The Washington times., 1913-11-29
DENY THAYER QUIT
WHILE UNDER FIRE

lnulSndtiOn was expressed lOUdy Us
the many friends and associates in this
city Of Judge Rufus Fl. Thayer over the
publication that his resignation as judge
of the United States court for the extra
territorial district of China, had been
made while under charges, as the facts
In the case preclude the possibility of
such a construction being placed on his
action.
Not only has 1t been known to Judge
Thayer's friends in this city for year
that It was his purpose to resign a.
this time, but as a matter of fact his
formal resignation was mailed from
Shanghai early in September. 1t was
two weeks later before he received the
first intimation that the preferring of
charges against him was contemplated.
1t is further arerred that when the
matter was taken up by the Judiciary
Committee Of the House Of Representa-
tives Judge Thayer was desirous of
Withdrawing his resignation to face his
accusers, but an adverse administra-
ton disuaded him from adopting such a
course. The distinguished jurist is now
passenger on the Mongolia" due to
arrive in San Francisco December j.
Named By Roosevelt.
, Judge Thayer was appointed to the
China court by Col. Theodore Roosevelt in
December 1908. succeeding Judge Will
fey of Missouri, against whom charges
were made by some of the same people
who now appear against Judge Thayer.
Those familiar with conditions in the
East aver that the operations of small
portion of the American, colony at
Shanghai always have been antagonistic
to the constituted legal representative
there of the United States, and that
they have endeavored to make trouble
for every man who has occupied that
bench.
Surprise is further expressed by those
familiar with the facts, that the judi
ciary committee has proceeded in the
matter. rs it is stated that the charges
are irregular in many respects, and
that not only have affidavits been filed
but that witnesses VINO have already
been heard We're not placed under oath.
The sole reason for Judge Thayer's
resignation is his concern over his wife's
health She had been i'll almost from
a year ago last summer her condition
became SO serious that ii was neces-
sarv to send her away. She was treat
ed in one of the foremost hospitals of
Europe for time but recently has re-
turned to the United States and is now
patient In New York hospital.
Fine Record Here.
Judge Thayer is one of the best known
LAWYERS in this city where he practiced
for forty years. the latter part of the
time as Law partner of John NJ. Rank
N. He was at one tim. president of tn
Cosmos Club. was judge advocate ger
eraI of the District militia. a memDe
of the school board, one of the founC-
ers of he Washington Free Library.
aftelward absorbed by the Carnegie Ii
brary, and was chairman Of the com
mi:tee that in 1895. at the close of tn"
Spanish war, organized and carried a.
a successful conclusion the manifiCc!..
spectacle in celebration of the signin"
of the peace treaty
Following the receipt Of word That
charges had been made against jude
Thayer. the American Bar Association
at Shanghai adopted resolutions ex-
pressing the utmost confidence in the
judge. These resolutions were trans
mitted to the State Department in this
city. where Il was stated that, SO far
as the ID, partmcnt was aware. neither
the charges against Judge Thayer nor
the Congressional investigation inGu-
enced him taking the course he pur-
sued.
The charges. which were made by 4
former practicing attorney in Shanghai.
who had been disbarred by Judge
Thayer's predecessor alleged that he
had been guilt" of absenting himself
from his post oG duty for months a. :;
time without official permission. and
that he had been guilty of other irrei;u-
laritics. 1t is understood that Judge
Thayer will seek to have the facts cs-
tablished officially. despite the state,
ment OF chairman Clayton that the
resignation would autOmaticallI' slIS-
pend the proposed inquiry by the Ju-
dietary Committee.