Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1903-03-14
BRIEF SKETCH
OfJudge Asher G. Caruth, who
Will Take a Trip
Abroad.
One of a Distinguished Family
That Has Served the
Country Well.
AS Commemorative Attorney,
Congressman and Judge
Was a Success.
4 FRIEND TO The IRISH-AMERICANS

The Hon. Asher G. Caruth, who has
announced his withdrawal from the race
for Judge of the Criminal division of the
Circuit Court, holds a warm place in the
hearts of all Irish-Americans. Mr.. Ca
ruth's health is such that a campaign
such as he would have to make would
be positive menace to his life. He has
therefore decided to step down and out
when his term expires next January, and
contemplates prolonged trip abroad,
which may include visit to the Holy
Land. He has money enough and hon
ors enough, so he feels that he may step
down from the bench and take it easy for
awhile.
Judge Caruth is only one OF distin-
guished family. His eldest brother, the
Hon. David Caruth, was prominent in St.
Louis affairs for many years. During
part of that time he held the important
and influential position of Police Com
missioner in that city. He was also a
member Of the firm of Carrth & Burns, a
large hardware establishment. David
Caruth was prominent in social as we'll as
political life and among the societies
with which he affiliated was the st. Pat
rick's Society, one of the strongest organ
izations of the kind in the United States.
He served both as Vice President and
President of the ST. Louis branch. This
society gave an annual banquet at the
Planters Hotel in st. Louis and these
banquets were always on a magnificent
scale. Hon. Asher G. Caruth was in
vited to one of the affairs and delivered a
stirring address in response to the toast:
"Our Country" On another occasion
the Hon. David w. Caruth was presented
with very handsome green enameled
badge in the form of cross set with dia-
monds and bordered with gold, the
insignia of the order. This badge was
given to Judge Asher Caruth at his
brothers. death and is highly priced by
him.
Hon. George William Caruth, another
brother of Judge Caruth, is distinguished
in the country's service. He practiced
law in this city some years ago and
served the United States as Minister to
Portugal during Cleveland's last admin
istration.
Judge Caruth himself served in Con-
gress with the Hon. Tim Campbell, of
New York, who in behalf of the foremost
Irish society of New York invited him to
that metropolis to deliver an address at a
banquet at the Brunswick Hotel. His
address was received with much applause.
Judge Caruth's connection with local
and national politics is we'll known.
During the term of Phil Lees holding
as Commonwealth's Attorney, while he
was i'll, Mr.. Caruth was serving as Com
monwealth's Attorney pro tenn. Hon.
Helm w. Bruce was the presiding Judge.
Mr.. Caruth was elected Commonwealth s
Attorney in 1880, defeating Gen. Basil
w. Duke and Capt. Mike Boland for the
place. He was reelected without opposi-
ton in August, 1886, and ran ahead Of
the ticket thousand votes. He tried
many famous cases during his Common
wealth's Attorneyship, and achieved the
reputation of being one of the ablest
Commonwealth Attorneys the State had
ever known. In November, 1886, he was
elected to Congress and served in the
Fiftieth, Fifty-frst, Fifty-second and
Fifty-third Congresses, retiring on March
A, 1895.
He was appointed by Judge J. w. c.
Beckbam to the position of Judge of the
Jefferson Circuit Court, Criminal division,
to fill the unexpired term of Hon. Henry
S. Barker, who had been elected to the
Court of Appeals. During his short term
on the bench he has proven an impartial,
fair-minded and able Judge, and his re-
a young girl who was sought to be taken
from the Convent of the Good Shepherd
and might again be contaminated by evil
surroundings is fresh in the minds of
our people. Judge Caruth denounced in
seating terms the efforts of those who
would strive to cast opprobrium on an
institution such as the Convent of the
Good Shepherd, AMI said the convent
was worthy of the help and encourage
ment of people of all classes, regardless
of creed.
The Judge is quite litterateur and has
delivered addresses of merit before the
various colleges Of the State, notably one
on Nothing Succeeds Like Success, !"
which was inspiring to young men hon
estly endeavoring to succeed In life. His
Irish-American admirers hope he will
live many years to enjoy the society Of
his friends.