The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-08-08
MAYOR RICHARDSON
Is MADE judge
Choice of Governor Will Prove
Popular With People of Rich
mond - "Davy" Richardson
Is Much Beloved-Who'n
Be Mayor?
RICHMOND. VA, spedAaf.-

MOND, VA, Special
Withou5 any solicitation whatever
on his part Mayor David g. Richard
son was this morning appointed judge
OF the Hastings Court of the city of
Richmond by Governor Mann TO sue
coed Judge samuel Il. Witt. who died
several days ago at the Hot Springs
of Arkansas.
Mayor Richardson received notice
Of his appointment from Ben Z. OwOn,
the Governors secretary. He at once
decided to accept the place, and will
within the next few days tender his
resignation as Mayor to Judge Robert
SOuthall, temporary judge of the
Hastings Court.
President Robert Whittet, Jr., OF
the Board of Aldermen, will then be-
come Mayor, and will act until Mayor
Richardson's successor is chosen by
special election.
Judge Southall will adjourn the
Hastings Court next Saturday TO Au-
guest 25th. Judge Richardson will
then open the court, according to
present plans, but Immediately ad-
journ it TO September 9th. Trials of
delinquent taxpayers will then be on
the docket. They will not be heard
by Judge Richardson. however, but by
Judge SOuthall at the special request
of Judge Richardson.
! News of the Mayors appointment
to the judgeship spread like wildhre
through the City Hall this morning
following his notification from the
! Governor. and his office imme diately
/ became the Mecca OF scores OF friends
who hurried in TO offer cOngratula-
tions.
Judge Richardson was deeply
moved at such evidences of sincere
friendship. and was frequently unable
TO reply, his voice being choked by
I rising tears.
Judge Richardson's term lasts until
thirty days after the converting of the
next General Assembly, which meets
in January, 1914.
General Approval.
The appointment has met with the
widest approval, everyone agreeing
that Governor Mann could not have
made wiser selection. Even those
who were working for the appoint
ment OF others are outspoken in their
approval.
Mayor Richardson was not a candi-
GATE for the judgship, though his
friends had known for a long time
that to preside over the Hastings
/ Court was one of the dearest am BIZ
tons of Mayor Richardson's life.
His friends, realizing his peculiar
fitness for the place, his legal train
ing, his judicial temperament. his in
nate sense of fairness and justice, ap-
pealed to Governor Mann to appoint
were being strongly pressed it does
not appear that the Governor long
hesitated.
Exercised PrerOgative
Governor Mann, in acting today, has
exercised his provocative in the prem
ises. Usually it has been the custom
of the executive of the State to await
the recommendation of the City Bar
Association, and then to name the
choice of that body.
Recently the Governor exploded a
bomb in the meeting of the Bar As
ISOLATION by announcing that he would
not feel impelled to name the choice
of the association, but that it might
| be persuasive"
The action of the Governor today
forestalls the meeting of the Bar AS
ISOLATION and gives to the people of
successor to the lamented Judge Witt
The New Judge.
Mayor Richardson was born in New
Kent county on June Z. 1S45. When
eight years old his family moved to
Richmond. Since that time, except
| during the war, the Mayor has re-
manned here.
He served with distinction through
the Confederate War, being desperate
! ly wounded and once left for dead
upon the field. His splendid strength
saved his life, however, and makes
him today much younger than many
men twenty years his junior.
| Returning to Richmond after the
surrender, Mayor Richardson became
a clerk in "a grocery store. Later he
drove an express wagon, but he ne
elected no opportunity for improve
| ment ana spent much of his time in
study, choosing the law as his profess
| sion.
He studied in the offices of Johnson
and Guison and was in 1870 appoint
| ed clerk of Police Court. which DO
sition he retained until 1880, when he
was elected police justice.
He presided over Police Court I'M
til 1888, when he declined reelection
! to practice law. In 1896 he was again