The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-09-22
VOL. 33
JUDICIAL FIGHT CARRIED TO COURT
Judge Mcpherson, at Harrisburg, Hears Tes-
timony In Montour- CoIum ba Case
Claims Of Contestants Opinion
OF the Court.

Judge Herring and Robert R. Little
at to the regularity of the latter's nom-
ination by the conferrees at Exchange,
took place in Harrisburg last Thurs
day, and was argued on Friday. The
following is gathered from the reports
in the daily paper:
HARRISBURG, Sept. I4,-Great in
terest attaches to the Montour-Col.
umbia judicial fight, which was taken
up by the Dauphin County Court at
a special session, over which Judge
Mcpherson presided. Objections
were heard which had been filed by
Judge Grant Herring to Robert R.
Llttle's certificate of nomination.
Judge Herring was appointed by
Governor Hastings to succeed the
late Judge Ikeler and is fighting for
the Democratic nomination. James
Scarlet, of Danville, is the Republi-
can candidate.
Judge Herring's case was presented
by Congressman M. E. Olmsted and
Messrs. Weiss and Gilbert, of this
city, and R. S. Amerman, District
Attorney OF Montour County, while
for Mr. Little there appeared Robert
Snodgrass, ]. A. Stranahan and B.
Mead of this city. Both Judge Her
ring and Mr.. Little were present IN
court, but took no part.
County Chairman Howery, the first
witness, testified that after Judge
Ikeler's death he was besieged by
friends of Little to call the County
Committee together, pursuant to rule,
to fill the vacancy, Mr.. Little himself
having urged him personally and also
written strong letter, asking that the
meeting be called on the morning of
August i.
Having been court stenographer
under Judge Ikeler and feeling friend
ly to his family Chairman Howery de-
clined to fix a time until he had con-
suited Fred Ikeler. He thereupon
called meeting of the committee
for Saturday morning August Is. At
the meeting Herring received IS out
Of the 2S votes.
From other testimony it appeared
that on the evening of the I2th at
Exchange there had been a judicial
conference, of which no public notice
was given and at which Little claims
the votes of three of the four alleged
couferrees. The conferrees claimed
as representing Montour county were
DIR. McHenry, who lives at Exchange
and Henry Divel, of Danville.
DR.. McHenry said that he had had
no notice of any such conference until
the other conferrees came to Ex-
change that afternoon. He under
stood that he had been appointed by
Judge Ikeler during his lifetime and
hesitated about acting, but because
he thought he had no authority after
the Judges death. Divel, the other
Montour county conferree testified
that he was appointed verbally during
the Judges lifetime, but admitted that
he had told one person that he had
not been appointed.
Fred Ikeler swore that his father
had frequently told him of his inten-
ton to appoint Divel and McHenry
and presented paper in his fathers
handwriting, drawn by him a few days
before his death, intended as a formal
written appointment. 1t was not ad-
dressed to either of the alleged con-
ferrees and was not signed by the
Judge, and was form which he had
directed to be sent in typewriting to
both men.
Fred Ikeler admitted that he had
told various persons before his fathers
death that he had not appointed con-
ferrees. He admitted that there had
been no announcement ofthe appoint.
ment of the conferrees in Montour
county and no announcement of the
meeting of the conference, but he had
caused Divel and the two Columbia
county conferrees to go to Exchange
on the eve of the meeting of the
County COMMITTEE, ,and had requested
DIR. McHenry to meet with them.
Herring's counsel produced one
witness who testified that both before
and after Judge Ikeler's death Dive
had told him that he had never beer
appointed a conferree, supposing tina
he would have to have written notice
Two other witnesses testified that 4;
few days before his sickness Judg,
Ikeler told them that he had not ap
pointed any conferrees.
HARRISBURG, Sept. I5,-The argu
ment on the objections TO the nom
nation certificate OF Robert Little a
a Democratic candidate for Presiden
Judge in the Twenty-slxth Judicia
District, filed by Judge Grant Her
ring, was concluded before Judge Nc
pbersous this morning