The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-22
GRATEFUL TO HIS FRIENDS
But He Will Not be q Candidate Be.
fore the Next Convention For
Any Office.
SHORT SKETCH OF HIS CAREER IN LIFE
He Held High The Traditions Of The Bench While
He Was nit and Put of the Ermine
as Spotless as When He
Assumed Il.

To the Editor: In a recent issue of
your paper my name is mentioned as a
candidate for the Chief Justiceship of the
State. l desire to avail myself of the
opportunity thus offered to say that
shall not be candidate for that or any
other position before the next Demo-
cratic State convention.
This conclusion has been reached after
mature deliberatiOn, and it is therefore
hardly necessary to say that it is final.
I am profoundly grateful to those of
my friends who have expressed desire
that should be restored to my former
position, and I shall always cherish the
kindest feelings for all of my profess
sional brethren and lively appreciation
of the respect and courtesy they have
ever shown me.
JAMS e. SHEPHERD.
Raleigh, N. c., Sept 21st, 1901.
Judge Shepherd declines to be can
didate for Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court. He will not enter into what
might become an unseemly scramble
for judicial honors This announcement
will be heard with deep regret by hosts
of friends all over the State. Yet every
one will commend the high sense of pro-
priety which actuates Judge Bhepherd.
He served twelve years on the bench,
six on the Superior court bench and
six on the Supreme court. His record
is one OF which he may well be proud.
He was elected juege of the First dis
trict in 1882 and made so admirable a
judge that when the Supreme court was
increased to five members in 1888, he
was nominated and elected by large
ma;oritiss. When Chief Justice Merri
mon died in 1892. Gov. Holt appointed
Judge Shepherd to-the CHIEF Justiceship,
and in 1894 he was nominated by a
unanimous vote Cor that office by the
Democratic convention. But that was a
year impossible for Democratic success
ana Judge Shepherd was defeated with
his party.
In leaving the bench he resumed the
practice Of law and opened an office in
this city, forming partnership with
Hon. Charles NJ .Busbee. This strong
firm at once secured large practice.
These gentlemen appeared in number
of the most important cases tried in re-
cent years. They were notably success
full. Later Judge Shepherd formed a
partnership with his son, Mr.. S. B.
Shepherd, and this firm is doing large
practice. He is Standing Master in
Equity for the United States Circuit
court.
Judge Shepherd was a member of the
great convention Of 1875 which modified
the Candy Constitution, and was author
of the ordinance which gave North
Carolina white supremacy. He has
never held political office and is in
no sense of the word a politician, but
The is an earnest believer in the Jeffer-
sonian principles of government, and is
every inch Democrat.
In his political life, as in his judicial
career, there has been no variableness
or shadow OF turning. At the beginning
of the war he volunteered in the Con-
federate army, and before he was liable
for military duty he was serving in the
ranks as a marker and was doing SOL
der duty in the batteries on Hampton
Roads and saw the fight between the
Monitor and the Merrimac. He was af-
forwards detailed and attached to the
Signal Service Department and served
until the end of the war.
Judge Shepherd declines to enter the
contest and elects to remain private
citizen, but he has the respect and es-
TEEN of the people of this State in the
highest degree. In every calling of life,
as constitution builder, as judge, he
has made a record which will endure as
long as the history of this State is re-
membered.
We predict that he will again be
called from private life to high political
honors, but If he shall not be, his past
career has established his reputation as
great judge. who held high the tradi-
tions of the bench and who put off the
ermine spotless as when he assumed it.
great judge and great North
Carolinian the people of the State will
not forget James E. Shepherdi