Morning journal and courier., 1892-03-25
JUDGE TOWNSEND.

Professor w. X. Townsend Nomi-
mated for United States District
Judge by the President-afs Ap.
pointment Assured.
Professor w. K. Townsend of the Yale
law school has been nominated by the
president to be United States district judge
for the district of Connecticut. Besides
the endorsement of both Senators Platt
and Hawley, Professor Townsend's papers
fled at the executive mansion bear the sig
natures of nearly all the prominent lawyers
of the state as we'll as a number from New
York city. The nomination was expected
and General Hawley says there is no doubt
whatever of speedy confirmation by the
senate.
General Hawley was on the papers of F.
L. Hungerford of New Britain for the po-
sition, but learning from the president that
unanimity on one man was necessary or
the appointment would go to another state
General Hawley joined enthusiastically for
Mr.. Townsend's appointment, STIMULATING,
however, that Mclean should be Judge
Sill's successor as United States district
attorney. General Hawley considers the
nomination of Professor Townsend as good
as made and highly endorses the selection
as one rejecting great credit on the presi-
dents choice and upon our state, and add
ing: ''The president could not have fonnd,
in my opinion, better qualified man for
the place if the state had been searched
from one end to the other.'
The fact that the judgeship has for
many years (thirty-seven) been held by
Hartford dictated also its assignment this
time to New Haven, and more SO because
{vry, It'd Of he hr7ef f0r he IT
comes from the southern tier of counties
of the state.
Two other eminent lawyers were named
for the place. Judge F. L. Hungerfor of
New Britain and Judge x-speaker) John
H. Perry of Fairfield. They are both we'll
and widely known, and were strongly en-
dorsed by their friends. and it is generally
admitted that nny one of the three would
we'll fill the place.
Professor Townsend's honorable rise at
the bar, his large practice in subjects that
come into United. States courts, his studies
| as a professor, and his mental and moral
qualifications as certified to by many prom
| in men had great weight in his being
/ selected.
| William K Townsend is about forty
years old, in the prime of life, and one OF
the leading lawyers of New Haven county
| and of the state. He is native of New
Haven, younger son of Hon. James NJ.
Townsend of this city, and graduated at
Yale in 1871. Immediately after he took
up the study of law he began practise in
| the Office of the Hon. Simeon E. Baldwin,
and later set up business for himself. His
firm, Townsend & Watrous, has very
large and important clientage and has been
remarkably successful.
Professor Townsend is Phelps professor
of contracts, admiralty, jurisprudence and
torts in the Yale law school and jealous
Yale man. He is witty talker, and has
frequently been heard at alumni Yale
gatherings. He has also been an effective
republican speaker in campaign work. His
personal popularity is great, and the let
ters endorsing him for the appointment
were very many and from leading judges,
lawyers. politicians and others in every
part of the state as we'll as from New
York. He gives up his practice at large
pecuniary sacrifice, but appreciates the
value in other and higher ways of the hon
orable life Office that is given to him. He
has been suffering lately from overwo1k,
and has been in Florida. He is practically
recovered, and will be home by April l..
He is now at the Bon Air hotel, just out
side of Augusta, Ga.