Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-28
MORGAN H. BEACH
Appointed District Attorney
by the President Today.
CANDIDATESSURPRISED
WAS STRONGLY INDoRsED AND
VERY HIGHLY SPOKEN OF.
His Local Practice - Lived in This
Locality ALI His Life-Sketch
of New Official.
CANDIDATES SURPRISED

exist In the office of United States attorney
Of the District of Columbia has been filed
| by the President in record breaking time,
Attorney General Knox having announced
| at noon today that Morgan H. Beach of the
District would succeed Ashley M. Gould,
| who Will be nominated a Judge OF the
| Supreme bench of the District.
The announcement of the selection of Mr..
Beach was briefly made by Attorney Gem
eral Knox at the close of the cabinet meet.
| Ing. Mr.. Knox said that Mr.. Beach was at
| this time employed as an assistant attorney
general of the Department of Justice hav.
ing held the position more than a month.
Mr.. Beach was strongly indorsed," said
Mr.. Knox.
On going to the cabinet meeting Attorney
General Knox said that he desired to have
the position disposed of by the President az
early as possible, as he was unable to trans
act business at the department because
of the delegations Of District people calling
| on him in the interest of various candi-
dates.
A noticeable fact in connection with the
appointment is that 1t was made without
the President having received single dele
cation of local lawyers, or even any indi-
viduals, unless the latter were senators or
representatives who called ostensibly on
other business
Was a Surprise.
The announcement of the selection Of
Mr.. Beach was in the nature of a surprise
in the vicinity of the city hall and among
| the members Of the bar. The fact that
Mr.. Beach was recently appointed to res
sponsible position under the Departments
of Justice gave rise to the supposition that
he had withdrawn from the contest for the
United States attorneyship. The news OF
ia known
the city hall and at Mr.. Beach's office in
the Fendall building by a Star reporter.
AT the time Mr. Beach was not in his office
nor could he be located. The large num-
Der of attorneys and others who called at
the office to see the new United States at
torney were, therefore, compelled to de-
part disappointed. Each caller left card,
however, with few words of congratula-
tion written thereon.
Although unexpected the appointment OF
Mr.. Beach, from all indications, meets with
the general approval Of the bar. Even The
most enthusiastic supporters of the others
who were candidates concede that he is well
qualified to fulfill the duties of the office.
The unanimous opinion Is that the new
United States attorney Is scholarly gene
tleman of the highest integrity.
Sketch Of New Official.
Morgan Hawley Beach was born at Sandy
Spring, Nd. September 90 1851. and there
fore is forty-one years of age. The greater
Alexandria, Va. He was the son of the late
S. Ferguson Beach. a prominent Virginia
lawyer, who Is particularly well remembers
ed by reason Of his connection with the
action Of the Lee heirs to recover posseeA
sion of the Arlington estate. After grade
uating from the Episcopal High School,
located near Alexandria, Mr.. Beach entered
Yale University. He attained note as
Greek scholar. He graduated from Yale
at the age of nineteen years, being the
youngest member Of the class of 1882, and
with distinguished honors. After studying
in his fathers office he took the law course
at the University Of Virginia and received
his degree from that institution.
Mr.. Beach was admitted to the bar OF Virs
ginia in 1884 and of the District Of Columbia
in 1885. He has enjoyed large consulting
practice and has also appeared frequently
In the Equity and Circuit Courts, often al
the legal representative Of leading insur-
ance companies. OF late years he has ae-
quired a constantly growing practice In
bankruptcy cases. He took a leading part
in the Military road case, being litigation
concerning the highway from the Aqueduot
bridge to Fort Myer.
Mr.. Beach's wife was formerly Miss
Elizabeth Grayson Carter. whose home was
at Oatlands Loudoun county, Va. They
were married in 1888 and have four children.
In his younger days Mr. Beach was deeply
interested in athletics, and was well known
cross country rider
The 18th instant Mr.. Beach accepted ap-
pointment and entered upon the duties
eral. 1t was this that gave rise to the un-
derstanding that he was no longer candt-
date for the United States attorDeyship,
having been mentioned in that connection
soon after the death Of Justice Bradley. He
has been an intimate personal friend OF
Assistant Attorney General Hoyt for many
years.
Mr.. Beach's father Samuel Ferguson
Beach, a native Of Connecticut, graduated
at Wesleyan University, Middletown, in that
state, and, coming south in the early COS,
settled in Alexandria, Va, where he mar
ried Elizabeth Morgan of that town, and,
being admitted to the bar, practiced there
his profession for forty years, until his
death in 1893.
The father was a Union man. and loyalty
supported the cause of the north. He was
a lawyer of unusual distinction, practicing
widely in the state and federal tribunals
and in the Supreme Court Of the United
States. He never held public office. save
for a short time as United States district
attorney for Virginia during the adminis-
tration of President Johnson.
Are Pleased.
Those who know Mr.. Beach best look
on the appointment as an ideal one. They
say that while Mr.. Beach has not been as
well known as other lawyers in general
practice, his consulting practice has been
large and has included the most important
class Of cases. The appointment. they say.
was personal with the Attorney General
only so far as that Mr.. Knox was well ac-
ouainted with Mr.. Beach's ability, and that
this was important, in view of the fact that
the Department of Justice relies largely on
the district attorneys Office here for tho
handling Of many and important govern
ment cases.
Mr. Macfarand, president of the board Of
Commissioners of the District, was much
pleased this afternoon when he heard Of
the appointment of Mr.. Beach as United
States district attorney. Mr. Beach and
have been friends for a very long time,
said Mr. Macfarland land l delighted
to hear he has been chosen for this impor-
tant Office. 1 have always admired Mr..
Beach very much and know he will make
an excellent government officer. The people
of the District are to be congratulated upon
his appointment"
His Endorsements.
Mr.. Beach was highly indorsed for the po-
sition by large number of prominent peo-
pie in Virginia and elsewhere as well as by
several senator's, representatives, lawyers,