The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-01-07
PRACTICED UNDER 4 CONSTITUTIONS.
Noteworthy Career of Jacob Brown, Mes
tor of AIlegany County Bar.

Our circuit court Will me ct on
Monday next, when the two new
Judges, r. R. Henderson and NJ.
L. Keedy, will take their seats for
the first time at regular session
of this court. Chief Judge A.
Hunter Boyd's term will not end
till 1908.
1t might be of some interest to
the readers of your paper to know
or be reminded who and how many
Judges have sat on the bench of
our court since the date of the Con-
stitution of 1880. Under
the old Constitution, and the
laws at that date, the county
court, as it was then legally called,
was filled by R. N. Martin, of Bal
timore, r. H. Marshall, of Fred
erick, and Daniel Weisel, of Ha-
gerstown.
The new Constitution of 1880
went into effect in 1851, when
Thomas Perry, of Cumberland, was
elected for the term of ten years
for the circuit, composed of Allie
gany and Washington counties.
He served out his full term. 1t
was by the Constitution of 1850
that the single judge plan was
established, and when the Court
of Appeals was made an independ-
ent tribunal. The War Constitu-
ton of 1864 continued the single
: Judge, system and made circuit
out of Allegany county alone, and
: the same for Washington county.
James Smith was elected judge for
} our county at the November cleo
ton, 1864, butlhis death came sud
} denly and unexpectedly in Septem-
Der, 1865. George A. Pearre sue
ceeded him, but he was displaced
! by the Constitution of 1867, which
restored the three judge system
I Judge Pearre died in 1885 and his
place was temporarily filled by eX-
ecutive appointment of Josiah H.
Gordon. Henry w. Hoffman was
elected at November election, 1883,
for Is years. He died in July,
1905, and was followed by David
: w. Sloan, who diedsin july 1902.
His vacancy was filled by Ferdi-
nand Williams by executive APP
pointment. He served until his
successor, X. r. Henderson, was
, chosen at the late election. A.
Hunter Boyd was elected as the
successor of r. H. Alvey in 1898
for IS years. 1t will thus be seen
, Allegany county has had nine law
judges during its existence.
Daniel Weisel was first appoint
: ed Judge for Washington county
by Gov. Pratt. He was: elected by
l the people in 1861 and elected tc
A the Court of Appeals in 1864
George French was elected judge
+ i'll 1864 for the circuit court Of
l Washington county and was dis
placed by the Constitution of 1867
At the election of 1867, Richard
: H. Alvey and William Mottel
e were elected for IS years. Judge
s Alvey served his, term out and wa:
). reelected in 1882 and served til
a 1898, when he was appointed chic
d Judge of the Supreme bench of the
). District of Columbia, where he
e still serves. Andrew K. Syeste1
was elected in 1882 and served tt
his death in 1895. He was sue
ceeded by H. K. Douglas, appoint
ed by the governor, till the cleo
:, ton of that year, when Edward
Stake was elected by the people
for full term. William ]. Witt
enbacher was made his successor
by executive appointment anc
served till his successor, Martin L
Keedy, took his place in the late
election.
: 1t will be seen that Washington
y county has had nine judges since
* 1880, the ssame number as .Alle
l gany. This does not take intc
. account the two Bachannans, wht
u died prior to 1850. 1t might b.
irrelevant to remark here that on
s county in early..times had mum
Der of lay Judges (uot lawyers
II