The Washington herald., 1914-10-07
.SIDDONS IN Line
FOR JUDGESHIP
Believed Commissioner VIII
Succeed Justice Wright,
Resigned.
UP IN AIR
Whether President Will Designate New
Jurist Now or Wait Until November
IS Is Questioned.

Whether the President will name a sue
cessor now to Justice Daniel Thew
Wright. who resigned from the Dis
trict Supeme Court yesterday. or wait
until November Is, when the resigna-
tion is to become effective, Is questioned.
It Is still believed by the friends Of
Commissioner Siddons that he will be
appointed to fll Justice Wright's place
and that Louis Brownlow. a newspaper
man will succeed the Commissioner.
After attending a general term of
court yesterday morning, Justice Wright
from his chambers at the courthouse
gave out copies of his resignation.
This put an end to rumors that had
been in the air for weeks and also re-
Iieyed q considerable tension about the
courts that had been noticeable ever
since the rumors started. The clerks
and other attaches Of the courts e1-
pressed regret at seeing Justice Wright
leave the bench.
Claims Charges DIsproyed.
In his letter to President Wilson, con-
tanning his resignation. the jurist de-
clared the Cooper charge. which had
been investigated by a subcommittee Of
the House judiciary Committee. had
been disproved. The letter reads as fol-
lows:
THE judiciary Committee Of the
House Of. Representatives, through its
subcommittee, has heretofore, in so far
as am advised. completed its investIga-
ton OF the charges preferred against
me. and every fair-minded man who is
reasonably familiar with the evidence
knows not only that no allegation
against my official conduct has been sus-
tanned. but that each charge has been
afirmatively refuted.
The proceeding has. however. aligned
the entire local bar on one side or the
other of the controversy, and has thus
created a condition which could not be
otherwise than embarrassing to me here
after in the discharge Of my duties.
Il could not but feel strong gratitude
toward those lawyers who have so cor
daily attested my good behavior nor
could I perhaps hope to escape a pos
sible intolerance OF those who have
sought to destroy my character and rep
selves upon me because l did not decide
their cases as they desired
Time might smooth out all bitterness
and resentment. but I have resolved to
relieve myself from all the embarrass-
ment OF this peculiar situation. and here
with tender my resignation as a justice
of the Supreme Court Of the District
of Columbia to take effect upon Novem-
Der Is, 1914
1
tried in the settlement of bills Of ex-
ceptions and other preparations for ap-
peal. cannot. to my regret. sooner be full
filled"
New Members on Bench.
ThB District Supreme Court opened for
the fall term with two new justices on
the bench and the successor to Justice
Wright will max three new ones out OF
six. This is said to he unique in the
history OF the local bench.
Justice Wright announced he would
stay in Washington and practice law.
Whether he will practice alone or accept
one OF several invitations to associate
himslf with established law firms, he has
not decided.
The Justice also notified the House sub
committee of his resignation and that
committee probably will meet very soon
to formally close the investigation. The
inquiry had practically been concluded
anyway. There probably will be a brief
report to the House advising It officially
OF the investigation having ended
through the resignation of the Justice.
1t Is believed by Justice Wright's !
friends that he will push the indictment |
for alleged criminal libel against Wade /
II. Cooper, author of the charges against |
him.