Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-01-23
JUDGE rogers QUALITIES.
PLEAS FOR CLEMENCY HEARD
BY THE GOVERNOR.
Orders The Release of C0Iored Boy
Much Business Transacted By
Chief Executive.

1 &At~A t-A~~t&ff~*
Governor Wariield was in Annapo-
lis today until the aftegn oon. While
here, Chief Judge John Il. Rogers. OF
the Fifth Judicial Circuit, whom he
recently appointed To succeed the
late Judge Jones. qualified before
him. The Governor also issued some
| pardons, gave audience TO number
Of parties who appeared before him
and asked elemency for relatives and
| friends, and att nded TO executive
| business in general.
The qualification of Judge Rogers
| was an interesting circumstance owing
| TO the close relations which have ex-
| listed between him and Governor War
field since their early manhood. Tho
Governor has expressed himself 10 the
effect that no appointment that he has
made since he entered upon his duties
as Governor has given him greater
satisfaction than the elevation of his
oil I friend to the bench of the Court
of Appeals.
| Judge Rogers qualified on Monday
as Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit,
but il Is required by the Constitution
| that hc qualify before the Governor
before sitting upon the bench of the
Court of Appeals This functioh was
| performed at the Government House
shortly before 10 o'clock in the pres
ence of only one or two witnesses.
Judge Rogers then crossed the street
to the Court of Appeals bench and
entered upon his duties when the
Court convened. He took the seat
formerly occupied by Judge Jones
and was warmly greeted by Judges
1 Il.-sel Eps.nr -.tat Il
and Burke, all who are now in An
napolis.
shortly after Judge Rogers had
taken his seat, Governor Warfeld en-
| tered the Court of Appeals room and
| congratulated him while upon his seat
on the bench. The proceedings were
suspended for a moment and the Gov
| ernor was warmly greeted by the
| members of the Court.
Governor Warfield today recalled
| the fact of the close association of his
| own career witt that of Judge Rogers,
his appointee as Chief Judge of the
| Fifth Judicial Circuit. The Governor
stated that they practically began their
| official career together at Ellicott City
| in 1874. Previous to tnat time GOV
ernor Warfield had been teaching in
| the public schools and his ambition
was to be the County superintendent
of Schools. However, in 1874, he was
unexpectedly offered the position of
Register of Wills. which had been
made vacant by the death of the i'm
cumbent.
At almost the same time Mr.. Rogers
was admitted TO the bar and shortly
after was appointed County Superin-
tendent of Schools, the position which
Governor Warfield had desired. The
latter accepted nomination for the
position ne was filling and was elect
ed, occupying the Office for seven
years and probably guiding his career
along different lines from what he
had anticipated. But the Governor
and Judge Rogers have represented
Howard county in the State Senate
| and they are nearly of the same age.
The Governor has had occasion dur
| ing his term to make an unusual mum
Der of appointments TO fill vacant po-
sitions in the judiciary of the State
and there has been no work which he
has done over which he feels greater
satisfaction than the making of these
appointments. From many sources,
the Governor has learned that in every
case his appointees are making repu-
tations as fair and capable members of
the judiciary.
Besides Judge Rogers, the Cover
nor has made one original appoint
| ment to the Court of Appeals bench,
that Of Judge n. Charles Burke, Chief
Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit.
Judge Burke was appointed upon the
| resignation of Judge David Fow Ter,
hut has since been elected for regu-
lar term. Judge John =. Briscoe,
| Chief Judge of the Seventh Circuit,
now holds by virtue Of the Governor S
appointment until the next general
election, his term having expired.
other appointments to the bench
| which the Governor has made during
| his term are: Judge Alfred S. Niles,
| the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City
| Judge Frank /. Duncan, of Baltimore
county, Associate Judge of the Third
| Circuit; Charles G. Crothers, of Cecil
county, Associate Judge of the Second
/ Circuit, and William il. Adkins, As
sociate Judge of the Second Circuit.
| A number of interesting cases
were brought to the attention OF the
| Governor today. One release from
| the House of Correction and one from
Baltimore City Jail were granted. A
| number of persons had interviews 18th
| the Governor in connection with cases
in which they have interest.
The Governor today released Adam
S. Garis, the Hagerstown lawyer, who
| was committed to the House of Cor
rection for two months for an assault
/ committed upon G. Black Shelley,
known in the proceedings as Jack
Shelley. The case was brought 70
| the Governor attention almost as
soon as Garis was committed. There
| was much conflict in the testimony as
to which one of the parties was the
| aggressor.
A letter was received from the wife
of the prisoner, in which she states
| that she is without the means of sup
port for herself and seven children.
| There is a largely signed petition in
favor of Garis and only one protest,
that of the party concerned. AS only
a short time remains before the end
of the term, the Governor decided to
order the release.
Governor Warfield directed the re-
lease from the Baltimore City jail OF
Oscar Williams. colored boy, who
| was convicted by Justice KeplingeI
on September %, 1906, of an assault
and sentenced 10 serve one year IN
| Jail. Clemency was advised by JUS
tices White, Packard and Cox, TO
whom the matter had been referred by
| the Governor.
The Governor was seen by the wife
OF Charles Watkins, who was con-
-