Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-16
PENNYPACKER AUTOBIOGRAPHY-NO. 81
Copyright. 1918. Jy Public LEDGER Company
ONE day this letter came to me:
" Lebanon, March "a, 1908.


knowing have done deed in cold blood
and my punishment death. ,humbly ask
your favor to speed execution. 1 see no
reason why man should be made wait,
knowing 1t must come sooner or later.
I have fully reconciled myself to my fate
and again ask you speed In execution.
Hoping you will grant my last favor on
earth, remain 49,
Your humble servant as long as life
shall last, DAVID SHADD'
Surely a more remarkable communica'
ton was never written. had the matter
examined and this was the solution. zeal
Gus preacher had wrestled with him and
succeeded in converting him. Uncertain,
however, about a relapse and feeling that
Il was unwise to take chances he pre-
vailed upon the convict to write the letter
to me- The case took It's regular course.
Who was "A lawyer" who wrote the let
ter to The Record, before mentioned.
never learned II is law Of nature that
most Of the mischief that besets our lives
is done in secret. 1t is the habit Of both
the hyenas and the bedbugs to prowl in
the night. The germs of typhoid fever
and cholera perish when the sunlight IL
turned on them. / was told, however, that
the letter came from an organization call
ing itself "The Yellow Cats" having its lair
in Lancaster County. Of which Justice j.
Hay Brown was q member.
A Circular Letter
Some days after my return from
Washington there came to me the follow
ing paper which had been circulated for
signatures among the members Of the
Philadelphia bar:
Philadelphia December IS, 1903.
Hon. Samuel w. Pennypacker. Governor.
Sir--As old friends, neighbors and pro.
| fessional associates, we feel in the pres
ent situation we should submit for your
consideration our views in regard to
your letter announcing your intention OF
accepting the nomination or the next
Republican State Convention to the office
Of Associate Juctice OF the Supreme Court
OF Pennsylvania should II be rendered TO
you. 1t is unnecessary to dwell upon
| the calamity of an impairment of public
respect for that tribunal nor upon our
deep professional soictude in that re-
gard, knowing that you are in full sym.
pathy Herewith. Nor do we concern our
selves with the political aspects Of mat
ters nor with the loss to the Common
wealth of your services as Governor we
| present our views simply as lawyers
jealous of the honor OF our profession.
The announcement OF your candidacy,
Immediately after the appointment or u
Democrat to the office OF Associate JUS
tice of the Supreme Court, Is accepted by
| the people of Pennsylvania as conclusive
proof that seat on the supreme Bencn
has been made the subject of political
| ARRANGEMENT, and that your choice was
| not governed by considerations or ntneSS
| for the Office but by the purpose to secure
| the place for yourself. We do not think
| for a moment that you would knowingly
| enter into any such barter, Dut Ior tle
| Chief Executive OF the State to seek the
| assistance OF influential politicians for q
| transfer to the bench, even II coupleu
| with the promise not to use the power or
the office to that end must De regarueu
| as an impropriety.
| II is impossible in the nature OF Things
that the mere knowledge that such
| wish is cherished should not operate as
| official pressure; and the influence or the
| office, direct and indirect, and all the
power OF those hoping to profit by the
! change would combine for its accom-
| plshment.
| Even though these views may be mis-
| taken. vet we think the precedent most
| evil one which may be followed hereafter
| BY officials less trustworthy.
| II is in view Of the mischiefs which
| NAV follow and of the possible impair
| nent of the confidence of the people OF
| pennsylvania in their highest Court that
| we feel constrained to present this re
monstrance. We beg to assure You tha.'
| not only do we cordially synIpathize with
YOU in your desire to return to the bench,
for we should have been glad under any
| other circumstances to join in furthering
| YOUR wishes, but we are unable to do so
| now, as we cannot shut our eyes TO the
| fact that, II you become an Associate
| Justice of the Supreme Court in the
manner proposed, you will forfeit large
share of the respect and esteem OF the
| profession and weaken the faith or tho
| people in the disinterested administra-
| ton of justice. ,..
| We do, therefore, most respectfully
but earnestly entreat you to reconsider
YOUR avowed intention, and to continue
| 10 the expiration Of your term OF office
| as Governor to safeguard and protect
| the interests of the people OF this great
Commonwealth, TO whose honor and well
fare we know you are sincerely devoted:
| We remain, with great respect ana
cordial personal regards.
| Your obedient servants,
| Samuel Dickson George wharton
| William S. Price Pepper
Henry r. Edmunds Frank NJ. Ritter