New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-19
Central Figure in Wire
Tapping Inquiry Sue
cumbs to Heart Disease.
GAN ASSASSINATION"
SAYS MGR. DUNN
Former Tabernacle Baptist
Church Pastor Promi-
nent in Many Disputes.

Dr.. Daniel c. Potter, who, with his
son. Dean Potter. Father William b.
Farrell and Monsignor John j. DUNN
had been each day expecting the de-
cision of Justice Greenbaum Of the
Supreme Court as to whether the
charges instituted against them IN
the recent overlapping investigation
should be placed before the Grand
Jury, dropped dead from heart disease
in his Office in the Emigrant Industrial
Savings Bank Building, 81 Chambers
Street, yesterday afternoon.
DR.. Potter had not been feeling wei
for some time, but continued gong
regularly to his Office. About three
o'clock Yesterday afternoon. Harry Z.
Ford. an employe of the Beaver Engi-
neering Company, Of which Walter j.
Drummond. son of Michael j. Drum
mond, former Commissioner OF Chari-
ties, is the head, stopped in the
doctors Office and discovered him
stretched on the floor. Ford tried to
reach several physicians by telephone.
but failing called the Hudson Street
Hospital. DR.. Desmoes. of the nos
initial staff, hurried to the Office IN an
ambulance, but found DR.. Potter was
dead. Patrolman Dillon, of the Eliza
beth Street station, arrived with Dr.
Desmoes.
Death Due to Myocarditis.
DR.. A. T. Weston, physician for
Coroner Feinberg, after examining the
body. said that death was due to myo-
carditis. from which DR.. Potter had
been suffering for a long time. Dean
Potter. the dead mans son, hurried to
the Office in response to a telephone
message from Mr.. Ford, and appeared
greatly affected by his fathers death
After arranging for the removal OF 'ne
body he left the building.
For the last three years Or. Potter
had been executive secretary OF ths
Association of Private Charities, an
organization of which Herman A. Metz
was president, and which was formed
at the instigation of the late Ohar-
ties Commissioner Drummond;
Mgr. Dunn, chancellor of the New
York Archdiocese, who is resting at an
upstate retreat, characterized Dr. rot
ter's death as IAN assassination;
"Dr. Potter gave up everything 10
~ 70
thrown upon the world for bringing
mn said Mgr. Dunn. "He sacrificed
nnsition in the city government some
Years ago for what he thought was an
Injustice to private charitable institu-
tions. A.
ale suffered UNNECESSARILY from the
inference of wrongdoing cast at HIM at
that time; he suffered without com
plaint likewise throughout the recent
so-called investigation.
apr. Potter. like Thomas NJ. Mulry,
was assassinated. When Sergeant Ken
mel shot himself, victim of those back
Of this campaign against our lnstltu-
tions. Mayor Mitchell said that, II ne
died, Kennels death would be on the
consciences of those who caused ms
act. The same thing applies unmistak-
ably to DR.. Potter's death"
Father William B. Farrell, who fig
ured with DR.. Potter in the wlre-taP-
ming inquiry, said yesterday that he
did not believe that the strain under
which DR.. Potter had been reeentv
was in any way responsible for the
doctors death.
~ am sure worry did not cause DR..
Potter's DEATH" he said. He knew
that his position was absolutely safe.
Although the verdict in the case has
not vet been rendered, we all knew
what il would be. DR.. Potter's death
Is the most regrettable thing | have
experienced in the several years l have
devoted to public service. have never
known a man who put his whole soul
into charitable work as he did.
Pioneer in Social Service Work.
"When he was pastor of the Taber-
nacle Baptist Church he was pioneer
in social service work"
DR.. Potter is the third man intimate
ly associated with the city's charities
TO die since the first of the year. Mi
chael J. Drummond, Charities Commits
sioner under Mayor Gaynor, and
Thomas NJ. Mulry, onetime president of
the National Conference of Charities
and Correction, died in January and
April, respectively.
Dr. Potter leaves a daughter, Miss
Julia Potter. OF 1906 Cation Avenue,
Brooklyn, with whom he made his
home, and two sons-Dean Potter, a
member of the law firm Of Grout e.
Grout, of Brooklyn, and Sterling Pot
ter. superintendent in the Depart
ment of Public Charities, who lives at
336 East Fifteenth Street, Manhattan.
A son. Paul, died five years ago, and
Mrs. Potter died in 1913.
DR.. Potter. who was sixty-four years
old, was a graduate Of Colgate College,
from the theological department of
which institution he received his de-
gree Of Doctor of Divinity in 1875.
Coming to New York soon after he was
ordained as a Baptist minister. he as
sumed the pastorste of the East Sixth
Street Baptist Church. This church
was later merged with the Tabernacle