In my previous letter I stated that the well known Manila lawyer, Mr. Amzi B. Kelly, had been summoned t" appear before the Supreme Court to show reason why he should not be permanently disbarred from practising law in the Philippine Islands for having been guilty of contempt of court. The case duly came up for hearing before six of the judges, who, after listening to Mr. Kelly's defence, adjourned to consider their decision. It was given a few days later, and in the opinion of the majority of the community is unnecessarily severe. The Supreme Court sentenced him to six months' imprisonment, a fine of P 1,000 or, in liew of that, not more than an' additional two months imprisonment, and perpetual disbarment from the practice of law in the Philippine Islands. The decision was signed by Chief Justice Arellano, and Associate Judges Torres, Moreland, and Trent. Justice Johnson, while agreeing with the decision, preferred to write his own opinion and submit it later; while Justice Carson dissented from the decision, his dissent being based on the belief that Mr.
Kelly should be medically examined as to the soundness of his mind.
Within a few hours of the decision being rendered, Mr. Kelly was arrested and conveyed to Bilibid prison; but before his arrest, he despatched a lengthy cable to the Supreme Court at Washington informing them of what the Supreme Court of the Philippines had done to him, and requesting the Washington Supreme Court to order his release until the matter could be placed before them in proper form. His cable concluded with the words, "T fear my imprisonment may cause internal trouble as the people—Filipinos and Americans—are in sympathy with me."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.