The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-21
.,,ove u,ack.. First appointment.

a.
fJudxe William A. Porter In the Phiiaoeip"'a
Timeo.i
The Hon. Alexander Thompson presiaeu
rs Judge OF the Sixteenth judicial district
Of Pennsylvania (cemposed OF tue counties
OF Franklin. Bedford. and Somerset) from
the 18th Of June, 1927, TO March. lSi2. ne
was Just man and good Judge, put TO-
ward the close Of his public life he encoun-
tered some opposition. prominent Jaw
yer of Chambersburg was named as an
opposing candidate for the office, ana
soon n warm contest arose. In wblcn
the leading lawyers and citizens In the
district took part. David X. Porter was
then In the Executive chair. There was
scarcely q lawyer in the district who did
not visit the Governor 10 discuss the merils
OF the candidates. Early In the year 1877
gentleman from Somerset called 10 OPP
pose or to support one Of the candidates-
/ cannot remember whom-and in his con-
versation produced letter and read from
il paragraph. The Governor asked 10
have the whole letter read. which was done.
IL discussed the points Of difference De
tween the two candidates. The Governor
asked 10 be allowed TO read the letter NM
self, which was also done.
'Black Z" he said: 81. :. Black
Whose son Is hep"
The visitor here mentioned the name OF
Mr.. Blacks father.
Governor ] remember him. | sat with
him i'm the Internal. Improvement Conyen-
ton Of 1925. and he certainly was most
intelligent gentleman. But what can you
tell me about the SOM
Visitor: Well, he is a young lawyer with
some practice. He sits in his office, walks
ND and down town, sits on the dry-goods
boxes at the corner, makes some political
speeches, and quotes Shakespeare.
Governor Shakespeare! Shakespeare on
the top OF the Allegheny mountains. What
can he know about Shakespeare!
Visitor Well, believe he can repeat
any play Shakespeare ever wrote.
Governor: What else does he doY
Visitor: He breaches.
Governor: breaches ! What does he
preach about!
Visitor: He breaches as all the rest OF
the preachers do. and can tell YOU he can
get up i'm the courthouse on Sunday morn
ing and preach and pray about as well as
any OF them.
Governor: Well, so much for the Cos
pel-what about the lawY Does he do much
in that wayl
Visitor: Yes; and there are some people
who think he is a very good young lawyer.
Governor How does he figure in court 2
Visitor: He is rather awkward and hesi-
tates some. He often smuses us very much,
but | don't think he will ever make much
OF a speaker.
The visitor left. and the Governor, after
Il long pause, said to his amanuensis ~
did not believe there was man in SOmcr-
set county who could write such letter as
that. Here is man who has read Shak-
speare. and no doubt the Bible, or he
could not preach much, and he pourS out
his thoughts in such English as amazes
me. lie evidently knows what Judge
ought to be. | must inquire further about
that young man." As visitors called
inquiries were occasionally made about
Mr.. Black, and the answers were
all satisfactory rs to his character. moral
and professional. OF course. advocates
OF his appointment soon sprang up. On
the Both OF March. 1912, TO the astonish-
ment OF many of the friends Of the other
candidates. commission as president
Judge was issued TO Mr.. Black. II i said
that Judge Black was astounded when he
saw il; asked whether the Governor had
taken leave OF his senses; protested his I'M
willingness 10 accept the office, and gene
rally helped to set the town Of Somerset in
an uproar. He did accept the office, how
ever. ana in few months established hls
entire competency 10 perform ms duties.
and rose high i'm the estimation OF men Of
all parties.