The morning call., 1892-11-06

who commands the most numerous political
following who will make the best Judge.
There is wide field for selection. Every
voter should take special pains to inform
himself as to the personal character and
reputation of the candidates aspiring for
judicial positions. There are some men on
the ticket whose names never ought to
have been thought of in connection with
judicial position.
1t is just as important to exercise as care
fu and as wise q discrimination in the
selection of Justices of the Peace and Police
Judges as In choosing Superior Judges.
"You ask me for my opinion regarding
the nominees for the judiciary" said we'll
known attorney TO CALL reporter yester-
day. "Well. it is this. i admire Judge Wal
lace for his great and grand ability. for his
legal knowledge and fearless attitude in
all his acts as against the criminal element.
California has right to be proud Of him.
Judge Van Reynegom comes next. This
man during his term on the bench has made
an excellent Judge. He is able. learned in
the law, and equally fearless as Judge Wal
lace.
"One example of his stern virtues and
sturdy independence will show this, /
think.
when he was presiding in Department
IL a man named McAuliffe was charged
with highway robbery and grand larceny.
This man was the bosom friend of Martin
Kelly. for it was he who is supposed to have
shot Billy Harrington four years ago in the
Republican County Committee rooms on
KearDy street For this act Kelly under
took to befriend him when in jail, and, with
this object in view, he went TO Judge Rey-
negom in his chambers and asked that Nc
Cauliff be given six months in the County
Jail for robbery.
This proposition was secuted by Judge
Van Reynesom. and. instead of six mont ths
In the County jail, McAuliffe got ten years
in San Quentin.
For this offense on the part of the Judge
Kelly swOre that Van Reynegom would
never get Republican nomination.
"HOw well Kelly has kept his oath can be
seen from the fact that Van Reynegom
never did get Republican nomination
But the fearless Non Partisans, recognizing
his superior qualities, nominated him for
the bench.
''As for Judge Slack, he has made his
mark and Is one OF the most promising
young Judges now in San Francisco.
lyon ask me regarding Judge Trout.
"Well, l have this TO say: While Trout
is not corrupt, he is awfully weak He
has permitted, by his weakness, TO have
his court designated as the peanut court
BE has a custom of hearing divorce cases in
his chambers, and, by so doing, keeping his
court waiting tor thirty minutes. to the det-
riment of jurors, witnesses and others
whose business brings them there. Besides
this, he has made citizens of very inferior
material, from an American standpoint.
His dismissal of the case of burglary In
the case of Conway, who was caught In the
act OF robbng a erocerY-store. showed not
only weakness but dangerous disposition
TO allow a notorious thief to escape his Just
deserts.
Judge Van Reynegom had most POSI-
lively refused to dismiss the charge against
Conway. yet Judge Trout dismissed the
charge, when the evidence before him, as
taken in the Police Court, showed him to be
guilty beyond a doubt.
Then again, he is Influenced by J. n. E.
Wilson, Martin Stevens and others. He re-
fers bis divorce cases to Stevens, who. by
the way. was his late partner, and when
acting as Probate Judge for Judge Coffey
last summer appointed all his relatives ap-
praisers on estates in probate.
Another example of Troutfs weak
ness Is noticeable in excusing jurors with a
pull. This pull comes from the County
Clerks Office, where Billy Blattner excuses
his friends and marks their names % K to
be excused for political reasons Oh to please
Kelly and Crlmmins.
Taking all these things together my
opinion Is that Judge Trout should be
retired to private practice.
And finally, the best men for the
judiciary. to my mind. are those nominated
by the Non-Partisans."