The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-26
JUSTICE DOWDELL WILL NOT RESIGN FROM HE BENCH Has No Idea How Such a Sensational Story
 Originated
JUDGE LANE HAS NOT
 BEEN OFFERED PLACE
The Venerable Chief Justice Was in Birmingham Last Night and Appeared to Be in Excel
 lent Health

James R. Dowdell, chief justice of tn supreme court of Alabama, is neither il state of i'll health, nor does he intenC to resign from the bench.
 Judge A. O. Lane city commissioner has never received an intimation that h' will be appointed chief justice of the supreme court, and, furthermore, were the position of chief justice rendered him today he would decline the compliment
 The sensational reports of the resigna- ton of Justice Dowdell and the promo ton of Judge Lane were received as a surprise and a shock to the community. When seen at the residence of William A. Denson, his son-in-law the venerable member of the supreme court appeared 20 years younger than when the reporter saw him several months ago. 'I am hard ly a skeleton, you see," stated the jus tice.
 Judge Lane declared when interviewed that the report of the resignation of Jus tlce Dowdel had come as a distinct sur prise to him, and that the news of the TdDluly ldllluS utdiln ol int Juilol hfb been received in the nature of shock.
 "I.am a great admirer of Justice Dow dell" stated Judge Lane, land until the publications this afternoon had been un- der the impression that he had not only recovered from a spell of sickness, but was now in excellent health
 Please state for me-" said Judge Lane that l have received no intimation of the purposed resignation of Justice Dow dell. In my conversation with Governor ONeal Wednesday no reference to the supreme court was made.
 "If I am to be the successor of Jus tice Dowdell, I have not received a hint 10 that effect. As a matter of fact, were l offered the position today I would de- cline the honor. l am in the fight for Birmingham, and I have no intention of deserting."
 When asked over the telephone for a statement, Justice Dowdel said, Come over to see me-" The reporter went. The head of the supreme court of the state appeared 20 years younger than when the reporter had last seen him. q. am hardly a skeleton yet you sec" said he. AS a matter or Idct, | am In pet ter health than I have been for several years
 Mrs. Dowdell then stated that she and her husband had been spending a few weeks in Lafayette, and that the justice was much improved. we were all sur prised to learn through an afternoon news paper" stated she, that the health of my husband was fast failing. and that it would be necessary for him to resign from the bench of the supreme court"
 "I have no idea how the report could have originated" stated Justice Dow dell. q do not care especially. l do not desire to appear in the light of hay ing lost my temper I am in excellent health. I am not going to resign. I have never contemplated resgning, As mat ter of fact I have recuperated from overwork and am in excellent shape to resume the duties of justice of the su- preme court"
 Chief Justice and Mrs. Dowdel will go to Montgomery today. The friends of the former will be glad to learn that the sensational reports of his declining health were not founded in fact
 'I do not know on what they were founded" commented the chief justice