Evening journal., 1890-08-30
CULLEN APP0INTEDJU JUDGE
GOVERNOR BlGGs MADE THE APP
PolNTMENT YESTERDAY.

|
| of the Bench.
| Charles NJ Cullen, ESQ, of George
town, was yesterday appointed Judge by
| Governor Benjamin r. Biggs to fiji the
vacancy on the bench caused by the death
of Hon. John a Paynter. Yesterday morn.
ing, Governor Biggs wrote to Secretary
of State, John +. Salisbury, at Dover.
requesting him to commission Mr.. Gull
len as resident judge for Sussex county
for the Superior Court.
Sketch of His Life.
A biographer of Delaware's prominent
men gives the following sketch of the
life of the new Judge.
CHARLES Mason Cullen, lawyer. was
born in Georgetown, where he has
always resided. on June H. 1928. the son
OF the Hon. Elisha d. and Margaret
(West) Cullen. Mr.. Cullen pursued his
preparatory studies at the academy in
his native town. and entered the third
term Of the freshman class at Yale COL
lege In May. 1S45 graduating with dis
tinction In lS4S. He then studied law
In his fathers Office and was admitted TO
the bar October, 1852, when he became
his fathers partner in the practice of
law till the death of the latter in 1862.
Mr.. Cullen has considerable estate ad-
joining Georgetown, but is devoted to
his profession, in which he has risen t.
deserve distinction as one Of the ablest
and most successful members OF the
legal profession in the state.
Bis profound knowledge of law, his
acute and logical mind, and his superior
forensic powers have not only secured
him large and respectable clientage
but wide reputation and popularity,
His practice is general and he conducts
criminal case with great ability, but his
preference is for questions of law before
the bench. His scrupulous sense OF
honor and kindly and generous qualities
OF heart, make him many friends and a
general favorite with his professional
brethren. In politics he is a Democrat.
but he has never sought nor accepted
office For many years he was an Odd
Fellow. He Is member of the Presby-
terrain Church. He was married MAY 6.
1858, to Miss @. Virginia Waugh, dsugh.
ter of Bishop Waugh of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, Their fsur children
are: Elisha Beverly, engaged in agri-
culture in Florida: Mary, in Virginia
Charles in the west, and Catherine
AahB dtcb Oullou.
Governor Biggs Interviewed.
To reporter of the EVENING JOURNAL.
who called upon him at his home in
Middletown ! asst evening, Governor Biggs
said.
The two prominent men spoken of
were Messrs. Cullen and Robinson. They
are both good lawyers. Mr. Cullen is q
man of more experience, having been at
the bar for a period of thirty eight
wears in active practice His friends
urged his appointment on the ground of
his legal knowledge, and that this knowl
edge of the law would enable him
to be of great assistance to his
brethren on the bench. Mr.. Robinson is
capable man, aud while he had not the
experience of the other man, although he
had practiced law long enough to make
him a competent judge His friends
asked for his appointment and Mr.. Gull
Inns friends were equslly anxious, but it
really narrowed down to this, that they
would accept either, only they did not
want young and inexperienced man
upon the bench to be appointed over
these older men who and equal cspa-
bility and greater experience than the
younger members of the bar.
"As regards Mr.. Boyce's position he
never asked for it himself and but very
few gentlemen called upon me in his |
behalf. | do not believe they came at
his solicitation. On the contrary, in his
entire views With me upon the subject
he advocated Mr. Robinson, and said all
that any friend could say for another in
order that he might secure for him the
l have the greatest respect
for both Mr. Boyce and Mr. Robinson.
but under the circumstances, while I |
have not one unkind word to say against
either one of those gentlemen, thought
l acted for the best interests of the |
commonwealth in appointing Mr.. Cullen !
believing that his age and his experience |
and knowledge of the law would secure |
TO the people of my state good Judge. |
and one which would be satisfactory to |
the people.
'Now, governor understand that a
remonstrance against Mr.. Boyce was cir
culated in Sussex. Had it anything to
do with it or did it weigh with you in
the appointment
mot the weight of & feather. l !
thought the remonstrance very unkind |
and uncalled for. Mr.. Boyces youth was
not in his way if he had had the ex-
perience and had asked for the place. |
feel very kindly toward young men and
think they ought to be recog-
nized whenever they showed marked
ability in any given direction. l will
say, however, that although two of the
petitions personally demonstrated against
Mr.. Boyce, one of the younger members
Of the Sussex bar explained to me that
the remonstrances were not against Mr.
Boyce personally, but against any young
man who applied for the position or was
pushed forward by his friends for such
place.
The reason why the appointment was
not made earlier in this week was the
receipt of telegram from Sussex county.
which read as near as / can remember, as
follows; "Will you postpone the sp.
pointment of the judge until Friday
New developments, Thinking there was
something important, answered that
would comply with the request, hence
could not make the appointment until
to-day. The new Developments" proved
70 be the remonstrances against Mr..
BoYee or any other young man for the
position, and although the remon-
strances were largely signed by repre-
sentative men, it mad no weight with me
under the circumstances, and / thought
II an extraordinary mode of procedure Z"
"How did Mr.. Bovee impress you in
the interviews he had with your
Very favorably, indeed. I think he
is young man Of promise, and his dig
ni6ed department, his keen sense OF
honor, and his adherence and promises in
behalf of his frieRd, Mr. Robinson.
showed an unSelhshness seldom mot 10