The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-06
MINNEAPOLIS.
0FFICE go SOUTH FOURTH STREET.
BELDEN OUT
JOHNSON IN
SUDDEN CHANGE OF JUDGES COMES
as a SURPRISE TO MINNIE
APOLIS.
RESIGNATION UNEXPECTED
ny TIE PUBLIC AT LARGE, THOUGH
THERE HAVE BEEN RU-
MORS.
NEW JURIST is WE'LL KNOWN.
Has Been Prominent In Municipal
Affairs and Friend of
CIOuSh.
SUDDEN CHANGE OF JUDGES COMES
AS a SURPRISE TO MINNIE
APOLIS.
RESIGNATION UNEXPECTED
by THE PUEsLIC AT LARGE, THOUGH
THERE HAVE BEEN RU-
MORS.
NEW JuRIsT is WE'LL KNOWN.
Has Been Prominent In Municipal
Affairs and Friend of
CIOuSh.

judge Robert Jamison. of Hennepin
county, at noon yesterday presented to
Gov. Clough the resignation of Judge
Henry c. Belden, of the district court
bench in that county.
A very short time afterward the gov
ernor gave notice that tne resignation
had been accepted, and that in Judge
Belden's place he had appointed Ed
ward M Johnson a Minnea polls &ttcr-
hey who is the chairman OF the city
hall and court house commissioners. He
is said to be in Washington at present,
but if he intends to accept the appoint
ment, as there is no reason to doubt
he will, he will have to return soon, as
Judge Belden's resignation takes effect
at once. The newly appointed Judge is
said to be very able lawyer and a
close personal friend of Gov. Clough, in
whose interest he has been more than
once a hard worker and fighter.
He is forty-seven years old and came
to Minnesota from New Hampshire at
such an early age that he can almost
claim the North Star state as his birth
place.
HOW THE NEWS WAS TAKEN.
The news of the retirement of Judge
Belden from the bench travelled with
the greatest rapidity through the court
.Iouse and city hall, and it was the
main topic of conversation. Attorneys
and officials could hardly believe their
ears, and telephones were sought for
the purpose of confirming the report.
On all sides there was the most pro-
found and general regret. Judge Bel
n is oil fn no tyUn
years ago has cemented the claim of
his ability. He has been known as the
most thoughtful man on the bench and
one who went to extremes in a con-
scientious discharge of his duty, even
the smallest case receiving the same
attention as the greatest. Every attor-
ney who heard of the resignation was
willing to talk, and encomiums were as
free as air. The attorneys seemed to
think that it was impossible that they
should lose Judge Belden, and the dis
cussion was to the exclusion of every
thing else.
1t was generally known that he was
not in the best of health, but to few
had he told his determination His
stenographer knew Of it several weeks
ago, but it was kept as a profound Sc
cret. The blow therefore came to the
bar with tenfold vigor, and every mem
Der feels that he has sustained a per-
sonal loss. Kind words were heard for
his successor but in the sorrow at los
ing from the bench a man who had
endeared himself to all he met, but lit
tie was said Of the merits of the incom-
ing wearer of the ermine.
Judge Belden made himself popular
by bringing with him to Hennepin
county court room some of that dig
nifty which he imbibed from his Eastern
training. He was ever dignifec. but
had perfect control of himself even in
trying situations, so that there was
never any outbreaks in his ROOM With
all his apparent austerity, he was very
approachable in chambers, and a
charming conversationalist with a vast
bent for the comical side of things. Hts
one great trouble was that he was over
sensitive to criticism, and that may
have had something to do with his de-
termination to quit a position which
is in the main underpaid, and where
there is little thanks
Judge Belden was seen at his resi-
dence last evening and confirmed the
general statement that it was due to
his health that his resignation was pre-
scented. saying that if he had been il
perfect health he should probably NOT
have left the bench at this time Al
though, he stated, there were other
reasons. He had been contemplating
the move for six months, and for obvi-
Gus reasons he has not made the mat
ter public, although for several weeks
he has attempted to avoid taking any
new work which would involve his re-
naming any longer on the bench
A partnership has been formed with
Hahn & Hawley, one of the leading
firms, and the ex-judge will take part
in the conduct of certain cases now