The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1904-04-01
JUDGE BURNS
Celebrates His SOIh Birthday at
Ashland. Is Still Practicing
Law.

The following article, taken from
the Louisville Post, will be read
with interest throughout this sec
ton, whore Judge Burns is known
TO everybody:
Judge John M. Burns, OF Ash
land, KY, for halt a century a
prominent figure In official and
political circles In Kentucky;
honored with more than a dozen
Offices by the Republican party, TO
which he has belonged since Its in-
ceptlon, celebrated his eightleth
birthday March IL.
He arose early, fed his game
chickens, ate hearty breakfast, f,
walked six blocks TO attend 10
some private business, and before
Q o'clock was busy AZ his dtsk In
the City Hall with his duties a.
city prosecutor. He remained In
his ofllce all day aud walked halt
Amile to his home.
Judge Burns ls familiarly known
throughout Eastern Kentucky MS
tho "Scorcher,p sobriquet he won
through his fiery methods as a
prosecutor and stump orator. lie
il a personal exponent OF the
strenuous lie. la his early llle
he shared the struggle OF the
pioneers, aud over since, even to
the day he celebrated his ten
yeArs moro than the allotted span
of life, ho has worked hard. Judge
Burns has no pet theory TO ad'
vance as TO his longevity and viril'
ity, save that he believes there Il
salvation In work.
One OF his friends, on tho occa
si0n OF his receut birthday, sug
gestcd to him that he had aboul
reached the age at which he should
retire.
@RetIre?p responded thu
aScorcher." "Well, | guess not
When | retro the coroner or th,
undertaken will have to say th'
word. III never retire Of my owl
free will.n
Judge Burns has probably hel'
more different Offices aud been II
Official positions longer than an!
man 10 Kentucky, Two year
after he was admitted TO the bar Il
1861 be was elected Common
wealth's Attorney for Letche
county. He gave up the Office I
represent Floyd and Letche
counties In the Legislature In 1851
In 1860 he was elected TO the Stat
Senate, and after serving for
month, II was learned that III
previous Legislature had erred
making the apportionment nm
that thero was Que more Senate
ia their body than there should b
Judge Burns had already mao
himself telt by his powers
ready debate aud his legal abllit
but when II was made known
him that he was the extra Senat
chosen, he arose In his seat At
delivered Il farewell address, whi'
n chronicle oi the time declar
wus a "model Of humor pathos nj
oratoty."
When civil striio cAmo In lS'
Judge Burns found his sympathl
with Lincoln aud his friends a
relatives arrayed on the side
the Confederacy., llo served
County Attorney at Ashland
several terms, and rs school col
missioner he travelled widely oN
Kentucky as lecturer on edu,
iional topics.
While serving ns County Att
ney no thrice became the can
date Of his party for Judge Of
Sixteenth judicial district bef'
being elected. In 1856 he en,ol
the race late In the canvass, at
earnest solicitation OF his irlen'
and after an actual canvass GOV
Ing only twonty-iour days, was
Arst Republican ever elected 10
bench In that district.
Serving one term on the ben
he entered the pension dep'
nent at Washington, and early
the zoos was located In the pens
Office ut Louisville. In tho la
'90s no has served Ms County Jut
At Ashland.
Judge Burns aud former G
Bradley have been life long frie
They arc both fellows OF tho
fashioned sort, and the t.na,
with which they cling TO old-fi
ioned customs rather startled
gentlemen who happened to be
HzEIzKM