The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-11-29
JUDGE ALDRICH RESIGNS.
Tenders Resignation on Account of
Health-Oldest Circuit Judge in
the State.

Columbia, Nov. 2G.-Gov. Ansel to-
s day received the resignation OF Judge
James Aldrich, which, he explains,
I was rendered on the advice OF his
physicians on account of his failing
health. He is The oldest judge Oh the
circuit bench and succeeded his un-
Gle, Judge a. P. Aldrich. The leg
islaturc will elect his successor.
THE State Of Wednesday has the
following to say Of Judge Aldrich:
James Aldrich, for Is years a cir
cult judge and oae Of the mblest law
ye,e of the old school, yesterday sent
to Gov. Nnscl his resignation, be-
/ cause Of continued i'll health. The
resignation means that an election
will have to be held at the coming
session of the general assembly to
fill the vacancy in the second judi
cial circuit.
The resignation Of James Aldric.l
and his retirement from the bench
will be received with universal regret
by every lawyer in the state and not
only by The members Of the profess
sion, bM by laymen as we'll. Those
who have come in contact with him
remember mis- uniform courtesy, his
knowledge Of the law and his con-
scicntious devotion to duty aAd JUS
4 IL. lri1
conversationlisd and las Il wonderful
store of anecdotes.
For the past - months Ire has been
!. in, failing health and some weeks ago
sssw}ie.i It beeame necessary 4sffe'rr 4sfer him to
take charge Of 'the fifth circuit he
asked that a substitute be appointed
temporarily. When it became evi-
dent that he would be unable to re-
sumo work at the beginning of the
coming year he wrote Gov. Ansel a
letter of resignation. stating that the
arduous duties of the bench would
not, in his present condition, permit
MIN to continue and he therefore
wished to create vacancy before
the coming session of the general as
semhly in order that 1T might be fill
ed without delay.
JUDGE Aldrich is Of a family of
distinguished lawyers. He is in his
5Sth year and his father before him
was one of the leading attorneys Of
the Aikcn-Barnwell section. He
graduated at Washington and Lee
university in 1872 and served in the
house Of representatives from 1878 TO
1881 aad from 1883 to 1880. Tn that
year he was elected judge Of the see
ond circuit and has served continual
ly since then, being the oldest in
service amon" the circuit judges.
Jud4c Aldrich succeeded his uncle,
Alfred p. Aldrich, and donned the
robe at court in Anderson. At that
time Gov. Ansel was solicitor and,
as meptioned by his excellency yes
terday, arrangements had been made
to carry over one criminal case in or
der that the new judge might take,
as it were. "his first degrce.' In
company with the retiring Judge, the
sheriff and Solicitor Ansel, Judge
Alhrich went to the court house and
after brief Introductory and con-
gratulatory speech, The new judge
took charge and heard the first case
Civil court was convened on the same
day ard since then there have been
very few cases in tho circuit Of
James Aldrich That he did not hear
Therefore when the news Of his re-
signaaion was made public yester
day thr"c was universal regret not
only by thc local bar, but by The Wis
itino members. who are here for SIT
premc court. Tt was agreed that his
successor will have q nigh standard
to maintaia and in selecting him the
genHrH] assembly will bear this in
mind.
r. Ct,,rrriooI uox