The Van Buren press., 1874-03-31
THE MURDER OF JUDGE FOX.
Statements of Aldridge Regarding the
Relations between Himself and Judge
Fox from their Earliest Ac.
quantance Up to the Time
of the Murder.

| From the Little Rock papers OF thurs
day, we see that Judge Aldridge was
brought to that city for safe keeping.
The following is report Of the Repub'
Hcan interview with Aldridge:
IN HIS OWN WORDS.
| first made the acquaintance Of Judge
Fox after his appointment, and neither
| then nor for some time after was there
any cause for personal feeling between
us. The origin of our difficulties was in
his treatment Of me in court, which, as
time advanced, grew more harsh and en-
bittered each day and at every term of
court The second time | met him was
on the train going to Memphis, and |
was then, as at first, favorably impressed
by him, next saw him at the Cross
county circuit court, and my intercourse
with him there was very pleasant AT
the St. Francis county court Judge Fox
not long after his appointment, made q
ruling which took the entire bar, as well
as myself, by surprise. did not receive
it with very good feeling and made
some remarks that ought not to have
INDUCED in. The court at the same time
spoke unbecomingly After reflection
considered the action of the court in the
light Of simple error, and next morn.
ing apologized to Judge Fox, and said
would do so in open court if ne desired
but he said that the matter as it stood
was entirely satisfactory. ! next met
him on the bench at Harrisburg, Poin.
sett county, in the fall. His conduct to
me while on the bench was reprehensible
during the entire term. In calling the
roll he always passed over my name in
its order, and at the end would supercli.
ously ask "Have you any business this
morning2' All the time my conduct in
relation to the court was proper in every
respect, Ever since Judge FoXs con
duct toSard me while on the bench has
been most Objectionable, and for the
truth Of this appeal 70 the members OF
the entire bar. Last fall | was engaged
in an important case, that of the State
VS.. Hammctt, charged with assault with
intent to kill The court met on Mon
day, and the State docket was taken up.
When Hammett's $ case was called stated
to the court that had only arrived that
morning and had had no opportunity to
consult with the defendant or his wit.
nesses, but would be prepared to take up
the case in the morning. The court very
abruptly Judge Fox was probably nat.
urally abrupt replied: ave only hold
court here one week, and this case will
not be passed it must be tried at once. y
| asked for change of venue on an alli-
davit that the judge was prejudiccd
against the prisoner. Hammett repeat.
edly solicited me to get n change. | pro.
posed to hand the affidavit to the court
for consideration, and not to read it, but
Judge Fox ordered it to be read, and
then lost his temper. He stated that the
section on which the affidavit was based
had been decided unconstitutional by the
supreme cou t. stated that / did not
know such was the fact, and apologized,
rat the time the decision was only
known through the newspaper reports
His abrupt reply was g." Attorneys ought
to know the law" and then peremptoriy
ordered the trial to be proceeded with.
then sat down to write an application
for change OF venue for that County.
On being informed what was doing he
said he was not sitting there to hear ap
plications ! however continued, and
before jury was impaneled had the
application prepared. Judge Fox had by
this time become calm and heard the ap.
plication and promptly granted a change
Of venue, Judge FoX's conduct while
on the bench towards me became so very
abrupt and oppressive, that in order to
correct matters, IL could, | addressed
letter to him reviewing in bold but
respectful manner hls judicial course, and
in conclusion requested him not to visit
on me, from the bench, his personal dis.
likes Next day he said he desired to see
me, and while walking together said he
had received my letter very severely crit
icising his course, but acknowledged it
was couched in respectful language. 81
care nothing" he added. Z" for the allie.
cations, nor do care what the profes.
sion thinks; my object is to discharge
my duty" ." He further said that he did
not want me to feel that his conduct on