Evening journal., 1897-06-15
TUEsDAY. JUNE IS. Is97.
pELAwARE's NEW BENCH.

DELLA w AttE > NEW DDAfCAls
Governor Tunnel has. under author
itys of the new Constitution, named the
new bench for the State of Delaware.
No one can criticise the personnel OF
the judicial branch OF our remodeled
government Chancellor Nicholson,
Chief Justice Lore and Judge Grubb
have already shown their great judicial
capacity under the old Constitution,
and that they will live up to their pre-
yious high record under the new condi
tlons is a foregone conclusion. They
enjoy to the utmost degree the conf
dence and esteem of the people. Their
great legal learning and impartiality
OF judgment is recognized by the bar of
the state, and the public confidence re
posed in them will give litigants the
cheering assurance that their interests
are in safe hands and that the pro-
cesses OF the law will not be used to do
them unlawful injury in person or in
property.
The new members of the bench need
little introduction to the public Judge
Spruance has for many years been one
OF the foremost practitioners at the
New Castle county bar. He is every
where regarded as man possessing an
unusually large fund Of legal learning,
which, coupled with sound judgment,
renders him eminently well fitted to
serve his state well and faithfully on
the bench. In the trial of the cele-
bratad parlor-car pilot case he sat as
chancellor ad litem, and his decision In
that case is regarded as one of the
ablest ever rendered by judge in this
state. While a Republican in politics,
he was, while in active politics, too
good a Delawarean to follow in the
train of ]. Edward Addicks, and sacri-
feed his party convictions to the pub
lie good, preferring Democratic rule to
becoming party to foisting upon the
people a reign of corruption and law
lessness under the name of Union Re
publicanism. He is an honest, straight
forward, intelligent citizen, and will,
we believe, be one Of the chief orna-
ments Of the Delaware bench.
Judge Pennewill, the associate for
Kent county, is better known to the
people OF the two lower counties than
he Is to the. people Of New Castle
county. To the members Of the bar,
however, he is known in all parts OF
the state as one of the best lawyers
that il has within its borders. His
character is clean his political record
will bear the closest scrutiny of his
worst enemy, and no one will for mo-
ment question that he is as well
equipped for the exercise of judicial
functions as any lawyer in the state.
Judge Boyce, the associate for Sus-
sex county, is the leading member of
the bar of his county He has served
his party we'll and faithfully, and al
ways with due regard for public de-
cency. In addition to this, he has done
the public much valuable service by the
efficiency he has displayed in the dis
charge OF his official duties. At the
time Of the elevation of Judge Cullen
to the bench by Governor Biggs, Judge
Boyce was an aspirant for judicial
honors, and it is said that his commits
sion was made out at that time and all
ready to be forwarded to him when ad-
verse influences were brought to bear
and the commission was destroyed ans
a new one made out and delivered tC
Judge Cullen. 1t seems like the irony
OF fate that at this late day Judge Cul.
len should be retired, and that the mar
whom he defeated for the honor many
years ago should now replace him a'
associate Judge for the lower county
AS though to make the irony more com
plete, Governor Tunnel had, at th'
beginning OF his administration, de
cided to appoint Charles w Cullen,
son Of Judge Cullen, his secretary 0
state, but at the eleventh hou
adverse influences were brought t
bear and he named Mr.. Boyce instead
To complete the chain Of incidents il
this connection it was stated that tn
governor would, Immediately, appoin
Charles w. Cullen secretary of state
succeed Judge Boyce, but this state
ment has not yet been verified.