The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-05-31
GARRETT COUNTY.
Some Interesting Facts Relating to
the Oakland Bar.


scr. Jay in Cumberland News.
OAKLAND, Nd, May %, 1894.
BY the terms Of the act creating
it, Garrett county was made part
of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, and
the third Monday in May, 1873.
was fixed as the time for holding
the first term.
The judges OF the Fourth Judi
cial Circuit at the time were Rich
ard II. Alvey, of Hagerstown,
chief judge, and William Motter,
of Hagerstown, and George Paerre,
of Cum berland, associate judges.
The first term of the circuit
court for Garrett county was called
on Monday, May 10, 1878, with as
sociate judges Pearre and Motter on
the bench; clerk, W. II. Tower;
sheriff, Thomas Coddington; and
States attorney Col. James NJ.
Schley.
At that time the new county had
no public buildings and the court
was held in the ball room of the old
Glades Hotel, which was rendered
for that purpose by the late John
Daily. Subsequent terms of court
were held in the dining room of the
Glades Hotel, the public school
building. Martins store house and
the Methodist church until the
court house was completed in 1877.
At the first term of court William
Waltz was appointed bailiff to the
grand jury, and filled the office I'M
til lncapacitated by the infrmities
of old age. Z. d. Kepner was APP
pointed in his place, and still holds
the office. VIM. Smouse was APP
pointed crier and held that office
until his death, and was succeeded
by A. j. Harne, who in now crier.
Thomas Bosley, who, as bailiff,
locked up the first petit jury in
Garrett county, still carries the
keys of the petit jury room, and in
the past twenty-one years has had
many important juries IN his charge.
James Beall was the first messen-
ger to the court. He removed
from the county and was succeeded
by George A. Spedden, of Oakland.
At the opening of the first term
of the court on the 18th of May,
1878, the following attorneys were
admitted to pratice in said court:
Joseph A. Cahill, S. A. Cox, 4.
Chew Jones, A. II. Blackiston,
John B. Fay, of Cumberland;
John M. Read and G. S, Hamill, of
Oakland, and Thomas j. Peddi-
cord, of Rockville, Md. Of this
number, G. S. Hamill and Thomas
j. Peddicord only have continuous
ly praticed at the bar from that
time to the present. John B. Fay
is a United States official in New
Mexico; S. A. Cox is IN Washing
ton, d, c., and Messrs. R. Chew
Jones, A. H. Blackiston. John NJ.
Read, haye departed this life.
Later in the term Messrs. j. IL.
Gordon, J. W. Veitch, William W.
McKaig and J. NJ. Schley were adj
mitted. These are all dead.
On Tuesday, May goth, 1874, a.
jury was sworn to try the first case
ever tried in Garrett county. This
was an appeal case between W.
Lipscomb and Samuel Rodeheaver, :
and stood No 2 appeals. Joseph
A. Cahill and John NJ. Read rep
resented Libscomb, and Thomas j.
Peddlcord appeared for Rodeheaver.
The jury rendered a verdict for
Rodeheaver. Judge Richard IL.
Alvey continued as Chief Judge of
the circuit court until about
year ago. when President Cleveland
appointed him Chief Judge of the
Court of Appeal Of the District of
Columbia. Judge Motter served
until his death, and was succeeded
by Josiah H. Gordon, of Cumber
land, who was appointed by the
SONc1uOl W SCl yO uholl oiO NAV
election when Henry W. Hoffman
was elected for the full term OF
fifteen years. Judge Pearre died
in office, and was succeed by A. x.
Syester who served until his death,
and was succeeded by Edward
Stake. Upon the retirement of
Judge Alvey, A. Hunter Boyd,
of Cumberland, was appointed
Chief Judge, and at the fall elcc-
ton, 1898, he was elected for full
term. The court as at present
constituted is Chief Judge A. Hun
ter Boyd, Associates, Henry W.
Hoffman and Edward Stake.
W. IL. Tower served as clerk un-
til June 9th. 1887, when his death
occurred. His son, E. Z. Tower,
vino had been deputy clerk, was,
upon the recommendation of the
bar, appointed to fill the vacancy.
He has since that time been twice
elected by the people, and sill
holds the office.