The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-06
Supreme Court Holds Short
Session at Albany
COLLEAGUES PAY TRIBUTES
Judge Martin Says If Judge Parker
Were Just a Republican He
Would Be an Ideal
Fellow.

Albany. n Y, August 5.-Alton B. FaI-
ker. ceased to be chief judge OF the coure
of appeals OF this state at 3'2O p. ~ "
day and became the untrammelled can
didate of the democratic party Tor the
Presidency of the United States, lacking
only the formal notification of his nonin-
alton. which will take pleace at Rose
mount next Wednesday afternoon.
Without any announcement or intima-
tion of his purpose he came to Albany,
took part with five of the other judges
in clearing up practically all of the cases
which had been argued before the court
and then sent a messenger to file his
formal resignation in the office of the
secretary of state as the constitution and
public officers law required. He left
Esopus at 10.26, accompanied by the
newspaper men who nave been on duty
at Rosemount ever since his nomination.
Until after the train had left Kingston,
he would not divulge ais destination Few
of the people in the day coach in which
he rode, appeared to recognize him.
Went at Once to Capitol.
He arrived in Albany just after l clock
and after luncheon went to the capitol
his colleagues over the cases pending be-
fore the court. The consultation lasted a
little over an hour, and at 3;o5 the judges
filed into the courtroom and HANDED
down to the clerk sixty-six decisions,
which practically cleared up the business
before the court.
All Of the cases in which Judge Parker
was assisting judge were disposed of.
An interesting feature of the session of
court was that the judges were without
the long black silk robes which they
ordinarily wear. This was owing to the
fact that the session was unexpected and
there had not been time to get the robes
which had been packed away for the
summer.
\ The court was in session less than two
minutes and adjournment was immediate
u taken until October 8.
" Shows Newspaper Men Around.
Nj is long time since any such num-
1oer of decisions have been handad down
At one sitting Of court. His business as
Ghef justice being thus completed, Judge
Parker then took up the matter upon
Which he had come to Albany, the fill
the newspaper men, took them through
the court chambers, private offices and
consultation rooms and introduced each
one to his associate judges. In his own
room which he has occupied so long he
stopped and looked out of the window
to the distant hills across the Hudson.
His voice trembled perceptibly as he said:
This room, boys was mine
The very slightest emphasis upon the
word was was the first indication he
had given of his intention to resign.
Returning to the consultation room, he
took a long envelope from his pocket and
turning to Buell. c. Andrews one OF the
officials of court, said:
Andrews. will you do a kindness for
me. Just take this down stairs and file
It with the secretary of state"
Judge Parker's Resignation.
The document read:
Hon. John f. o Brien, Secretary of State.
Sir: | hereby respectfully resign my
office as chief justice of the court of
appeals of the state of New York, Such
resignation to take effect Immediately.
"ALTON b. PARKER.
"Rosemount, Esopus, N. Y, August l,
1904
Judge Parker spent the remainder of the
afternoon in conversation with his late
colleagues in the court. He refused to
make any statement or comment in con-
nection with his resignation, beyond say
ing:
1T speaks for ITSELF
His fellow judges were not reticent.
however, and each one of them had some
thing to say. all testifying to the esteem
in which they hold him as jurist and
man.
Judge Celora Martin, whose service is
soon to expire, by reason of age. voiced
the sentiments of all the court when he
said:
Judge Martin Pays Tribute.
I'VE all regret very sincerely that the
necessity has arisen to separate the mem
bers of the court. Judge Parker takes
with him from the court the good will
Of every member, and the profoundest re-
spect and regret. l could say nothing
bad IL / tried, except that he is a dem
ocrat If he were good republican
tell you he would be ideal fellow
Whatever pressure had been brought tc
bear upon Judge Parker in the matter
of timing his resignation so that his
successor might, on the one hand be
named by the governor. or on the other
chosen at the November election, was
effort lost. for the course pursued toda,
was the one the judge decided on as soor
as the St. Louis convention nominated
him for president.
Is Only Private Citizen.