clearing up. From MS
villa on the Lake Shore at Highland
he issued statement tonight that he
might withdraw his resignation.
"If an effort is made to make 1t ap
near that ] am resigning under pres
\ sure. shall not resign" he declared
4 l'I am a responsible officer OF the Uni
ted States Government. II any res
/ ponsible magazine editor or publisher
or II any responsible American either
will come to the front with the asser
1 ton that | am resigning under pres
4 sure. and will show any reason FOL
u such an assertion, | will remain In the
4 bench until such time as an opportu
1 Unity has been given for thorough
l investigation OF my acts as judge
of the United States court. shall
4 do this in order that the investiga
4 ton may be made while ] am still
United States Judge"
Judge Grosscup hau no explanation
OF why Richie or others have pursued
him for the past two or three years.
4 81 don't know Richie personally,
he said. but | have heard OF him.
4 have been hearing about him and hi
Il Investigation for the last two years
\ Close personal friends have told me
do not know what his motive Is, bu
/ Ii imagine that he wanted to hea
Il from me-"
\ "Do YOU know who Richie wal
\ working for?' Judge Groscup wa
\ asked.
81 have heard that he was working
for the government and also Tor
II magazine. believe both reports un
Il true. II he followed me to Europe a
\ some say he did, he had merr,
chase. went down the Nile and
i am sure he was not along then. Thel
tI motored from Naples to Paris AM
II my shadow was not with me.
1.-TWO years ago ] met my brothe
in New York. and he told me Their
4 had been man In Charleston, Yves
\ Va. looking up property that | owne'
\ In that place. My brother said tina
/ the man was careful TO say that h
| was investigating me-
The attention OF Judge Grosscu
4 was called to reports that he was r.
1 firing a rich man.
CT ar, NOT a rich man" he replied