Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-28
THE LATEST ALABAMA NEWS i Governor Oates Besieged With
 Applicants. CAPT. JOE BOOTHE'S FUNERAL Col. Augustus R. McCurdy, WeIl-Known Sporting Man, Found Dead in
 His Bed.

Montgomery, Jan. 27-(Special )-Ev- cry moment of the governors time today has been claimed by candidates for the vacancies in the Montgomery city court judgeship and thef probate judgeship of Madison county. Messrs. A. D. Sayre, John G. Winter, E. P. Morrisett and Scott Sayre are the applicants for the first mentioned position, left vacant by the death of the late Judge Arlington. The contest between these gentlemen. any one of whom is admirably fitted for the place. is exceedingly close.
 There are number of gentlemen here from Huntsville today who are in at tendance on the supreme court, the Eighth division being up, and they have taken occasion to call upon the governor on the matter of the appointment of successor to the late Judge Francisco Rese Up to this time Governor Oates has given no intimaton of what he will do.
 Candidates for Circuit Clerk
 There are many applicants for the va- cancy caused by the death of Circuit Clerk Boothe. Among the applicants are: Messrs. David Johnston, who has been chief clerk in the office for some time; Col. A. B. Garland, G. M. Powell, Sam Westcott William Whiting. Edmond A Ira Virgin and Archie Arlington. Peti- tions in behalf of the various applicants Rre being circulated today.
 Joe Boothe's Funeral.
 The large attendance at the funeral of Capt. Joe Boothe yesterday attested to the high esteem in which he was held by the community. The procession was one of the longest witnessed in this city in many years. The Montgomery Greys, of which he was at one time captain, turn ed out in a body to pay the last sad trib, ute to the deceased who was one of It's most popular members. Few young men an the city had more friends than Capt. Doe Boothe, and his sad death is univer- sally regretted.
 A. R. McCurdy's Death.
 ] Col. Augustus R. McCurdy, the oldest and best known sporting man in Ala bama, perhaps in the south, was found 6ead in his bed here Sunday morning. He slept alone, and death must have bvertaken him early in the evening. as hs half-dressed body was cold when Hound Sunday morning in reclining po- Siton on his pillow.
 For more than thirty years he con- hucted here the largest gambling house 5n the state, and among his patrons were many of the rich and ante-bellum states men who helped to found the Confeder- acy.
 bounty, Georgia, about seventy years ago. He volunteered, and fought through the Mexican war; at the close of which he To- cated in Montgomery, where he has since resided. During most of his career he has been rich in this worlds goods. Gam ibling was strictly a profession with him. GIe conducted 1t as fairly as an honest attorney does his business. No minor or intoxicated man ever played at one of his tables He often said that honesty was the way to success in gambling.
 Ten years ago the Alabama legislature made the keeping of gambling house felony, and he quit the business, since which time he has lived on his past earn tngs, which, by the way, were just suffi- rient to sustain him until his death and nrovide for him a respectable burial. During his life he did innumerable acts of kindness and many man throughout the south will hear of his death With genuine regret.
 single Instance in Colonel McCurdy's life will serve to illustrate the mans character Fifteen years ago there was h high official in a bank here who was a Thigh roller" and who "bucked' faro in Eolonel McCurdy's rooms pretty hard. hIe was a big loser, and one day commit led suicide. The investigation which fol- lowed showed that he was short with the bank sufficiently to absorb his stock, but besides this shortage bonds to. the amount of $20, 900, which had been placed bn the bank for safe keeping by depos- ttor, were also missing These facts be- came known, and in a few days Colonel McCurdy called upon the owner of the bank and returned them, saying that the dead official had paid his faro losses with khese bonds, which he desired to return to their rightful owner. The bank official committed suicide fifteen years ago, the owner of the bonds died ten years ago, and Colonel McCurdy passed in his nbaoLc vaSfprdaV.