The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-10-15
nnr Cnnaiantc rer AnAItnr GeneraI.

Col. RoBEET =. DLCHLHT, The Democratic
candidate, for Auditor General was appoint
ed Assistant District Attorney in November
1868, 10y Hon. FurmaR NheillaTu' tit lll>tllc,
Attorney OF the county of Philadelphia, and
although he had then Drtctised bHt Two year,
at the bar, he at once assumed the pfoSect-
tion of important cases, and conducted tecW
with great credit 20 himself and benefit 10
the commonwealth. lie retired from the OIL
fee with his chief in 1871 ON the election nt
William Is Mann, Esg., and resumed the
general practice Of his profession
When Air. sheppard was a@a'E elScteu
District Attorney ia 1874, he teD%ered the
position OF Assistant District Attorney 10
Colonel DCchert for the second tIsle, aHd tins
position he held until the retireuient ot MI
Sheppard from tie ohlce, january - IH'".
During this service Of SIX years Col DechSit
was called upon To perform most res ponslbie
duties Many important cases oeio" lhe
grade of homicide he CondRcted Wlih great
success, being opposed by the ao!eat l2Wle
OF the Philadelphia bar. Ii would De I'M
practica bic 10 mention ut thlS time even the
more irrDortant cases IN which the cominu-
nity were most Interested; they Would M q
volume, They are remembered ~ tbphSalioS
OF PhiiadeIphiaus whose property and safety
were involved and the returns OF the election
i'm that city WILL no doubt, show that his ser
vices were appreciated.
In 4s77. Henry : HageIt. ESD, who had
also served as Assistant District Attorney
was elected as the successor of MT sheppard,
who had declined to be "a candidate lor re-
election. 1t was generally believed That %.
DccheIt would continue III the Uihce uD'teI
Mr.. Hagert but he preferred to deyotc him-
self to the general practice of his profession,
and accordingly wrote the following ieteT,
TO which Mr. IIagert answered in the letter
, which IS also appended
M 2Dg SoIrH FIFTH ST. PHILADELFHTA.F
December I'd. 1917.
IiENIs1 =. HAGERT. Esq.-I!y Dear SIR: | have
had the honor oi holding the position yl >c.oiln
Assistant District Attorney during the ak years
that Mr. sheppard has held the Office ot District
Attorney. During ali that time we have been
Ileasunjly associated as his deputies.
I now wish TO devote myself to 2 more general
practice OF my profession. l do not wish my name
therefore request that You viii not cousd r me q
an applicant for the oitcc Of First Assirtant DIS
''''' Yours truly. RoEERr T. DHcHgEr.
ur. HaEcrt's Eeftcr-
OFFICE or THE DISTRICT ATToRSEY,
Philadelphia, Dec. -, lss9.
RoBERr r. DBCHEHT. Esq.-DcGF SIR avn IN
receipt yoJr letter oi the 18th in which you eE
press your wish To devote yourself to the private
practice Of your profession, and request thal Np'
may not he considered IN applicant tor the oiict
of FIRST Assistant District Attorney. cannot per
nit this occasion {" pass ny without sAprr'si'
my At the termination 81 the oifci1t relation
which has subSistcst hctNccil ns HH'lHE Tlc -,
years Of our connection win the District ATTORNEY
office. nor without hearing my testimony 10 tli'
zeal, ability and ndciiry which you have ~ ~
times displayed IN tHe l'crl'FWitlce yi you! p'pit'
duties and also 10 the uniform kindno@- and cour
tesy which have char 'crized y"ur intcrc''iTs'
with your associates in The office
with TIE best wishes tur yUur SUCCESS ~ t4e lfi
waite pursuits o. your profession ana WIN itcH t'
expressions Of my esteem and confidence, remain
Yours Very Truly. HENEA :. HAGElsr.
As an evidence of the high esteem of iii'
chief, on the retirement OF Col BecneTt from
this office, ne received the following bette
from Hon. Furman Sheppard
rTuLADFIrHIA .Iaaunry ., Iss4
. CoL. RoBETsT i. DUCHEI.T-Ay Dear Sir: y
have been associated together ia the District ~
tornCy's sliicc Ur nearly SIX Year. ANA nov al lE
close Of our tern. 10 : both pleasure and q dui
on my part to bear testimony L" Tee constant ahil
ty. fidelity and upri htnss- Wt'h which you haN
discharged ali your official duties. GU have eve
been to me faithful and most valuable Hssis AMI
I heartily thank YOU tor the SUBuest .tu aid whic
you have AWAY rendered 70 inc 50 Pr'uut.! an
efficiently. and cauu"t withhold the eirneSt %
preston Of my entire confidence rna 'cre respect
Hoping mat your professional career may cpi
time 20 be as honorable as tIc cu1I iaeHcclieHt
IL has been auspicjuus, / remain. "a heretofore,
Very Truly Yours. &,
FtI.,eAN SHI.rraED.
Since that time Col. Dcchgrt ha, devOtej
himself chiefly 10 the civil pTactioc of the law
, The Auditor General at the StsJie Is a mos
responsible officer, who Is often required t
I, interpret the law and apply 4 g. iupurtali
cases in which the State lsHs az Interest ah
Jhe legal mind and cXpel ieucc OF the Demo
cratic candidate well & him f0i that position
Col. Dechcrt was net candidate for In
Democratic nomination OF Auditor Genera
He preferred TO continue the practice OF nj
profession, but the Two divisions Of tie Dem
= ocracy OF Philadelphia, then represented i
the state Convention, with entire unanimit
presented his name, and thus the Convention
unsolicited, rendered to him unanimoU
nomination. The voters of the Common
; wealth are invited TO examine the uiIalitic;
70 tiOns of the respective candidates for the O
+, ! flee Of Auditor General, and we are cou.ideT
d. that the Independent citizen viii natural
, incline TO the support OF our candidate