The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-29

been a busy one. He has kind heart
and sympathetic nature. He is re-
spected and beloved by all who know
him. He is upright just and conscien-
tous. BY his wise counsel and helping
hand he has assisted many young
lawyer to fame and fortune. Remark
able success has attended him in the
trial of cases. He is one of the most
successful civil and criminal lawyers
of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He
has probably conducted more murder
trials than any other lawyer in this
commonwealth. His useful life and
many good deeds form a bright chapter
in the history of our bar.
JUDGE STANTON.
Hon. William II. Stanton was elect
ed in 1877, by the Labor Reform party,
an additional law judge of Luzerne
county. He was born in July, 1S43,
and is native Of New York city. He
studied law in the office Of Hon. w. G..
Ward, and was admitted to the Lu-
Zerne bar Nov. 10, 1868. Between the
years 1872 and 1877 Judge Stanton was
elected to several important and honor
able offices. He was district attorney
of the mayors court, state senator,
NOllS lCSolllell anu duNltiplleil law JutSN'
He was once editor and proprietor of
the Scranton Times AS "a writer, his
style is terse and perspicuous. He en-
joys a large practice. Fidelity to eli
ents is his aim and motto.
August IS, 1878, an election was held
for the erection of Lackawanna county
from a portion of Luzerne. The divi-
sion was carried by a majority of 1929
votes. on Aug. 81 the new county, the
siXty-seventh in the state, was declared
established by the governors procla-
nation. Hon. Benjamin $. Bently, of
WilliamspOrt, Pa, an appointed judge,
organized the courts of Lackawanna
county on Sept. ,, 1875 and the ma
Chinery of the new county was put in
motion. The appointment of Judge
Bently was made on the ground that
Lackawanna county the moment it
was erected, became, under the provi-
sions of the constitution, a separate
judicial district. A mandamus was
issued by the Supreme court, wherein
it was decided that the constitution
did not execute itself, but that legsla-
tion was necessary, hence the appoint
ment of Judge Bently was illegal and
void.
BY the provisions of the new county
act, Lackawanna county was to re-
main the same judicial district as the
old; hence the judges of Luzerne or
ganized and held the courts. 1t was
on the twenty-fourth day of October,
1878, that Hon. Garrick NJ. Harding,
president judge; Hon. John Handley
and Hon. William II. Stanton, addi-
tional law judges of Luzerne county,
regularly organized the courts of this
county, in the old Washington hall at
the corner of Lackawanna and Penn
avenues, in pursuance of the mandate
of the Supreme court The "Rently
court" and all proceedings Hereunder
were annulled. By Act of Assembly
March 13, 1879, this county was made
the forty-fifth judicial district, and
Hon. John Handley assigned 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 the bar OF
Luzerne county Aug. 2l 1860, He COM
menced the study of law at Columbia
Law school, and finished his reading
at Washington, D. G. Soon afterward
menced the practice of his profession
In 1874, when Mr.. Handley was under
40 years Of age, he received the Dem.
ocratic nomination for additional law
judge OF Luzerne county and was
elected over his Republican competitor
Edwin A. Osborne, esq. At the eXpira
tion OF his term, i'm 1884, he was re,
nominated by his party for the same
position, but was defeated by Hon. r
W.,Archbald, the Republican nominee
Judge Handley had only limited edu.
cational advantages i'm his early life
but he was ambitious. and made th,
most of his opportunities The write,
often heard him remark, in the priyec,
OF his office, how much he regretted
not having received a collegiat I,
education. Determination to succeed
in whatever he undertook was charac
teristic of his nature. He was i'm IN,
proper sense of the expression "a self
made man." Coming to Scranton 8
poor man, by skillful financierlng anc
1udicious investments, he accumulated
an ample fortune. He was benevolen
and gave literally TO worthy charities
1t was not until after his death tha
the public actually knew how man,
young men and women he had assist
ed to obtain an academic education.
"In Faith and Hope the the world will
disagree,
But all mankind's concern is Charity"
He was always kind and affable I,