The times., 1897-11-06
Succeeds the Late Thomas F.
Miller OH the Bench.
POPULAR APPOINTMENT
Highly Commended by Judge Cole
and Many Other Members of the
Bar-Sill Preside III the Police
Court Monday Next-Skefch of an
Eventful Life.

Mckinley yesterday afternoon TO succeed
the late Judge Thomas f. Miller.
The official announcement OF the APP
pointment was made at the White House
at 3 O'Clock in the afternoon. President
Mckinley instructed Attorney General Nc
kcnna to make out Mr.. Scotts Columns.
sion early in the morning. This the At
torney General did, and the President af-
fixed his signature to the document dur
ing the afternoon.
While the appointment of Justice Scott
was naturally Disappointing to The other
candidates, AMI tlteir supporters, IL was
no surprise 10 those best acquainted with
the situation. Early in the morning promi
nent members Of the bar expressed the
opinion that Justice scott woulu probably
secure the appointment.
During The morning a delegation, headed
by Justice Cole, OF the District supreme
court, called ON the President III Mr.
SCOTS behalf, ana some or those eX-
pressing he nope that Justice Scott would
secure the appointment, " ere Justice Nc
ComuS of the District supreme court,
Judge JeTe Nj. Wilson, A. A Birney, eX
dissrict attorney; Tracy l.. Jcfrords,
James Coleman, NJ. NJ. Parker, Chaplin
Brown, and others.
Justice Scout was first told of his ap-
pointment by newspaper man. When as
sureu tnat il was a tact he said
Il sincerely appreciate the efforts Of my
friends in Iny Dehalf,' said The judge,
''and l hope 1 shall justify their opinion
as TO my ability 10 dtscnarge the duties OF
The position
Mien asked whether he would enter upon
his duties in the police court imme diaJely,
Judge Scott said h thoughU IL would hardly
be possible for MIN 10 do so untii Monday
He stated, however, that If Judge KIM
ball desired his assistance today lie would
en,leavor TO take on OF the courts.
Juuge Cole, wien aSAeu 40 express his
opinion as 10 tie appointment, said:
There can he 10 Loul 1 W hat lhlHk Of
the appointment. | think president Mo
! kinley could not have made a hetter
cnoice, ana furthermore ] ibink the people
Uf the District are 10 be congratulated upon
securing Sucn man Tor tie police Judge
snip. / have known Judge Soott Tor thirty
years, and l know him TO he PECULIARLY well
qGalrled 10 discharge the duties OF "A
poilce Judge. As member ot tie legis-
lature OF West Virginia warrant cierK
IN Jne Department OF justice, justice OF the
peace and also on tie IoliCe court bench,
Judge Scott has gained a knowledge OF the
law and Of men which makes MIN a most cx-
ceilent man for the place. ] have Ire-
qtlenuy nad 10 peruse Judgments Tend er Ell
by MIN as justice OF The peace winch la We
come to me in the court, and l have al
ways found them 10 he Iirst class. am
sincerely glad Judge Scott nas received
the appointment"
Many other lawyers expressed their
grauucation at the appointment oI Judge
Scott.
Charles Fletcher Scott was torn Sep
tember :, 1897, III Brooke cOdnty, a., Of
Seotch-Irish parentage. His IaTner died
III 1913, lis mother in 1-52. The fall
OF the latter year he attended school in
Ohio, but at the end or three years re-
turned in poor health, and went west to
Iowa where he remained eighteen months.
Returning east lie attended school IN
Pennsylvania.
In lS6l Judge Scott graduated at the
lbany Law School OF New York, ana iui-
bibing the spirit OF the hour, enlisted in a
company then forming, but from injuries
received while recruiting men, was not
mustered in, and returning TO his Brooke
county home in lSG2, ne became Conuected
with the movement in that section which
resulted in the formation OF the State or
West Virginia. He thus unintentionalIy at
tracted the notice ana favor Of tie voters,
who sent him to the house OF delegates IN
1861, ana reelected him To that office
in 1s65.
In S67 Judge Scott moved to Ritchie
county, aud edlteG the Republican paper
or that county i'll connection with his law
practice. He WAS appointed prosecuting
attorney to fill vacancy In 500 and then
In SO was elected To the office and also
chosen state senator, serving three terms.
from January, 1871, to 1877. In the
centennial year he was nominated for Con
gress FOR his district, and although he
made "A prudent and vigorous canvass, YET
he was defeated, the majority of the
voters still being Democrats.
Judge Scott in ST. moved TO Parkers-
burg, where he practced law and Tor tune
owned in partnership with a b. White and
edited the State Journal, a weekly news
paper then coming To the fore. In 1873
he was appointed by the President post
master at Parkersburg, and held the re-
sponsible position for the succeeding seven
years, resigring soon after the inaUgura-
tion OF a Democratic Administration.
Judge Scott is as pronounced iii his re-
ligious III his political faith, and is a
member OF tine Methodist Episcopal Church,
He mas always been active in sunday Schoul
work and other church duties, and has
represented the church a. general con
ferences and other legislative bodies.
He served his party i'll leadership, as
chairman of the Congressional Executive
ComitJee, and in the opening OF the cam
paign in 1888 was elected secretary of the
State l. eague OF Republican Clubs OF West
Virginia, III which difficult position he
proved himself an organizer, and was gain
FOR the suing four years.
During the war Judge Scott ranked as
second lieutenant in the provost marshal's
department, and was discharged from the
service April 2S, 1865. He conducted a law
partnership from 1868 to 1879, in Richie
county, w. Va, with Judge Cha rles c.
Cole, at present. one of the judges OF the
supreme court OF the District. Mr.. W l..
Cole, the brother of Judge Cole, and a
present member of the bar Of the District,
was also connected with the firm.
Judge Scott came to Washington from
Parkersburg, w. Va, in September, 1889,
when he was appointed attorney in charge
of pardons, Department Of Justice. At the
conclusion Of the term of his office he was
appointed a justice of the peace for tue
District OF Columbia, which office he has
held for about three years, and as such has
acted as police Judge during the absence
OF the. regular judges.
Judge Scott is Iuember Of George g.
Meade Post, Department of the Potomac,
Il. A. K. He is also past grand commander
of the Grand Commandery Of West Vir-
ginla, knights Templsr, and by demit a
member of Columbia Commandery, No. 2,
this city. He is also member of the
Grand Commandery Of the District Of Co.
lumbia.
THE GtDITn-r DI-rnDn