New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-22
NATHAN GOFF A SENATOR
West Virginia Deadlock Broken
0y Judges Election.

Charleston. ". Va. Feb. 2l.-Federa'
Judge Nathan l.. Con was elected United
state Senator from West Virginia hy the
Legislature IN ioint session to-day. He re-
cGvcd AN TIE Republican votes cast
Democrats. with few exception. voted foi
Senator Cldicu,c ". watson
None OF the six members ~ the L's.s-
lature against whom charges - hrihcr,
arc pending took part IN the -. SION.
Judge Gon viii succeed Senate. Natsoa
for the sx-year term beginning on Mar-h
{ lie WAS born At Clark.burg. February
Q. l.ig. ard ls of ScOtch-Ii.sh descent. Va
attended the Northwestern Virginia Acad
envy in hi. native town. Georgetown col
lego. District Of Columbia. and the Uni
yeis!ty al tie city Of New York III. Wa
graduated from the law department 81
tie last named institution after be had
been mastered out Of the service OF tA'
Union Army. ~ whi b he lad rison q
the rank OF major having enlisted a. a
second lieutenant Of volunteers
Judge Con was IA the battles Of cross
Keys. Front Royal. Rappshannock sta
ton and the Second Bull Run. lie Was
captured al Mooreneid ". Va. ard sem
TO Libby Prison. In Richmond. There
he was held with others a. hostages viii
the understanding that II a certain mum
bcr Of rebel spies were shot by the Cn!o'
forces COT and his companions would ~
killed Major Goff's lifc was placed % tn
scale against that Of Major Armsley. q
Confederate spy. who also Wa Wes'
NiIsiIiau.
Gon's friends learned Of the situation
and made a strong appeal 90 President
! Lincoln for exchange ~ tho prisoners
GoM. hearing Of the appeal. wrote 20 Lin
coin and said his l!fe should no, stand II
the way OF carrying out the rules OF war
The exchange WAS made.
By a remarkable coincidence Majol
Armslev was afterward captured and
| placed in prison In Clarksburg, corr
home This feeling against him there
was so high that he was about 70 b
| lynched when Gofr arrived and saved hi.
life
Judge COTS political career began al
| most as soon as he left the army. VI
was elected 20 the West Virginia Legs
laturc in Sos. and was appointed tnite'
! States Attorney by President johnson. be
ing four times rcappointed. Presiden
/ HAYES selected him IN 1881 for Secretar,
( Of the Navy. and he served 10 the end o
| the HAYES administration. Garfield thsi
reappointed him United states Attorney
! he served as Representative in the 4at'
| and 10Th Congresses.
The most notable political contest o
Judge Goff was for Governor Of Vest Nir
sinia in 1855 Cleveland carried the stat
| that year BY 552 votes and Con ASSERTED
tina, he had been elected Governor b,
| 100 plurality out Of a total Of 10000
votes. Tho Legislature laid aside tn
| votes and when March arrived Con an'
| Fleming the Democratic candidate. ap
reared Ia be sworn into Office. The presi
| Gent pro TEN Of the senate, who had beer
elected as a labor candidate, set up IN
! claim 10 act az Governor ad interim
| Go, crnor Wilson announced that hc woul'
hold over until the contest was decided
The Democrats had a slight ma jority II
the Legislature and by a strict party vot
Fleming was declared Governor.
Judge Gon was appointed TO the Unite
F, states Circuit Court in 1892. holding tn
place until 1911. when he was appointed
10 the United states Circuit Court o
! Appeals