The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-24
JUDGE P. C. WOOD DEAD
WAS PROBATE JUDGE OF DAL-
 LAS COUNTY.
Succumbed to Pneumonia in Bel gium-Had Attended Ecumenical Congress in London-Several
 Applicants for the Place
Advertiser Bureau,

Selma, sept. So
 Hon. P. c. Wood, Probate Judge of Dallas County, was appointed delegate to the Ecumenical Congress, now in ses- sion In London. He was appointed to fill the place of Governor William J. Sanford. when the soul of that good, pure and great man winged it's flight to the God who gave 1t. It is your corre- spondents sad duty to announce through this morning that Judge Woods spirit has gone to join that of Governor Sam ford, and instead of the State having to mourn the death of one good man. 1t Is called on to mourn for two.
 When Governor Sanford died. the Bishop appointed Judge Wood as dele gate on account of his great piety and learning, and because of his devotion nomination in this city he has been the recognized head for many years past When the appointment came, Judge Woods numerous friends gathered about him and urged that he take the trip, feeling that it would be a recreation for him to get away from his desk Tn tne Probate office for couple or months. He finally consented 10 go, and with Dr. A. J. Lamar of Montgomery and other distipguik he'd Methodist ts who were dele gates, he sailed for Europe about a ports at which the transatlantic steam ships discharged their human freight As soon as he landed he cabled home to his loved ones that he had arrived safely OIl tHC OlIeT sue pl thV
 On Saturday night last MT. Felix M. Wood. son of Judge P. G. Wood, re- ceved cablegram from pr. A. J. Lamar at Bru sels: informing him that ms Ia morning prayers were said in the Metho-- dist Sunday school for the recovery or the good man who was so i'll In Tor eign land. but while those prayers were ascending to a throne of grace from the lips of earnest men and women, another cablegram came to Mir. H. H. Stewart stating that Judge Wood was dead; The single word, pneumonia, was used Tn the cablegram, and it is supposed that he contracted the disease while crossing the North Channel, as the climate of Europe at this time of the year IS great deai colder than 1t is here. and he must have contracted the disease while crossing the channel. He was warned about the Nall- able climate of England before he left here and he took the advice of those who had been there and laid in supply of heavy underclothing, but it seems that this precaution did not save him rom catching the dreadful disease that car Judge Wood was born In Centreville in 1892, and was. therefore. in his 10th year. He moved with his mother to Cahaba in 1S4O, when he was only years Of age; He would work one year and go to school the next, and in that way he acquired good education. He studied law in the office of Pegues X Dawson. and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1S57 He formed a partnership in the practice of law with Thomas w. Walker, who was the father of our popular fellow townsman, Capt. R. D. Walker. He moved from Cahaba to Selma in 1859. and the partnership of Byrd, Morgan and Wood was formed. Mr. Morgan being Alabama's distinguish cd senior Senator.
 and he went out as lieutepant with Colonel Reid as a member of the 18th Alabama Regiment. For meritorious con duct he went on up until he was ma at ho Ofh tho When the war broke out. his family moved back to Cahaba and lived with. his mother. At the close of hostilities. he rode home on a little gray horse. and that horse was all on earth that he possessed. He rented a piece of land near Harrell's that year and plowed the little gray horse and made a crop of corn with which to help
 ' He was made Judge of the City Court of Selma, but his incumbency of that of- fee was short. One day the Provost thing, which he refused to do. In a short while a file of United States soldiers came into the court room, whereupon Judge Wood adjourned court and never called 1t together again.
 In 1876 the bar ard the people made 1t so warm for Judge Gothard, Probate Judge that he was forced to resign and Governor Houston appointed Judge Wood to the vacancy and he has filled the office continuously ever since, and no county ever had a more faithful. conscientious painstaking. accommodating man to fill that important office. There was memorable contest when Judge Wood was appointed Mir. Moody May, who had been one of the famous lightning committee in redeeping Dallas County and the Black Belt from Republican mis- rule, had the endorsement of the Democratic Executive Committee and up to that time an endorsement of the com mittee was equivalent to an appointment. But Judge Wood got up a monster peti- tion and Governor Houston broke the rule and gave him the appointment over MT May. Judge Wood was reelected to his position at every subsequent Democratic primary, and died with the official har- ness on.
 In his young manhood Judge Wood was 4 printer and he was foreman of the Dallas Gazette of Cahaba, for number of years. When MT. deWolf. the pro- prietor, went to Montgomery, and secur- ed an interest in The Advertiser. Judge Wood went there with him and worked at the cases for a while. It was proba- bly his training in the printing office that gave him such a correct use of English. He was one of the most effective stump speakers in Alabama, ana has done valiant service for the Democratic party on the stump in the years gone by. He was a gifted man in prayer and his piety was of that deep kind that commanded the respect of all people, no matter what their belief.
 He was one of the originators and pro- l motors of the Summerfeld Orphans Home and was doing a. great work for | the fatherless and motherless little ones 1 of Alabama Two of the little orphans | were in the city on Sunday when the | news of Judge Woods death came, and when the little girls went into their room | at Mrs. Simss she oVerheard the fol- | lowing conversation between them: | Judge Woods death Is greater loss to us than the President, remarked one of | the little girls with tremor in her voice l that told how deep her feeling was l ."Yes " responded her little companion.
 "He eS is the only father we have eyer
 known except MT. Stewart" replied
 Inc 6rst little girl No tender tribute | conld have been paid to this good man | than the above conversation, when cdne
 stTaieht from the hearts of those two svmnatbetic. dependent loving little girls. | 9FIm5es Woods body will be brought
 hcn1e Jnee from Belgium but 1t will take it at l least ten days to reach Selma.
 About His Successor.
 T, the meantime Circuit Court is in | session and several capital cases are to
 be tried the latter part or the week; Il ne
 nF the Probate Judge the Register in Sb.ncerv shall act for him in the draw l inc of inries MT. Chambliss Keith, the | Register in Chancery, has assisted in | drsUin, the turies for capital cases that | t,,iII he tried this week. The question | nnv arises will it be legal for him to | assist in drawing the juries, now that | the Probate Judge is dead, and the law
 is silent on that point Lhls IS question | for the lawyers to decloe.
 Tn inc meantime there is good deal of | taIL about Judge Woods successor. The | names of a good many have been sug- | gested among whom are: MT. B. H. SnIoSSel W w. Quarles, Mayor A. L. Me | | ood Iudge J. w. Mabry, Mir. George | pbjIiins and several others. MT. B. H. Craig and Colonel w. w. Quarles are