The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-06
A WORD ABOUT SOME
WELL KNOWN MEN


monds at Dickson, Mr.. Richmond has
pursued mining operations there almost
continuously, hut branchcd out and
established collicries in other places
also.
His retirement from active particle
patton i'm the coal business removes
one Of the pioneers Of business that
has made the Lackawanna valley
known through the length and breadth
of the land. He is spending the easy
hours Of his life at his beautiful home,
"Richmond Hill Farm" in the north
ern part OF the city. His residence is
stately pile that commands u mag
niicent view of the valley.
The appointment Of Judge John +.
Mcpherson, of Dauphin county as
judge of the United states district
court for the eastern district of Penn
sylvania to succeed Judge Butler, was
very gratifying to his many friends
and admirers in this county. 1t was an
honor bestowed on one of the best
judges Of the state. During the last
five years Judge Mcpherson has fire.
qucntly presided in the courts Of this
county and his rulings have invariably
been marked by the most scrupulous
| fairness and keen discernment. Few
Judges who try cases here have to a
greater extent the respect and good
will of the members of this bar.
One marked characteristic of Judge
Mcpherson is his marvellous memory.
He seldom makes notes during the trial
of case, but when the evidence is all
in, the arguments are heard and he
proceeds to charge the jury this fea-
ture of his mental powers appears in
strong relief. He quotes at length from
the evidence of the witnesses and gives
figures and dates with the ease that he
might rcCite a Stanza of poetry he had
committed to memory. No Judge who
has appeared in the local courts dppar-
entity possesses the ability to absorb
everything connected with a case to
the extent judge Mcpherson does.
He will he hailed with delight by the
attorneys who practice in the United
States court of the Eastern district.
For several years Judge Butler has
been testy and irritable and at times
arbitrary. 1t was Judge Butler it will
be remembered. who sentenced Cap
tain Hart to the pententiary for en-
gaging in filibustering expedition to
Cuba a short time before the Maine
was blown up. Hart was pardoned by
President Mckinley as soon as war was
declared. Judge Mcpherson has been
on the bench of Dauphin county since
1882, when he was appointed by Gov
ernOr Hoyt. He was elected in Novem-
Der of that year and reelected in 1892
G. j. Gillespie. Of North Scranton. the
new secretary of the poor board has
entered upon the duties of his office
He is a brother of John b. Gillespie at
one time a great power in Republican
politics in the northern part Of the
city. The new secretary has been con-
nected with the poor board heretofore
in the capacity of an auditor and has
a thorough knowledge of the work that
| is before him. Mr.. Gillespie was for
number of years engaged in the mer-
camille business in North Scranton.
His election is due almost entirely TO
| the efforts OF Director Thomas Shot
| ton in his behalf. Mr. Shotton was
against the Langstaff- -Fnn-Von Ber-
gen combination, but would discuss no
combination of officers that did not con-
| tain the name of his favor!te for sec
retary. He stuck resolutely to this
programme and had the satisfaction Of
| seeing his man chosen.
At least one director who objected to
w. S. Langstaff for president was will
| ing to vote for his son for secretary Of
! the board. The young man had served
year in the office to the general sat
isfaction of the board, and he would
| have been reelected had not the des-
perate fight for the control of the board
made combination on all the offices
| absolutely necessary.