Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-28
MAY LEAVE NEXT WEEK
JUSTICE PRIrrHARD LIKELY TO
ASSUME DUTIES.
Meeting Of Msdlpsrs of Bar Called for
Purpose Sof Nominating
His Successor.

Justice Pritchard of the Supreme court
of the District OF Columbia. whose nomi-
nation by President Roosevelt as successor
OF the late Justice Simonton as United
States circuit justice of the fourth circuit
was confirmed yesterday. was kept busy
this afternoon receiving congratulations on
his promotion and listening to expressions
OF regret because Of the necessity Tor his
departure. AS announced In The star, II
was the intention Of Justice Pritchard to
continue to preside In Criminal Court No
until the end of next June unless It Is reces-
sary for him to assume his duties in Rich
mond. Va. next week, as seems probable.
Judge Pritchard will consult the Attorney
General on the subject tomorrow. The Ty-
ner-Barrett case. growing out OF the Post
ONCE Department scandals, and other I'M
portant causes are soon to be tried
Notwithstanding the strong probability
mer Governor Atkinson of West Virginia as
Justice Prttchards successor on the local
bench, the members of the bar of the ma
tional capital mean to act vigorously and
appointment of a Washingtonian. If pos
sible. A call was issued today for meet
ing of the bar to be held at 3 O'Clock to-
morrow afternoon in the room used as
Criminal Court, No. 2, city hall. 1t Is
made plain that the meeting Is to be one
not only of the Bar Association, but OF the
bar at large.
In other words, it is desired that every
lawyer Of the District shall attend the
meeting. The plan is to have the bar
agree on one man as it's choice for the
judgeship and to urge as strongly as can
be done that he be elevated to the bench.
1t is not proposed that the comment that
it is impossible for the bar here to agree
on candidate shall again be made.
Mr.. j. Holdsworth Gordon, president OF
the Bar Association, will very likely pre-
side at the meeting tomorrow afternoon,
with Mr.. John E. Laskey as secretary. 1t
is suggested that the meeting shall decide
to unanimously support the candidate final
ly selected by it. Then, after all who wish
to do SO have nominated candidtes, a vote
will be taken. The candidate receiving
the lowest number of votes will be elimi-
mated from the list. Another vote will he
taken and the same mode of procedure
followed until all those named with one
exception have been stricken from the list.
Will Visit the President.
A representative committee will then be
appointed to visit the President and urge
that the individual selected by the entire
bar of the District of Columbia and hav-
ing its unanimous support be placed in the
chair now occupied by Justice Pritchard.
The call for the meeting was signed by
Mr. Benjamin F. Leighton, until recently
president of the, Bar Association, and by
Messrs Andrew Y. Bradley, Alexander H.
Bell, John E. Laskey, E. H. Thomas, Ben
jamin s. Minor, John Ridout, A. A. Birney,
H. Prescott Galley, John c. Giddings and
D. w. Baker. .
The friends of Mr.. Hugh T. Taggart.
chief assistant United States attorney for
the District. of Columbia. will endeavor to
have him selected by the bar as its candf-
date for the judgeship. The fact that MI.
Taggart is said to have prepared the major
ity of the indictments in the Post Office
Department cases, prepared the Machen-
Lcrenz-Groff case for trial and played
leading part in bringing about the convic-
ton of the defendants. it is pointed out, is
sufficient reason why he should be reward
ed by place on the bench.
While speaking of the valuable services
that have been rendered by Mr.. Taggart
during the more than twenty years he has
served continuously in the United States
attorneys Office, one of his friends this
afternoon cited, pffhand list of important
cases in which he has figured prominently.
They include the Potomac fats litigation,
the post Office. Library. Rock Creek Park,
| the Eastern branch bridge and other con-
demnation proceedings: the charge of per-
jury against O. Brien, the soldier, before a
Senate committee; the sugar trust, Aims
WORTH BONNIE, post Office and the Guiteau
causes.
Among the others who will be nominated
at the meeting tomorrow afternoon Is Mr..
E. H. Thomas, assistant corporation coun-
sci. 1t Is said he will have strong support.