The times., 1901-04-19
JUDGE COLES SUCCESSOR
The President Expected to Name
District Attorney Anderson.
Personal Friend of Mr.. Mckin-
Iey-His Success in OHce-AsbIey
VI. Gould VIII Probably Succeed
Him Boom for Is. f.. leighton

VI. Gould VIII Probably Succeed
Him-A Boom for B. f.. leighton.
It is stated or high authority that the
President has decided to appoint Thomas
H. Anderson, the present District Attor-
ney, to the vacancy in the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia. caused by
the resignation of Associate Justice Cole.
The elevation of General Anderson TO the
bench will undoubtedly be followed by
the nomination of Ashley M Gould to
be United States District Attorney in his
stead. Mr.. Gould is now Assistant Dis
trict Attorney
1t is expected that the official announce
ment of these nominations will be made
within few days. Justice Cole will re-
tire Monday, and it is anticipated that his
successor will qualify shortly thereafter.
There is still being made an effort 10
secure the appointment OF B. F. Leigh
ton justice. Mr. Leighton was can
didate for the office at the time Justice
Barnard was appointed, a year and half
ago. The President is said TO have decid-
ed to name General Anderson. however.
and in consequence the friends of Mr..
Gould are confident that he will be the
next District Attorney.
General Anderson is native of Bel
mont County, Ohio, and has long been a
warm personal friend of the President.
He has always been hard worker in the
ranks of the Republican party and in
each campaign has taken an active part
on the stump. The President holds him
in lofty regard, personally. and has
high opinion of his legal ability.
When the term of Henry E. Davis as
District Attorney expired General Ander-
IL. out Of
a long list of applicants for the honor.
He has been remarkably successful in the
prosecution of a large number of impor-
tant criminal cases during his incumbency
of office, and has won the respect and es-
TEEN of the bench and bar. When he was
made District Attorney it was predicted
that he would be elevated to the bench
when the next vacancy should occur, but
it was not then anticipated that Justice
Cole would resign. 1t was thought possi-
BILE that Chief Justice Bingham, who is
eligible for retirement. would soon leave
the bench and that General Anderson
would then be appointed as both are
Ohio men.
General Anderson was a practicing at
torney at Cambridge, Ohio, when Presi-
dent Harrison appointed him in Septem-
ber, 1Ss9 to be Consul General and Minis
shortly thereafter raised to that of Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister PlenipOten-
tiary. He resigned in January, 1893, and
Immediately thereafter settled in Wash
ington and began the practice of his pro-
fession. He was appointed District At
torney in October 1899
Mr.. Gould. as one of the younger mem
bers of the bar. has won an enviable repu-
tatiOn, and he has the endorsement of
large number of the leading members of
the bar. A petition in his behalf, signed
by more than one hundred leading attor-
neys, was presented to the President yes
terday. and his appointment as District
Attorney is regarded as practically as
sured.
Although Mr.. Gould resides in Takoma
Park, and has been a member of the
Maryland Legislature, his interests are
all in Washington so that his nomination
would be regarded practically as a local
appointment. His experience in the Dis
trict Attorneys Office is said TO have es-
peeially fitted him for the place, and in
fact it is stated that he virtually has the
field to himself
Two separate meetings of members of
the District bar were held yesterday aft
ernoon TO consider the adviSability of rec
ommending some one for the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Justice Cole.
The younger members. numbering nearly
one hundred, met at the office of Percy
III. Brown and decided to endorse Benja-
min f. Leighton for the position. Sever
al of the older members met at the office
of Worthngton, Heald & Fraiey. in the
Columbian Building, to consider the mat
ter, but it was stated after the meeting
that 1t was determined not to recommend
anyone for the vacancy.
What other action, il any, was taken
was not learned, as 1t was said by one of
the attorneys who was present that it was
agreed not to make public what line Of
action the confereeS agreed upon in ref
erence to the selection of a successor to
Justice Cole.
Corcoran Thorn presided at the meet
ing of the younger members of the bar
with Percy NJ Brown as secretary, Mr.
Thorn explained the purpose of the meet
ing, saying that il is the wish of a great !
number of the members of the District !
bar that the vacancy caused by the res /
ignation of Justice Cole should be filled |
by the appointment of a practitioner at |
the District bar who is a resident of the |
District.
George F. Williams made a motion that |
the meeting endorse Benjamin f. Leigh /
ton for the vacant justiceship. In sup
port of the motion. Mr.. Williams spoke !
in the highest terms of Mr.. Leighton for |
the position. The motion was seconded /
by a. E. l.. Leckie and Wilton j. Lam |
bert. An amendment was offered by /
Charles a. Douglass to the effect that |
committee of ten members of the bar be /
named by the chairman to press Mr.. |
Leightons claims for the office. The mo- |
tion as amended was unanimously en- /
dOrSed
A motion providing for the appointment |
of a committee to wait upon the PreSi- |
dent and urge Mr.. Leighton's appoint
ment to the vacant justiceship was also
endorsed. Mr.. Thorn will announce the
names of the members of the two COM
mittees this morning.