The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-10
FRIENDS WELCOME
JUDGE RANDOLPH
Makes Bond for $4,000 in
Cases Against Him
RECEPTION WAS CORDIAL
Shortage In His Accounts as Probate
Judge Has All Been Made Good.
Other Montgomery
News.
RECEPTION WAS CORDIAL
az HERvEY w. LAIRD.

BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.
Montgomery. June. 9.-(Special Judge
Francis C. Randolph who left Montgom-
cry nine years ago under charges OF be-
ing short several thousand dollars IN his
office as probate Judge, arrived in the
city this morning, and was met at the
depot by large number of friends VINO
gave him a royal welcome. He drove at
once to the county courthouse and made
bond in the sum of $500 in each of thir-
teen cases against him, all charging en-
bezzlement.
1t has been rumored for several days
that Judge Randolph was expected home
and the report that he come in Sunday
night last was generally believed. One
of his particular friends told the Age
Herald correspondent on Monday that he
was in the city at that time. This seems
to have been a mistake as the judge did
not get here until today, arriving from
Washington.
He was received at the depot by his
lawyer, George M Marks and j. P. Arm
strong in the presence of dozens of
friends who were there to meet him.
The party took a carriage and drove to
the office of Sheriff Waller where the
matter of bond was settled. The full
amount was $4,000, $500 in thirteen cases.
The signers of the instrument were w. M.
Hudson. merchant. Montgomery; C. l..
Matthews, capitalist Montgomery; J. B.
Walter and T. b. Walter, planters.
Sprague Junction; John w. Underwood,
planter, Sprague Junction; George M.
Marks lawyer, Montgomery Several
others were present to Sign II 1t had been
necessary.
Holding Reception.
After fixing matters at the court house
Judge Randolph and his friends drove to
the MADISON hotel, where he registered.
Since that time he has been holding al
most a continuous reception. Anywhere
he stops in the street crowd gathers
and friends stop to shake his hand. An
amusing and rather pathetic incident
happened on the corner of Commerce
street near the fountain. An old negro,
stopped with age, drove along the street
and saw the judge and group or
friends standing on the sidewalk The
negro stopped his team and got out. He
approached with smile on his face
| and his hat in his hand and tried to
shake with the man who had come again
to his home. The judge looked as If he
did not know him and the old negro
stepped back with look of disappoint-
ment on his fact. At last, however, the
judge shook hands with him and the old
fellow went hobbling off, with a look of
satisfaction on his face, shaking his head
and talking as he went
His Welcome Cordial.
Few men could have left home under
any circumstances and on returning
found a more cordial reception that has
been rendered this man, who has all
these years been under a charge of talk
| ing that of his fellow citizens to which
| he had no legal right. Everywhere he
has gone he has been given the "glad
hand Men We'd with each other to
show him attention and he is treated
in every sense as If his return had
| brought general satisfaction. All he was
short in his accounts has been paid and
so far as that is concerned he is even
with the world. Everything has been
made good even to the money that
was subscribed and sent him while he
was In trouble in South America. 1t is
generally understood that there will be
no pushing of the cases, now that no
one is out any money, and that the Judge
will be allowed to live out his days with
his old friends in peace and perfect lib
erty.
In personal appearance the returned
wanderer looks well. Though tanned by
the tropical suns, he is hearty and looks
very little If any Older than when he
left the city nearly a decade ago.
His Wanderings.
The history Of Judge Randolps wan
dering after he left Montgomery is pref
ty well known. lie went from here to
California, sailing soon after for South
America. He stopped in the city of Medel-
lin, Colombia, and later traded for a piece
of land in that country. The purchase
was made of a man who evidently
thought the new conner could be 'JolHed'
most any way, and he attempted to take
some houses off the property that he had
sold. Trouble ensued in which the seller
was shot and fatally wounded by Judge
Randolph. He was arrested and tried ano
was sentenced to be shot This was fin.
ally reduced to life Imprisonment and
he was confined In one of those South
American basties that are about as bad
as death or little worse Friends In
the United States, among them Hon
Hillary A. Herbert, secretary of m.
navy under Mr.. Cleveland, took up hi,
case and after hard work got him re.
leased.
In the meantime the Judge had faller
heir to a large fortune in Philadelphia
ana with the money thus secured he has
been able to set himself straight with ali
the world. He is glad to be home again
He said he had Travelled four thousa nd
miles to give himself up to Sheriff Wal.
Ter and that in the face of the fact, that
ne could have led revolution in South
America If he had remained He wan,ed
to come home, however, and he came
AS a confederate soldier Judge Ran.
dolph made great record. He was a
major in Forests cavalry and fiebte,
that no foe enjoyed encountering.