The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-26

VI Montgomery, September 25.-(Spe- cial. )-Governor O'Neal this afternoon appointed John Barnett Knox of An niston associate justice of the supreme court of Alabama, to succeed the late
 Robert Tennent Simpson of Florence.
 who died in New York city on August | 12, last
 l The appointment of MT Knox occa- stoned little surprise in official circles, for 1t had been current rumor for the past two weeks that the office would
 be offered to the well known Annston attorney. The formal announcement of MT. Knox's appointment was made by Governor O'Neal late this afternoon. At that time the executive said that he had not been informed by MT. Knox whether he would accept the appoint ment, though declared that friends of the appointee had told him that he would do so.
 Governor O'Neal has had no ap- pointment to make during his admin istration for which there has been a larger number of applicants than for the office of associate justice of the supreme court While the governor re- ceived few personal applications for the office there were several hundred letters filed in his office indorsing can didates for the vacant judgeship. In ad- dition to the letters of indorsement and recommendations the executive re- ceived a number of delegations in the interest of some of the candidates.
 Some of the Candidates
 The friends of Governor O'Neal be- lieve that he had no easy task in de- ciding whom he would name as Judge Simpsons successor, for a dozen or moro of the best known lawyers in the state were indorsed for the office. Among the most prominent lawyers mentioned for the vacant judgeship were c. J. Torrey of Mobile. Judge w. I. Parks of Andalusia, Perry Thomas of Eufaula, Judge c. c. Nesmith of Birmingham, H. c. Selheimer of Bir- min gham and others. During the past week 1t was generally conceded that the list had narrowed down to three John B. Knox, C. J. Torrey and Perry Thomas, with MT. Knox far In the lead.
 Unusual interest was attached to Gov ernor O'Nears selection, in view of the fact that he had announced that he in tended to name a progressive to the su- preme court bench. It was thought that the governor had an opportunity to bring about much of the judicial reform which he has been advocating since he began his term of office by the appointment of a man of progressive ideas, one in harmony and accord with his programme looking to judicial reform in the state. Practically all those who were mentioned for the office were known to be in sym pathy with the governors plans, and 1t is declared that MT. Knox has also an- nounced himself in favor of the execu- tives programme for the revision and reform of the judicial system of the state.
 Considered Able Lawyer John B. Knox is considered one of the ablest lawyers not only in Alabama, but throughout the south. Since his admis- sion to the bar in 1878 he has occupied foremost position among the attorneys of the state,
 Probably lis most distinguished service for the state was in 1901, when he served as president of the constitutional con vention Prior to that time he Tad won
 notable recognition as lawyer. as a 1 speaker and as a forceful political leader and thinker, and he was largely respon- | sible for the calling of the constitutional convention.
 | In the distribution of committee chair men in that convention Governor ONeal l was put at the head of the committee l on local legislation. On the rules com
 mittee on which MT. Knox served as
 the chairman, there were Judge Edward
 de Graffenreid Emmet ONeal, Gregory
 l.. Smith, Tennent Lomax. Congressman
 Thomas Heflin, Dr. R. M. Cunningham
 and Cecil Brown.
 Twice Before OffereA Judgeship 1 It was announced today by friend | of MT. Knox that an appointment on the supreme court bench had twice be- fore been offered to him, though this
 report was unofficial. It is known, how
 ever, that John B. Knox has declined
 the office of associate justice of the
 supreme court and several of the of 1 ficials at the capitol when they heard
 of his appointment on that bench by Governor O'Neal declared that the sit fuation was clearly one in which the cffice sought the man rather than the
 man seeking the office,
 | Mir Knox's appointment Is for the unexpired term of the late Associate
 Justice Simpson, whose office will ex- pire in January, 1915. Whether or not ] he will run for the office at that time 1 is not known, but the friends of Mir. Knox. and there are hundreds of them 1 throughout the state, maintain that his ability on the supreme court bench will enable him to command the favor
 of the voters of the state should he offer for reelection and they expressed
 the belief that he will offer himself as 1 a candidate at that time.
 Mr Knox was born at Talladega on
 February 1e, 1857, of distinguished par
 entage. He is member of the Pres l byterian church and traces his descent from John Knox of Scotland, the found CT of that church.
 He is at present the member of two large law firms in north Alabama. ono at Anniston and one at Talladega. The Anniston firm is known as Knox, Ack- CT, Blackmon & stern, while the Iai-