Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-12-15
Judge Blacks First appointment.

Judge BRICKS flrst Appointments
Hon, Alexander Thompson presided
as Judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Dis
trict of Pennsylvania composed Of the
counties OF Franklin, Bedford and SOM
erset) from the 25th of June, 1927, to
March, 1912. He was just man and
a good Judge, but toward the close OF
his public life he encountered some OPP
position. A prominent lawyer OF
Chambersburg was named as an oppos-
ing candidate for the office, and soon
a warm contest arose, in which the lead
ING LAWYERS and citizens in the district
took part. David r. Porter was then in
the Executive chair. There was scarcely
a lawyer in the district who did not
visit the Governor to discuss the merits
of the candidates. Early in the year
1912 gentleman from Somerset called
to oppose or to support one OF the candi,
dates--I cannot remember whom--and
in his conversation produced letter
and read from it 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.
.sBlack," he said; 81. S. Black?
Whose son is hep
The visitor here mentioned the name
of Mr.. Blacks father.
GOVERNOR remember him. l sat
with him in the Internal Improvement
Convention of 1925, and he certainly
was a most Intelligent gentleman. But
what can you tell me about the sonp
Visitor We'll, he is young lawyer
with some practice. He Sits in his
Office, walks up and down town, sits on
the dry-goods boxes on the corner,
makes some political speeches, and
quotes Shakespeare.
Observation-Disclosures 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 doP
Visitor-He breaches.
Governor What does he
preach aboutp
Visitor lie breaches as all the rest
of the preachers do, and L can tell you
he can get up in the Court House on
SUNDAY morning and preach and pray
about as well as any of them.
Goyernor-Well, SO much for the
Gospel-what about the lawP Does he
do much in that way?
Vistor-Yes; and there are some peo-
pie who think he is very good young
lawyer.
Governor-H does he figure in
cOurtp
Visitor-He is rather awkward and
.,e
very much, but I don't think he will
ever make much of a speaker.
The visitor left, and the Governor,
after a long pause, said to his amanuen
sis: II did not believe there was a mar
in Somerset County who could write
such letter as that. Here is mar
who has read Shakespeare and, nj
doubt, the Bible, or he could not preach
much, and he pours out his thoughts IL
such English as amazes me. He evi
IDENTITY 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 salts
factory as to his character, moral AM
professional. OF course, advocates o
his appointment soon sprang up. On
the 30th of March, 1912, to the astOnish
1nent of many of the friends of th,
other candidates, commission as Presi
dent Judge was issued to Mr.. Black
1t is said that Judge Black was as
founded when he saw it, asked whetbe
the Governor had taken leave of hi
senses, protested his unwillingness t.
accept the office and generally helpe'
To set the town of Somerset in an UP
roar. He did accept the Office, how
ever, and in a few months establishe
his entire competency to perform hi
duties, and rose high in the estimation
of men of all parties. Porter, .
Philadelphia Press.