The Detroit times., 1915-05-15
WHOLE CITY
MOURNS FOR
DEAD JUDGE
Continued from Pare On~J

1t was the great presidents example
that held James Phelan 10 the
course which he had resolved to
pursue?
However il may be. he showed an
early interest In the law As a
young man. he spent a great deal
OF his spare time in the Office OF
Don NJ. Dickinson. in the old Ives
bank building. where James Cullen,
then Mr.. Dicklnson's partner. now
OF Cullen. Casgrain e. Wurzer. be
came his friend. The future jurist
read law books there, and picked up
scraps of legal information. His
admiration for Don NJ Dickinson
amounted almost to idolatry, and II
was destined to bring him into 20.
William C. Maybury, in the days
when the Dickinson and Maybury
factions fought for control OF the
city.
\ II was about this time that James
Khelan asked James H. Pound IL he
cr-nTd study in his Office. Mr.. Pound
liked Phelan and admired his pluck.
his perseverance. his personality
lie gave ready consent. and for two
years or more. the young man read
law In the attorneys office. When
he was not there. he was in Mr.
Dickinson office. getting further in
formation regarding not only law,
but practical politics. He was adj
mitted 20 the bar 10y the circuit
court, as WAS the custom in those
days.
While ne was studying law. hc
was shoniag political talent and
blildiHs rp q cordial following Jo.
-eph lougGeed remembers what
ic,urcsG'" nrt'o- he eas. even in
those da1 wHe, u tire OLD B,dIle
house. in . Democratic convention
o." nominated p r-ar1 N0ungblocl
.r sheriff in "a Ure"o which lie
's".gc. erized NoGe.bood's lifr a.
pur" pd clean s tl. stream 0T
'.fe that flows ba'o~o the throne OF
God. Ii' tricGd remember h.,
e'rancc I'm those day Ibis hair
l"na "s e. was 10 the time Of 'is
,el sickness, asViua 60 us shou!
ders an boi.rj shirt ana SOFT
,o Pr Prince Albert coat which
.mcDnc hal bestowed on him
.ia.c h.,, trimmed glasses.
anha 'u liz cor b. black six
'en l'e was q COWS icuou~ per
.ul o0a -een.,.r. uom r.cG
.1j ;5i- 0euntr. rjy 1ae T.,
nHssrtv. .r.iy TO- pcrs5na'it, oenr
1g erlt-etur..ua aided him great.
-o pc.G.eg, uccass
rb E~. public oHo, vhicl jane
P.e,ta hsli vas that o. Justice o.
tfr p, cc he was an active lieu.
.ea,n' of Don NJ Dickinson. and
.eniered valiant service TO the Dem.
oCratic party in Clevelands second
su"cc sful camraign, when Mr.. Dick
ineon WIS national chairman. When
the post Of collector of internal
revenue fell vacant. President Cleve-
land on Mr. Dickinson's recommen.
datiCn and that OF many other in
ilueHtial Democrats, nominated Phe.
AN for tie position He maic
new record for efficiency in the of.
flee Mr.. Cullen remembers how
proud he was of his reports. and the
comments made on them by Wash
ington officials.
After his four-year term expired
the erstwhile collector resumed the
practice Of law, but not for long
The work of the recorders court
had become so heavy that Judge
Swift, whose health was falling.
found that he needed help. The
position of associate recorder was
created, and Judge Chaplin was chos-
en- for the post. Both terms expired
In 1900. In the election OF 1899, Al
fred J. Murphy was elected recorder
and James Phelan judge of the re
cOrder's court, defeating Henry A
Mandell In 1905, Judge Murphy
was elected Ia the circuit bench
Judge Phelan was chosen recorder.
defeating William G. Harris. and
Judge Connolly was elected Judge OF
the recorders court. In 1911. Judge
Phelan was elected ,or his third
term over Frank \. Rasch II is
generally conceded that he could
have held the position for years. It
was not political matter when
Judge Phelan ran, il was simply a
question OF the size Of his plurality.
for Republicans as well as Demo
Gratis voted for him, and his oppo.
nent was doomed from the start.
As a Judge. his record was almost
hawless from the point OF view OF
popular Justice though the supreme
court occasionally thought that the
conduct of a case constituted tech
nical error Put where the Judge
erred was always on the side OF
common sense Many legal quib-
BILE he refused TO entertain, because
he knew il was merely quibble
incensed him quite so much
rs an attempt 10 subvert Justice
through the technicalities OF Law.
On the other hand, nothing could eX-
ceed his patience when the issue
was close. and the weight OF hair
seemed enough to turn the scale OF
Justice.
Judge Phelan was firm beliey.
or in the parole system. He reCeiv-
cd almost daily letters from men