Evening journal., 1903-01-27
LEVY COURT NAMES
FRANCIS NJ. WALKER
He Declines to Act, However,
on Grounds of Being Leg
islative Attorney
MEMBERS WANT AN EXPLANATION
Of Certain Editorial Charges of Theft
Made BY the Middletown Transcript
in Recent Issue Of That Publica.
ton.

ton.
The Levy Court in regular session
this morning elected Francis NJ. Wal |
ker attorney for the court. The elec- |
tion was a big surprise to Mr.. Walker |
and his many friends. as it was unso- |
licited, and as he is already one of the |
attorneys for the Legislature.
The contest for the attorneyship.
which has been going on for several
weeks has attracted much attention,
and the court room was crowded with
visitors when the election took place 1t
became rumored on the street early in
the morning that Notwithstanding the
fact that Horace G. Knowles who was
opposed by the Quigley- Bach ring. had
been looked upon as the most likely
candidate, he would not be the choice
of the caucus.
Shortly before IL o'clock President
! Chandler and Messrs. Megginson, will
Its, Elliott and Hopkins, the five Re-
publican members went into caucus i'm
Comptroller Kelley's Office. After be-
ing out for about fifteen minutes, the
five members returned and some rou-
tine business was transacted.
After the routine business had been
disposed WITH President Chandler an
nounced that the court would 20 into
the election of an attorney to serve one
year from the first Tuesday in January.
Willis Nominates Walker.
Mr.. Willis nominated Francis NJ.
Walker. In making the nomination, he
said: Il take great pleasure in placing
before you the name of a gentleman
who is well-known and respected. The
non 30 fa. ~ -
ker ] would like to say that this posi-
tion was unsolicited by Mr.. Walker. He
was the choice of the caucus"
Mr.. Hopkins said it gave him pleas
ure to second the nomination. That
Mr.. Walker was from his own hundred
and that he had known him all his life.
on motion the nominations were
closed and Messrs. Mealey and Hop
kins We're appointed tellers by the
chair to collect the votes. When count
ed it was found that Mr. Walker re-
ceived five votes and John II. Rodney,
Democrat, two votes. Messrs. Mealey
|, and Armstrong, the Democratic mem
bers voted for Mr.. Rodney.
President Chandler announced the
election of Mr.. Walker. Mr.. Chandler
said he would like to see Mr.. Walker to
find out il he would accept the election,
but the latter was not in the court
room.
Mr.. Armstrong said that as Mr.. wal
ker was already attorney for the Leg
b islature, he thought it would be rather
unhandy for him TO serve the Levy
Court.
2 Mr. Willis stated that the Legisla-
? ture had three attorneys. and as the
Levy Court would have more or less
business to come before the Legisla-
ture. it would probably save the county
expense, having an attorney on the
ground.
Mr. Armstrong read TO the court an
, editorial which appeared in the Mid
r dletown Transcript on January "a, and
which he took exception to. The por-
tion which Mr.. Armstrong objected 10
was a statement that Mr.. Willis, while
president of the court. with the assist
ance Of Messrs. Elliott and Ewart, had
D rooted out the gang of thieves.
:. Mr.. Armstrong stated that there
= We're four Of the old members still in
o the court. and that he would like the
paper to make an explanation as tc
who are the thieves. Mr.. Elliott anc
Mr.. Willis both stated that they hac
, no knowledge whatever of the publica.
ton until it appeared i'm the paper and
- Mr.. Willis corroborated a statement
made by Mr.. Armstrong TO the effec
that the latter had fought against al
measures which he considered extrava.
CANT. Mr.. Ewart was i'm the room and
also stated that he knew nothing of th'
publication of such an article.
Mr. Megginson. who is one of the oil,
members, said: IF there was any wa,
} reaching the chap who wrote that
could clash his head pretty we'll"
Messrs. Armstrong, Megginson an,
i Willis were appointed a special com
Mittee to make an investigation as t
what is meant by the editorials refer
ence to thieves. Court adjourned unit
1.30 o'clock.
Mr.. Walker Declines.
y When Levy Court convened this az
is ternOon. Mr.. Walker was present ant
8 declined the election. Mr.. Walker CAV
e as his reason that he is already one o
j. the attorneys for the Legislature.
IS There is much speculation as to whl
y will now be elected to succeed Nj