Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-14
RETIRING OFFICIAL is
VETERAN IN SERVICE
Began Term on Bench Over Eight
cen Years Ago.
REASONS GIVEN FOR CHANGE
Appointee States He Was in No
Sense an Applicant for
the Position.

the Position.
President Taft will send to the Senate
next Monday the nomination of Arthur
E. IL Middleton as police Judge OF the
District Of Columbia. In place of ivory C.
kfmball who has sat I'm this court for
many years.
Mr.. Middleton has been selected BY At
torney General Wickersham and ratified
by the President. after much careful con-
sideration as to whether Judge kimball
should be given another term. The fight
has been long one and Judge Kimball
has been as strongly opposed as he has
been warmly upheld. His friends are
legion throughout the District. and they
made their views known to the Depart
ment OF Justice.
1t is learned. however. that Mr..
Wickersham did not settle the matter
upon the question of popularity or un-
popularity, but upon that of peculiar
qualifications for the place. He mas
felt that the position of police Judge
calls for as wide a knowledge OF haImap
nature as it does OF lava combination
Of law. the milk OF human kindness
and sternness.
The nomination Of Mr.. Middleton
would have been sent to the Senate to
day had that body been In session. This
delayed the transmission OF the name.
The Department OF Justice has given
no thought to the question whether
to sit as police Judge until his sue
cessor has been named and qualified
The matter has not been Officially
brought to the attention OF the Attor-
2w~A Ia
him to determine what should be done.
President Adheres to Rule.
President Taft has made it a rule to
turn over to Attorney. General Wicker
sham all the judicial appointments
throughout the country. except those of
such magnitude as to cause him to prefer
to handle them. Letters and other COM
munications bearing upon the Police
Court fight have been sent from the
White House. when forwarded there, to
the Department OF Justice Inquiries made
by callers have also been answered by
the statement that the President was
not personally handling the investigation
that was in progress. Mr.. Wickersham.
however, has seen a number of District
people, who have discussed the police
Judgeship, and have expressed opinions
for or against Judge Kimball. He also
conferred with Judge Kimball and with
the ITleuOS OF OtHer cAnOludteS. Jesse
Tull had strong backing for the place.
and the fight was believed to be between
him and Judge kimbail. The naming ot
| a dark horse is no surprise to those who
have kept pace with the contest.
Attorney General Wickersham, after
| the cabinet meeting today, admitted that
Mr.. Middleton would be appointed .ucge
OF thu Police Court. Il have rccom-
| msnded Mr.. Middleton's no rinaiion,
SAID the Attorney General. because /
hx.ii In he II "A
by q man who is police judge. l tnink
the position requires something mere
| than knowledge of the law. Mr.. Middle
| ton has clear judgment. an In.a.igcnt
and sympathetic nature and au,ticieut
frn ness. He is a graduate of Ha:.:rd
and has practiced law in the District
Admitted to Practice in 1894.
Mr.. Middleton was admitted to practice
before the District Court of Appeals
January 16. 1894. but a search Of the list
of attorneys practcing before the Dis
trict Supreme Court failed to disclose the
date OF his admission to practice In that
court
But few of the attorneys interviewed
by a Star reporter were acquainted with
Mr. Middleton. and employees of the city
hall did not recall that he was actively
| engaged in practice before the local
courts.
The lawyers acquainted with Mr.. Mid
dleton expressed satisfaction with the
appointment.
Mr.. Middleton was seen at his low Of
fees, 515 11th street northwest. by a Star
reporter this afternoon. He was not sur
prised when Informed that the President
had decided to send his name 10 the Sem
ate on the recommendation Of Attorney
General Wickersham. He had already re
ceived an intination from the Attorney
General that he had been selected for the
place.
Not an Applicant.
81 was in no sense an applicant for the
position he said. ''In fact, L had In
dorsed another for the place. The unso-
lfcited honor therefore came to me as 4
surprise when / received the first init
nation from the Attorney General.
Mr. Middleton talked interestingly OF
the police court and Of the many OPP
portunities il presents for humanitarian
effort. He believes that many men and
boys who are sent to prison could be
saved from lives OF Sin and crime II they
are given the proper opportunity lie
also believes in the probation system that
is meeting with SO much success In other
municipalities in this country. he agrees
with Attorney General Wickersham that
the police court should not be regarded
as revenue-producing establishment.
but should be reformatory in its methods
so far as possible.
.-The ATTORNEY General telephoned for
mo to come and see him. We had q
talk about police court affairs. When he
rendered me the position unsolicited
believed II was my duty to accept Ii.
Mr.. Middleton is man OF pleasant
manner but beneath the pleasantness
there is a determination for right and
fair play, and those who know him best
say he will temper justice with mercy
when mercy liz deserved.
Native Of Florida.
The new police court Judge comes from
a distinguished southern lineage. He was
born at Pensacola, Fla, in 1872. and is
therefore about thirty-eight years OF age.
He is son Of the late Rear Admiral
Edward Middleton. q. 8. N.Nwho was
born at Charleston s. c. Ma 9rand.