The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-27

| Hon John HarGley assiened as presi-
| dent Judge, and Hon. Alfred Hand as
| additional law judge.
FIRST PRESIDENT JUDGE.
Hon. John Handley was the first
president judge of this judicial dis
| trict. He was admitted to he bar
! of LuZerne county Aug q, 1860 He
| commenced the study Of law at Colum-
bia Law school, and finished his read
| ing at Washington D. c.. Soon after
ward he removed to Scranton and com
menced the practice of his profession.
In 1874 when Mr.. Handley was under
4O wears of age. he received the Dem
! ocratc nomination for additional law
! judge Of Lu2erne county, and was
elected over his Republican competitor,
J Edwin A. Osborne, esq AT the eXpira-
! ton of his term. in 1884, he was re-
! nominated by his party for the same
| position, but was defeated by Hon. r.
| w. Archibald the Republican nominee.
| Judge Handley had only limited edu-
| cattonal advantages in his early life.
! but he was ambitious, and made the
most of his opportunities The writer
! often heard him remark. in the privacy
| of his office. how much he regretted
! not having received collegiate
/ education. Determination to succeed
| In whatever he undertook was charac-
teristic of his nature. He was in the
| proper sense Of the expression "a self
made man" Coming to Scranton a
| poor man, by skillful financiering and
| Judicous investments, he accumulated
| an ample fortune. He was benevolent
! and gave literally to worthy charities
1t was not until after his death that
the public actually knew how mary
young men and women he had assist
ed to obtain an academic education.
'ln Faith and Hope the world will dis
agree.
But all mankind concern is Charity"
He was always kind and affable to
young men; he was ever ready to help
the young practitioner, He possessed
one Of the finest private law libraries
III the state, He was strong in his
likes aud dislikHs; ne occupied no neu-
trail ground. Upon the bench he was
always dignified, deliberate and cOur-
teous. He was of most distinguished
appearance. Upon leaving the bench
he retired from the practice of law,
and devoted all his time to the man
agement of his business interests. He
died peacefully, His kingly form lies
in a beautiful vault overlooking the
city of Winchester, his principal bene-
lcary.
JUDGE HAND.
Hon. Alfred Hand was the next Judge
In order of time. He was born at
Honesdale, March 26, 1885, and gradu-
ated from Yale college in 1857, He read
law in the Office OF Judge William Jes-
sup, at Montrose, and was admitted
to the bar of Susquehanna county Nov.
Il, 1853. Shortly after his admission to
the bar he removed to this city, where
ne has since lived. Governor Hoyt ap-
pointed him, March 4, 1872 an addi-
tlonal law judge for the eleventh Judi
cial district, comprising Luzerne and
LackaWanna counties, and in the cleo
ton of that year he was elected and
commissioned additional law Judge of
the forty-fifth district Haekawanna
county, for term of ten years. When
Judge Handley left the bench, Judge
Hand became president Judge. He re-
signed his position as Judge of this
county July 81, 1883. and on the same
day Governor Beaver appointed him
a Judge of the Supreme court of Penn
sylvania, to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Justice Turnkey. Judge
Hand is connected with many of the
most important business interests of
our city. He is a fine scholar. His
opinions show wisdom, justice ana