Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-19

the practice of law in Centerville. c..
w Vermilion is endorsed by the Cen
terville bar as his successor.
The news of the resignation of
Judge Fee was expected among his
friends in this city. 1t has been
known for some time that he contem-
plated retiring to private life, but his
decision is nevertheless, rather
surprising. A prominent member of
the local bar when talking Of the case
today, said Judge Fees action in re-
firing from the bench probably put an
end to all his hopes to an election to
the supreme bench 1t is understood
that the local situation at his home
town has turned out in such shape
that Judge Fee believes he has found
vocation that would give him more
pleasure than the position he now &C.
cupies.
Big Private Practice.
The removal from Centerville of At
torney ]. c. Mabry left an opening for
an able attorney to whom would come
a large and lucrative practice with
emoluments in excess of judges sal
airy. Judge Fee has a son, Thomas,
who is one Of the young and promising
attorneys of Centerville, and it was to
accept this large practice and so into
partnership with him that prompted
the Judge to retire.
Might Have Been Delayed.
At first Judge Fee had some hest,
fancy about resigning at the present
contaminated waiting until
after the Inauguration of Governor
Cummins, when the latter would have
the selection of his successor. 1t is
surmised. however, that the many
friends of Judge Fee in his home city
prevailed upon him to give up this
idea, and for him to resign at once
The reason for his wishing to give the
honor of the appointment of his sue
cessor to Governor Cummins, is said
to have arisen from his intense admir-
alton for the newly made governor.
Judge Fee was one of the strongest
ant-conyention Cummins men in
southern Iowa, and he would have
been pleased to have been able to al
! low the latter to name his successor.
A Worthy Man.
| Local members of the bar are well
satisfied with the endorsement of the
I Centerville bar of G. w. Vermilion OF
/ that city, as a successor to Judge Fee
He has long been one of the leading at
! torreys of Appanoose county, and it is
said that his appointment would give
satisfaction. Should Mr.. Vermilior
receive the appointment as Judge, II
would remove another able lawyer
from private practice in that city, and
would widen the field for Judge Fee
in his desire to retire to private life.
Probably Permanent.
! Should Attorney Vermilion receive
the appointment to serve the uneXpir
ed term of Judge Fee, it would prob
ably mean that he would receive the
nomination for Judge next year with
out OPPOSITION. Judpge Fees term OK
pires in another year, and the appoint
ment of his successor at this tim'
would probably preclude the possibil
ity of contest for the place yea
! hence.
\ A Popular Man.
Judge Fee is a popular man. H,
makes friends wherever he goes. HI
is also one of the strongest men Oh
the bench. He is now serving hi
third term as Judge, having been nom
mated and elected in 1895. He wa
an old soldier, having served witt
much success as captain in the Thil
ty-sixth Iowa volunteer infantry dun
ing the civil war At one time, man
: years ago. Judge Fee was a residen
of Ottumwa, and it was from This cit
that he enlisted in the army.