The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-14

bAiS iNC"o W thc n APpOlhlct'
Hon. John 7. Kelly was yesterday
appointed by Governor w. A. Stone.as
additional law judge of I.ackawanna
county, TO succeed Hon. f. w. Gunster,
deceased
The first announcement came by AS
sociated Press dispatch, under a Har-
risburg date line, at 7.30 o'clock last
evening, and half an hour later a Trib-
une reporter had the pleasure of CIV
ing Judge Kelly, at his home on Olive
street, the first information of his ele-
walton to the bench.
This is truly pleasant news you
bring me-" he said, when he had read
the dispatch and conveyed it's contents
to his wife and a lady friend who was
visiting them at the time. II hardly
know how / will be able to show my
appreciation of the efforts of my fel-
low-lawyers who have secured for me
this great honor. The appointment is
not regarded with any greater salts
faction by me than is the action of the
members of the bar in giving me so
general an endorsement. If did not
feel proud 1 would be confessing my
SelE lacking In appreclatlOn.'
AS to how soon he would assume the
duties of his new office, Judge Kelly,
of course, could not say, but it is not
unlikely that if official notification
comes in time, he will be called upon
to preside in criminal court next week.
1t is the intention to conduct three
courts. Judge Swartz, of Chester coun-
ty, and Judge Gordon, of Cearfield,
have been invited to assist, and it was
Judge Edwards intention to continue
to sit during the second week to eX-
pedite the congested business, but as
we will, in all likelihood, have a third
local Judge seated by Monday, Judge
Edwards will be relieved by Judge
Kelly from the extra work he proposed
to undertake
NO ESPECIAL FORMALITIES.
No especial formalities attend the in,
stallation of q judge. In this county 1t
has been customary for the other
judges to escort the new member to the
bench, introduce him to the members
of the bar and have his commission
read by the clerk.
Judge Kelly's appointment came to
him, it can truthfully be said, without
solicitation on his part. His recog-
nized fitness for the position caused
him to be generally discussed as a
worthy candidate for judicial honors,
and when Judge Gunster's death oc-
Cured, he was very generally, both in
legal circles and amonE the laity
picked upon for the vacancy.
He returned from the sessions of the
Supreme court at Philadelphia, during
the week following Judge Gunster's s
death, to find a movement, headed by
leading members of the bar, well under
way to have him recommended to the
governor for the appointment.
Hon. Alfred Hand, eX-justice of the
Supreme court; Hon. L. n. Willard, eX-
judge of the Superior court; Hon. II.
"A. Knapp, eX-judge of the LackaWanna
common pleas; Hon. w. Fl. JeSsup, eX-
judge of the Susquehanna common
pleas; Hon. l.. A. Watres, eX-lieuten-
ant governor Hon. G. =. O'Malley, c.
S. Woodruff, c. j. Post Lewis b. Car
ter and w. II, Jessup, jr, signed a call
for meeting of the bar "for the pur-
pose of obtaining an expression on the
question of the appointment of a sue
cessOr to Judge Gunster," and Justice
Hand, Judge Willard and Judge Jes-
sup dispatched a message to Governor
Stone, requesting him not to make the
appointment til the bar had been given
an opportunity of declaring itself.
The call was issued Tuesday, Feb
ruary 6, and the meeting was held on
the following Thursday. After first de-
claring in favor of minority represen
tation on the bench ballot was taken
to determine what Democrat was the
choice of the bar for it's endorsement,
Without any nominations being made.
Mr.. Kelly received SO votes as against
% cast for three others.
Senator j. c. Vaughan and John
NJ. Harris We're appointed a CON-
mittee to present Mr.. Kellys nomi-
nation and the action of the
Bar association to Governor Stone,
and week later. when the governor
returned from Atlantic City, he was
| waited upon by the committee at Har-
risburg and informed of the bars
| wishes.
Governor stones appointee will serve
| for the remainder of this year. Next
November a judge will be elected for
term of ten years.
cRI,rrC,II ON NrICyyy Ty,nCr