The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-13
CRIMINAL COURT JUDGESHIP.
GOVERNOR RUSSELL APPOINTS Angus
TUS M. MOORE TO SUCCEED THE
LATE JUDGE D0SSEY BATTLE

LATE JUDGE D0SSEY BATTLE
Judge Moore Will Convene a Court
in Charlotte Today-Says He Will
Hold Office Until Next January, But
Many Contend that General Assem-
bly, in June Can Elect His Successor
No Court in Wilmington Until Sep
tember-who Will Preside?
At 10 O'Clock yesterday morning The
Messenger received a speclal telegram
from Raleigh, announcing tnat Gov
ernor Russell had summoned Angus
tus NJ. Moore, Esq, of Greenville, to
Raleigh. TO receive the commission as
Judge of the eastern district criminal
court circuit, and that the commission
would be issued during the day.
The news of the appointment created
some surprise in Wilmington, espec-
tally for the a hat Governor
Russell had e~veidently gone out of
the district TO select a judge. Mr..
Moore being a citizen of Greenville,
Pitt county, while the district which
constitutes the eastern criminal u
circuit is composed of M~ecklenburg,
New Hanover, Edgecombe, Robson,
Halifax, Cumberland, Craven, Nash,
Warren, Wilson and Northampton
counties.
However. the announcement of the
49,. 60 +;-frinn IN thor
it was the final settlement of a ques-
ton which had occasioned no little
speculation and created considerable
anxiety on the part of many who are
interested in the New Hanover GRIM
inaI court
The Messengers Raleigh correspon-
lent sent the following special last
night, giving more in detail the cir
cumstances of the appointment and
the career of the appointee, to-wit:
Governor Russell today appointed
Augustus NJ. Moore, of Greenville, Pitt
county, judge of the eastern criminal
circuit. Saturday night he rendered
him the appointment and t~elegraphed
him to come here. Judge Moore left
for Charlotte this afternoon, to begin
a term of court there.
He was born at Edenton, in De
cember, 1S41, and was educated at
the HOrner school n the University
of North Carolina, leaving the latter
to enter the confederate service in the
First North Carolina regiment. Later
he was in the artillery.
He was a candidate. for attorney
general on the republican ticket in
1888, and later for elector at large
n in 1898 for judge. In 1889 he went
to the state of Washington, where he
served in the legislature and was ap-
pointed judge, but could not serve by
nn-1~ 90 --.rfrsa;a-f 1@n@h 80 -a-;
dence.
Judge Moore mas never before held
an office in this state. He says he
will hold the judgeship until next jan
uary; hat such is the general legal
opinion. The law say that the next
legislature shall fill the vacancy caused
by the. death of Judge Dorsey Bat
tle.'"
There was TO have been a term of
the criminal court in Wilmington
early in March, but it could not be
held, on account of the illness Of
Judge Battle. who died within a short
time thereafter. AS matters now
held here until September. I'M
less a special term is ordered by
Governor Russell, and The Messen-
ger was told some weeks ago by Mr..
w. r. French, the clerk Of the court,
that such would not be the case.
Inasmuch as it appears. therefore,
that a court will not be convened here
until September, it is a question in
the minds of many people as to
whether Governor RusselrS appointee
(Judge MOOre) will yer preside over
a New Hanover criminal court, for
the reason that. despite the claim on
the part of the governor and Judge
Moore that the appointment will hold
until next January, they are of the
OninlOn thar the election nf a C1InaQS-
sor to Judge Battle will be within the
province of the special session of the
general assembly to be held in June.
The text of the law bearing upon the
subject is that vacancies in said of
flee shall be filled by appointment of
n governor, and the person so ap-
pointed shall hold his office until the
next general assembly, which shall
appoint and elect his successor"
Their argument is hat the next
general assembly is in June, and at
that time a democrat will be elected
to the ~judgeship, thereby relieving
Governor Russells appointee before
he has time to owen a court in this
county.
WHY MOORE WAS APPOINTED.
Late last night the following special
telegram, which throws some light up
on the motion which actuated Cover
nor Russell in appointing Mr.. Moore
to the judgeship was received, to-wit:
Raleigh, n. c., April 9.-It was said
by leading republicans today that the
appointment of Judge Moore was de-
1ayed until it was certain a place would
thereby be made for Daniel Patrick
as census supervisor for the Second
district. The delay was due to slow
ness in finding out from Washington
whether Patrick would be thus pro-
vided for. Patrick is a great friend
of Governor Russell, and the latter has
been anxious for some time to get him
a place. Daniel Patrick today receiv-
ed his commission as census super
visor.
1t is gratifying, as the season opens
to find that those who have ~patronized
us for years are still loyal. This man