Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-03-22
FORMER STUDENT.
New Attorney General of the
United States

Ing the Performance OF East Lynne
Several Morgantown Boys Fired at
the same Time.
1t is announced that Philander G.
Knox, of Pittsburg, is to be the next
attorney general of the United States.
His appointment has not yet been
made but it is expected to come on
April 1st. The news of his rapid
rise is very pleasing TO his many
friends and acquaintance at this
place.
Along in the early seventies he
was a student at the University be-
ing a member of the class of II. In
his Junior year he together with a
number of Morgantown lads were
suspended from the University for
attending a performance OF East
Lynne which was given in the old
Academy building.
Dr. Martin was President of the
University and the rules against
such conduct were most stringent.
The students were absolutely forbid
den to attend However several mem
bers of the junior class concluded
that they would go. Some of them
had the permission of their parents
and being residents of Morgantown
thought that the faculty had nothing
to do with their affairs.
Prof Stevens was sent down to
secure the names of any students
who might attend such wicked
place and he got the names of sever
al. He liked the show SO well that
after he performed his duty be re
manned to see what was going on.
The play highly pleased him and he
also stayed for farce that was Civ
en- after the regular performance,
On returning to the President
he reported Phil. G. Knox, ID. G.
Hoffman, James P Fitch, A. B.
Boughner and Thomas Price. The
latter lives at Camden, New Jersey,
and has attained emihenee as ply
stefan. The others are well known TO
Morgantown people and have reached
enviable positions of distinction and
honor
Their trial created furore in Nor
gantown and they were all suspended
for infractiens of the rules All but
Knox and Hoffman returned to school
later by signing an agreement not to
break any more rules in this direc
tion. Knox went to Mt. Union Col
lege where be graduated the following
year.
The following sketch of his life
was published in one of the Pitts
burg newspapers:
Philander c. Knox is native of
Pennsylvania, having been born at
Brownsville, Fayette county, on May
6, 1853 He was son OF David 5.
Knox, banker, and spent his boy
hood days at that place. receiving
the rudiments of his education at
the public schools. He attended
Mount Union College at Alliance,
O.. graduating from that institution
in 1872 1t was during his college
days that he became acquainted
with President Mckinley, who at
that time was prosecuting attorney
Tor Stark county.
After completing his college
course Mr.. Knox came to Pittsburg
and entered the law office OF Ii. b.
Scope, then the United States Dis
trict Attorney, continuing his law
studies with Mr.. Scopes successor,
David Reed. Mr.. Knox was admit
ted to the Allegheny county bar in
January, 1875. Soon after his ad
mission he was appointed Assistant
United States District Attorney for
the Western district of Pennsylvan-
la, which was the only public office
he ever held. He remained in this
position only little more than a
year, resigning in June, 1876, to en-
ter upon private practice, in which
be has been engaged ever since.
In March, 1877, he went into part
nership with j. H. Reed, which part
nership, known as the law firm OF
Knox q Reed, continues the present
time. Mr.. Knox met with remarka
Bile success as a lawyer and was con
nected with many famous cases in
JtllS DIS WCil do ObACl tCbdtOo. Wv
of those was the street railways case
Of indianapolis few years ago, in
which he represented the street rail
way companies IN connection with
ex- President Benjamin Harrison,
Judge Dillon and former United
States Attorney General Miller.
Another long and bitterly contested
case was that of Mrs. +. L. Clark
against the Solar Iron Company, in
which Mr.. Knox represented the
plaintiff. After several years fight
ing in the courts Mr.. Knox won his
case, saving his client between $780,
900 and $500, 1000. Mr.. Knox enjoys a
most lucrative practice, being counsel
for many Of the largest corporations
in Western Pennsylvania.
Mr. Knox was President OF the