Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1910-11-30
WILL NOT RESIGN
Col. James w. Owens Declines
To Tender His Resignation
To County COmmiSs-
toner's
YESTERDAYS RESULTS
Strong Probability That Board Will Re-
cede From YESTERDAYS action Re.
quesIing Resignation OF Their
Counsel

Mr.. James w. Owens, counsel, will
not tender his resignation to the
County Commissioners of Anne Arun-
del, as he was requested to do by the
Board following a long executiv e
meeting yesterday afternoon.
Col" Owens was some time ago
appointed counsellor to the Commits
sioners, and the members of the
Board quite recently became "peev-
ed" at reports that their council was
inclined to make fun of their method
of doing business. In fact, it is
reported that the Colonel intimated
publicly that he had to remain on
duty all of the time during meetings
of the Board to "keep the numb
skulls in order" This and other
things led the Board to solemnly take
action yes terday.
Following that action, Colonel
Owens this morning said that the
Baltimore City Police Board had re-
fused to resign, the School Board
there had refused to resign. and that
by the same tokens James W.
Owens is not going to resign" The
stand taken by Mr.. Owens is that he
was appointed for term of two year 5
and that he cannot be removed eX-
cept for cause following trial on
specific charges. He will fight re-
moval to the last ditch.
That the situation will come to
this, however, is not thought likely.
1t can be said with considerable
authority today that there is a
strong probability of the Board of
Commissioners receding from their
stand and resembling their request
for Mr.. Owens resignation.
1t is known that Mr.. j. E. Owens,
the young nephew of Mr.. Owens.
who is a lieutenant in politics of
Isaac S. Nutwell, had preferred
charges of incompetaency and other
things against his uncle with the
Commissioners, but it is positively
asserted by the Commissioners that
these charges had no bearing on their
request for their councils resigna
tion and that no notice whatever was
taken of their contents.
When interviewed today, Mr..
Owens said he had nothing TO say
for publication, but that "like the
old niger, ne was laying low and
chawing root. "
Although the action of the Board
was not officially known until Mr..
Owens had received the request of
the Commissioners late yesterday af-
ternoon the Democratic State Central
Committee of which DR.. George Wells
is chairman, appeared to anticipate
the action of the Board as that body
was in receipt of a communication
in which the committee urged the ap-
pointment of George T. Melvin,
School Commissioner and Preside ut
of the Annapolis Banking and Trust
Company, in the event of a vacancy
in the position of counsel to the
Board. Mr.. Melvin is a member of
the bar and formerly practiced at
Denton, Nd. Winson G. Gott, treas
urer of Annapolis, is also mentioned
for the position.
There was much surprise at the sud
den manner in which Mr.. Owens was
informed that he was persona non
grata to the Board. Mr.. Owens has
met with much success in the hand
ling of the legal business of the coun-
ty. Suits aggregating SAT-, 900
against the county while he has held
the position have resulted in less than
81 400 in iudpments and comnromiees