The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-11-29
THE NEW JUDGES OF THE SUPREME
COURT.

ldh NhW JUDUbO " luh EOI hbWh
COURT.
Governor Francis, on last Monday
evening, announced his appointment OF
the two Judges of the supreme court
required by the amendment TO the
co restitution of the state recently adopt
ed by the people.
Ii had been thought for some time
that Judges John l.. Thomas, of DesotO,
and Geo. B. McFarlane, of Mexico,
would be selected, and no doubt the
governors mind was several days
before made up to that end, but the
names OF many distinguished and bic
lawyers were presented to him, the
mails were loaded with testimonials
given unsousht, and every day dclega.
tons appeared to urge the name OF
some worthy gentleman. All were
entitled to consideration, and the gov
ernor waited and weighed everything
that was either written or said, as i
was right to do in 80 important a matter.
That his deliberation has resulted in a
wise choice the bar and press seem TO
unite in testiiying. Even the Globe-
Democrat, which likes to make pun
gent points against democratic action,
says:-"The expected has happened i'll
the matter of the new supreme court
Judges. The governor has selected
Messrs. Thomas and McFarlane, and
in so doing has undoubtedly made not
only good selections, but the best selec-
lions from the list of m presented
TO HIM. They will strengthen a court
already strong in the line of its require
ments."
This is merited praise.
Judge John l.. Thomas was born
September 16, 1888, in what is now
Iron county. He was reared on u farm
and educated in Arcadia College taught
school and read law from 1858 to 1855,
aud was admitted TO the bar in 1850,
while living in crawford county. He
moved to Hillsboro, his present home,
in 1853. In 1870 he was elected menu
Der OF the legislature, and served as
chairman of the judiciary committee of
that assembly. He was u candidate
before the state convention for Judge OF
! the supreme court in 1890. In 1886 he
was elected Judge of the twenty-sixth
judicial circuit, and was reelected in
1886. Judge Thomas is in the prime OF
life; looking perhaps d little older than
his fifty. years would warrant,
because OF his studious life, he is yet q
very hard and steady worker. He is a
ripe scholar, an able lawyer, an excel
lent circuit judge, and a good law
writer. His integrity is of the highest
order, and he has a courage which
tiinches at nothing when a duty ia to be
performed.
Judge McFsrlsne was born on a farm
in Galloway county Mo-, on the 2lst day
of January, 1887. He received a
thorough training in the rudiments Of a
classical education, and atterward at
tended Richland Academy and West
minister College. He was admitted TO
the bar at Fulton, Mo-, in 1861. In 1865
he removed to Mexico, Mo, and com
menced the practice of law. In 1870 he
was appointed by Gov.B .Gratz Brown q
judge of the probate court and in 1872
was elected to the same office without
opposition. SHORTLY afterward he
resigned, and since then has neither
held o sought public office, until this
year he was a candidate for judge OF
the supreme court before the St. Joseph
convention, where he had a very fiat
tering support. Judge McFarlane is a
man of peculiarly judicial temperament.
| Great in the knowledge OF the law he
is as simple as a little child, and it has
been said of HIM that he is not alone
pure in person but of a purity in mind
which would make it impossible for
him even to contemplate a wrong.
The bench of Missouri is to be COLI
graduated upon this accession TO its
working force, and to its already exalt.
ed character.