Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-03-15
DAILY CITIZEN.
JUDGE FITZGERALD.
His History as Furnished by a Mississippi
 Governor.
Satisfying the Curiosity of Thousands
 of TueSOnerS.
A Learned Counsellor and
 Fearless Man,

Understanding that there was gen. tlemRn in this city who Is personally &C., quainted with the recently confirmed associate judge for this Territory, W. F. Fitzgerald, CITIZEN reporter this morn- ing sought for him. He was found ct the Palace hotel, and proved to be R. c. Powers, who for two years, from 1872 to 1874, was Governor of Mississippi, and is now connected with the United States Surveyor Generals office in this city.
 "Goverror," asked the reporter, please furnish the CITIZEN with what informa tion you know concerning the hfe-men- tai. professional. political and physical of Judge Fitzgerald!"
 Certainly" was the reply. "rhe judge is comparatively a youug man, not being, think, over B years of age. He is native of Mississippi, born, feel sure, at Vicksburg. There, mp to thls time, he has spent his entire career. Educated, if my memory serves ne right, at the University of Mississippi. st Oxford; after graduation be com menced the study os law in Vlcksburg His practice of law must have began when he was 22 or 3 years of age, and has been uninterrupted ever since. He has only held one public office that l know of. and that was district attorney for the county of Warren. That include' the city of Vicksburg. How many terms 1: Only one, about lSoO."
 Now. Governor, let Us know some thing of Judge Fitzgerald's mental ae- ouiremeuts, general characteristics and capabilities for presiding luGlcIaily on the bench of Arizona" was the next in- terrogation of the interviewer.
 MT. Fitzgerald was always loOse ed upon in Nicksburg as an extraordinarily bright young man. He always occupied a high standing as a lawyer, and was considered as able as any of his cc.- leagues of the same age ID the protes- sion."
 "Governor," said the reporter ''there are two requisites needed especlally ID @ judge for Arizona. The hrst, naturally, Is a thorough and common sense under standing Of law and equity; the second Is fearlessness. a perfect UucOncern as to ElE ODADlDlE OA a NldH1 ADAAlANA ttl lAA frontier. who want to rule without JGdg' meat: who would kill without the cor responding punishment for murder. D. you believe Mir Fitzgerald IS a proper tribunal in these respects:
 He is," emphatIcally replied the e1 Governor. "A reliable counsellor know him to be, and as regards bravery there Is no more fearless man Tn the South. Furthermore, he IS a gentleman instinctIvely He will treat every oDt hke a gentleman, and demand the same treatment in return"
 ''Now, sir, I will broach a qusstlor which has been considerably talked about here since the CITIZEN referred tC MT Fitzgerald as having killed two men Please relate to me the circumstances oI these cases, if you can recall them tt mind?"
 He only killed one man that l know of. I will, in justification of the man recite all the facts l now remember When l first knew hIIa, about lo61- ht was a Democrat. He atterward was con verted to the Republican party. Before changing his politics hs was a prominent member of the Irish American club, Gr organization that stood very high ID the social circles of Vicksburg. You knuw my dear SIT, that like all Southern men who became Republicans after the war be was immediately Ostracised from s1- ciety That was the penalty any maI had to suffer who followed convictions contrary tO the feelings Of the maJOu y of Southerners. Not one Republican who had changed from Democrat es- cspei being ostracised socIally. Even Longstreet didn't. Well, although this club did not care tO occupy radical political position, the majority were 80 in favor of Democracy that they deter mined to drive Fitzgerald from the sOgI- ety. At one of their gatherings, ] think in 1876, Fitzgerald was grossly lnsuited by one Of his fellow members. The deed was open and before host Ol supp sed friends Of both parties. He believed. and has since learned that his conjecture was correct, that the purpose of the iu- suit was to draw him into fight and then kill him. To ualk this conspiracy, and to save his life, he quickly drew bis revolver and put a fatal bullet throush D the body of hls assailant. He vss promptly acquitted af.er an invest -a- tion."
 Be so kind as 10 describe the general appearance of ArIzoua's new judge.' asked tbe reporter.
 "He has fine presence and good I3- dress. Or mediGm night, thick set. in fact rather portly, dark complexion and fall face, be can be considered C. good looking man. He Is also a ready couver- sationalist and eloquent public speaker 9
 "Is he married?"
 "Ye-,' MT. Powers replied; to a lady belonging to one of the first families of NIcksDurg, and al that time, somewhere between 1874 > considered a relnarla- bly, beautiful woman"
 'Is the Judge rich?'
 No; I think he has no capital beyond the income from his profession"
 A. F. sampsOh. wholesale dealer in gi-