Evening journal., 1892-05-03
CHANCELLOR WOLCOTT.N
The Kent County Lawyer Appointed
BY Governor Reynolds

FalIy Capable OF Filling the High judi
eiary Position-rho appointment Is Cn =
versaIIy sstIsfaesory-sOmeo Of SIR. VOL
colts Fredecessors-sketch of Bis Life.
special Despatch to EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, May 3.-Hon. James L. VOL
colt was this morning appointed chan
cellor of this state by Governor Reynolds
Mr.. Wolcott was apprised OF his appoint
ment by the secretary Of state, a few
minutes after the governor announced
his action. The appointment is received
with universal approval.
Chancellor Wolcott is native Of Kent
county, Del, having been born near
Harrington. on February 4, 1842. He at.
tended the district schools and worked
on his fathers farm until 1868, when he
went to Dover and began to read law
with Eli Salisbury, securing admission
to the Kent county bar three years later,
and rapidly obtaining prominence and an
extensive practice. he was clerk of the
State Senate at the session of 1857, coun-
sci for the Kent County Levy Court from
1871 to 1879, and Secretary Of State
under Governor John w. Hall from 1879
to 1888.
Like every Democrat who took hand
in Kent county politics prior to 1880 with
a sincsre desire to be successful, Mr..
Wolcott was originally an adherent OF
the DO owerful Salisbury faction. But, like
other ambitious politicians, he soon be-
came restive under the yoke OF com
plete subserviency TO the ruling powers
that was ever a conspicuous exaction oil
the Salisbury dynasty, and eventually
rebelled.
De led the fight In Kent county IN
1852, for delegates in favor of Charles
@. Stockley9fer governor-a nomination
that was gall and wormwood to every
loyal Salisbury retainer-and in 1885
boldly made fight for Eli Salisbury
seat in the United States Senate. d,
utterly routed the Salisbury forces o.
the primaries and nominated Wolcos
legislative ticket, only to have the priz'
wrested from his grasp by the salisbury
bolt that elected Republican majority
to the Legislature and made Anthem,
Higgins the first Republican Senate
from this state.
Mr.. Wolcott islands high in hislpro.
fession, and is freely credited with pos
sessing all the legal attainments neces
n
Office that has In the past been filled b,
the most eminent Of the many abl
lswers OF this state Perso ,slly be is
gentleman .of pleasing appearance an
easy, attractive manners His appoint
ment will be we'll received by his fellow
members Of the bar and people generally
THE OFFICE OF CHANCELLOR.
The first chancellor OF Delaware wa
81
in 1892, The Court OF Chancery was then
novelty in Delawars's judicial system
The bar had no experience on trainin
for it and, consequently, theI
was little buslne5s.in it for years Th
transfer Of the Orphans Court jurisdil
tion was not made from the Commo
Pleas to the chancellor until the yea
1902, when it was affected by an RmenC
ment to the constitution of 1792.
Mr.. woLcoTr's LEARNED PREDECESSORS
Chancellor Killen resigned in Decem
Der, 1901, and died in October. lS0'
Nicholas Kidgely was his successor, {
whom it is said: "He was strict
of the slightest bias, even
favor of his only brother, who had tI
care of many cases confded to him
solicitor, and which had to be deter
mined by the chancellor as sole Judge
the Orphans Court. His deaf
took place at Georgetown
while he was there in the discharge
his official duties on April 1, 1880 The
Kensey Johns, Sr., of New Castle, wi
was chief justice. was appoint'
by Governor Hazza rd and
held the office for life. Kens'
Kensey Johns, Jr., succeeded him, an
he also died In the performance Of b
Oficial.duty, on March 2S 1857. San
uel Maxwell Harrington was then a
pointed and he held that Office unit
1865. Daniel Moore Bates OF Laurel W
his successor, serving until the sppoiu
ment Of Chancellor Salisbury on No
ann har 8 1R72