The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-11-28
Indrs Rlaek,. rlr.. App0intnenI


Hon. Alexander Thompson presided
as Judge Of the Sixteenth Judicial Dis
trict Of Pennsylvania composed Of the
counties of Franklin, Bedford and SOM
ersetl from the 25th Of June, 1877, to
March. 1872. He was 3 just man and
4 good Judge. but toward the close OF
his public life he encountered some op-
position. a prominent lawyer OF Cham
hersburg was named as an opposing can
didate for the Office, and soon a warm
contest arose, in which the leading law
vers and citizens in the district took
mart. David r. Borter was then IN the
Executive chair. There was scarcely
LAWYER in the district who did not visit
tha Governor to discuss the merits of
the candidates. Early in the year lS4z
a gentleman from Somerset called 20 op'
pose or to support one OF the candidates
II cannot remember whom na-and IN his
conversation produced letter and read
from il q paragraph. : The Governor
asked to have the whole letter read
which was done. 1t discussed the points
Of difference between the two candidates
The Governor asked to be allowed to
read the letter for himself, which was
!
done. ~,
son is hef'
Of Mr.. Blacks father.
Governor remember him. \ sal
with him in the Internal Improvement
Convention of 1926, and be certainly
was a most intelligent gentleman. Bul
what can you tell me about the SON
Visitor-Well he is a young lawyer
with some practice. He sits in his othce
walks up and down town, sits on tht
dry-goods boxes on the corner, makes
some political speeches, and quotes
Shakespeare.
Shakespeare! Shakespeare
on the top of the Allegheny Noun
tains. What can he know about Shakes
peare?
Visitor We'll, I believe he can repea
any play Shakespeare ever wrote.
| Governor-What else does he do9
Visitor-He breaches.
Governor-P -Preachesi What does b
preach about9
Visitor-He breaches as all the rest Q
the preachers do, and can tell you b
can get up in the Court House on sun
day morning and preach andipray abou
as well as any of them.
i Governor Well, so much for the Cos
pel-what about the law? Does he d
much in that way?
| Visitor-Yes; and there are some pee
pie who think he is very good youn
lawyer.
Governor-How does he figure i
court?
Visitor-He is rather awkward an
hesitates some. He often amuses U
very much, but / don't think he wi
ever make much of speaker.
The visitor left, and the Governor
after long pause, said to his amanuer
sis: II did not believe there was ma
in Somerset county who could write sue
|, letter as that. Here is a man who ha
read Shakespeare and, no doubt, th
Bible, or he could not preach much, an
, he pours out his thoughts in such En-!
lish as he amazes me. He evidentl
, knows what Judge ought to be.
must inquire further about that youn
, man." As visitors called, inquiries wei
: occasionally made about Mr.. Black, an
the answers were all satisfactory as
his character, moral and professiona
OF course, advocates of his appointmeI
soon sprung up. On the Both of Marcl
t 1912, to the astonishment of many {
: the friends of the other candidates,
: commission as President Judge swi
issued to Mr.. Black. 1t is said thi
: Judge Black was astounded when
e saw it, asked whether the Governor hs
! taken leave of his senses, protested b
a unwillingness to accept the office, al
e generally helped to set the town of Sor
0 erset in an uproar He did accept Il
: office, however, and in a few mont
/. established his entire competency
$ perform his duties, and rose high in Il
: estimation of men of all parties .-Jud
s Porter, in Philadelphia Press.