The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-31
COURT SURPRISED.
Officers Fittingly Observe
Judge Hudspeth's Last
Day on the Bench.
ELOQUENT TRIBUTE TO his WORTH
Mr.. Blair Resigns as Corporation
Counsel and Dissolves His
Law Firm.
ELOQUENT TRIBUTE TO his WORTH

t
A big bouquet of pink roses and a bas-
ket of beautiful assorted. flowers stood on
the Judges desk in the front court room
this morning. when Judges Hudspeth and
Blair emerged from the Chambers and
took their seats. They were for Judge
Hudspeth. The basket was the gift of
Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Theodore L~illiendahl,
of No. rs Danforth avenue. and the bou-,
quet was presented by the court officers.
Judge Hudspeth was obliged to remove
them to one side because they obstructed
his view.
After the -arraignment of the Freehold-
ers former Judge Hoffman made a mo-
tion tina the Court take a recess. Tor
ten or fifteen minutes, as the members
of the bar present desired TO take pos
session of the court room, TO hold a
meeting. Judge Hudspeth said that ne
could see no objection and granted the
motion. Judge Hoffman then nominated
Judge Blair for chairman and he was
unanimously elected. Judge Hudspeth
changed seats with Judge Blair. d
Blair said he was ignorant of What was
about to be done. but ne had no doubt
that the meeting WAS for some legitimate
purpose. He aid that he felt that-sense
of embarrassment which n sensitive
man would feel IN coming to the perform
ance of duties which had been so ably dis
charged by his distinguished predecessor
Judge sHudspeth had served long and with
very marked ability and he carries with
him the highest respect of every member
of the bar and their best wishes for his
future success.
Before Judge Hudspeth leaves the
bench said Judge Hoffman. the mem
hers of the bar desire to convey to him
some expression of their appreciation OF
his uniform courtesy. his fairness and OF
the marked ability with which he has
discharged his duties during the past i've
years. He came here unfamiliar with the
duties of a Judge and we have watched
his course with great interest. | am free
to say that no one of his predecessors
has shown more ability, more discretion
or more tact in the discharge of his
arduous duties. We part with Judge Hud-
speth with heartfelt sorrow, but we viii
be glad to meet him here among us. fight
him and get square and shake hands with
him as a brother"
Complimentary speeches were made aby
Former Judge Noonan, Senator DAILY, AS
sistant Prosecutor Van Wrinkle and Alex
ander Young. Senator DAILY presented
Judge Hudspeth with a very elegant gold
handled silk umbrella. the gift of the
court officers.
The whole affair was a surprise to Judge
Hudspeth, and he was deeply affected.
He made a feeling response, thanking the
members of the bar for the uniform cour-
tesy with which they had always treated
him, and saying a good word for the
court officers.
Judge Blair will assume the duties of
Judge tomorrow.
Judge John a. Blair and Mr.. Otto
Grouse, composing the well known law
firm of Blair & Grouse. have by mutual
consent agreed to dissolve partnership.
The cause of the dissolution is due to Mr..
Blair's recent appointment to the bench
of the Court of General Sessions, to
which duty he is obliged to devote his en-
tire attention. Mr.. Blair will cease prac-
ticing law while occupying the judgeship.
Mr.. Grouse told a News" reporter this
morning that he was extremely sorry
that the firm name was to be broken.
Eve have bene in partnership" he said,
lever since January 1, 1880, and I regret
that we are parting. / will continue the
business under my own name for the
present"
AS foreshadowed in 'HThe News" May
or Hoos today received the resignation
of John A. Blair as Corporation Counsel.
The letter asks that the resignation be
accepted at once.
In rendering his resignation Mr.. Blair
wrote the Mayor a friendly note. in
which he spoke of their pleasant rela-
tions.
The Mayor declined to make the letter
public. He says he will preserve it with
other pleasant documents he has received
since occupying the Mayoralty chair.
Corporation Counsel Blair resigned to-
day in order to enter upon the duties of
his new office tomorrow morning. In re-
firing from the office of Corporation
Counsel Mr.. Blair leaves a few knotty
questions for his successor to tackle.
One in particular is in reference to the
sales of property under the Martin act.
1t is a well-knoWn fact that Mr.. Allan
L. McDermott is TO be Mr.. Blair's success
SCR. Mayor Hoos has already appointed
Mr.. McDermott, and all that remains for
the new Corporation CounSel to do now IS
to take the oath of Office. He will do that
tomorrow morning, before City Clerk
O'Donnell.
the duties of his Office he will advise City
Collector Smith what course to pursue in
the matter of Martin Act sales. 1t is ex-
pected that the new Corporation Counsel
win advise many changes in the manage
ment of the city's financial affairs.
1t is probable hat John Wahl Queen
will succeed William p. Douglass as City
attorney when the proper time arrives.