Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-11
JUDGE WELDON DEAD
HAD BEEN JUDGE OF COURT OF
CLAIMS SINCE 1883.

Judge Lawrence Weldon who has been a
judge of the United States Court of Claims
since 1883, when he was appointed by Pres
ident Arthur, died at & o'clock last night
at his apartments at the Hamilton. He
had been Ill ten days, pneumonia and its
complications resulting in his demise, which
had been expected for a day or two. His
wife was with him at the time of his death.
which was painless. Lincoln II. Weldon, n
son. of Bloomington, ILL.,, and Mrs. w. c.
Hanna, daughter, of Peoria, ILL.,, were
summoned and have reached Washington.
Judge Weldon was born In 1929 in Madi-
son county, Ohio was educated in the COM
mon schools, at London Academy and Wit
tenberg College. studying law at the con-
clusion of the school days. He was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1854 and was married
the same year to Miss Mary Jane Howard,
who survives him, together with the two
children who were summoned from their
Illinois homes
the secretary of state of Ohio in 1S53-5l,
but in the last year moved to Clinton, De
Witt county, ILL., He became identifed with
politics. becoming a presidential eiector OF
the republicans in 1860 and a member OF
the legislature in 1861. He was warm
personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, and
they Travelled the circuit of their judicial
district President Lincoln appointed him
L
trict of Illinois in 1862, and he served In
that position four years when he began
the practice of law at Bloomington. He
continued the practice until his appointment
to the Court of Claims bench.
Vespasian Warner commissioner of PEN
sions and for many years member OF Con-
gress from Illinois, studied law under Judge
Weldon and was much attached to him.
The body will be taken to bloomington,
ILL.,, for interment
Gossip as to His Successor.
The death of Judge Weldon leaves va
cancy on the Court of Claims for which
the-a will be a fight at the White House
although it is regarded as pretty certain
that the place will go to one of two men.
The President has for a number of years
promised Senator's Scott and Elkins of
West Virginia that he will give a judgeship
on the Court of Claims bench to ex-GoV.
George w. Atkinson of West Virginia, at
present United States attorney of the
southern district of that state. Those
acquainted with the intentions of the Pres
ident believe that he will probably
carry out this promise now. If he should
conclude otherwise the probability is that
he will select ex-senator McComas of
Maryland who has rturned to the prac-
tice Of law at Baltimore. Mr.. McComas
resigned a position on the bench of the
Supreme Court of the District of Columbia
to become senator from Maryland. HIS
friends have urged his selection for a place
on the bench at an early opportunity.
The appointment of Mr.. Atkinson to the
judgeship would fit in well with the desire
of the West Virginia senators and of the
President to politically promote and honor
Elliott Northcott, the chairman of the re-
publican state committee. Mr.. Northcott
was recently nominated and confirmed as
collector of internal revenue of West Vir-
ginia, the best political place in the state.
but when he learned of it he declined the
position on the ground that he had all along
been favorable to Mr. Glasscock and had
urged his selection. Upon his withdrawal
Glasscock was appointed collector and now
holds the place. Mr.. No-thcott is assistant
United States attorney of the southern dis
trict of the state and the elevation of Mr.
Atkinson 10 the Court of Claims bench
would result in the promotion of Mr.
Northcott to United States attorney.