The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-12-29
ENDS JUDICIAL CAREER.

The official career of one of the best known
and most picturesque figures in the New York
courts will come to end Dec. 31st, wher
Justice John w. Golf of the State Supreme Court
will doff the judicial robes and reutre from the
bench under the age limit law.
1t is almost quarter of century since JUS
tice Golf first came into nationwide prominence
as chief counsel for the Lexow senatorial COM
mittee in it's investigation of Tammany Hall and
alleged police corruption in connection with vice
in New York City. In later years it fell to his
lot to preside at many famous criminal trials,
including that of Police Lieutenant Becker and
the four gunner who were convicted and execut-
ed for the murder of the gambler, Herman Ro-
seminal. IS. ID isENxsHE77
Justice Golf was born in Ireland seventy years
ago. and in his boyhood he playmate of
Charles Stewart Parnell. He to America
in early manhood and first found employment
with large dry goods house. Then he studied
law, and attended the evening classes at Cooper
Union.
At this time he took part in all organized eff
forts to ameliorate Irelands condition. He joined
the Land League, and in 1874 organized eX-
petition to liberate John Boyle O'Reilly and sew
eral other Irishmen who had been transported
to Australia for political offences. To accomplish
this the whaling bark Catalpa was chartered, and
in the course of time she returned to New York
with the celebrated Irish leader.
year or two afterwards Mr. Golf was adj
mitted to the bar. In 1888 he appointed
assistant district attorney. Two years later
he nominated by the County Democracy
and Peoples Municipal League for the office of
district attorney, but defeated by the Tam
many candidate.
Mr.. Golf returned to private practice. Then
came the famous Lexow Committee to nvesti-
gate the police department. Mr.. Golf was
lected as the committees counsel, and he justified
his choice. He began at the bottom and worked
upward. AS inquistor he notably per-
sistent, and at times merciless. Witnesses held
him in terror.
The result of that investigation is still remem-
bered. Corruption in every bureau of the police
department uncovered, and officers, high
and low, were disgraced New York turned up
on Croker and his Tammany government was
thrown out of office Mr.. COTS reward came in
the shape of election recorder of the Court of
General Sessions, to which office he was nomi-
mated by the Committee of Seventy.
His very first act after he assembled the bench
to dictate order to the official stenograph-
er which directed that thereafter all indictments
presented by the grand jury should be retained
by the clerk of the court, and should constitute
part of the official records. Prior to that time
the district attorney had exclusive charge and
possession of all indictments. 1t remained in his
power to dispose of them he thought proper,
to pigeon-hoe, lose possibly destroy them.
Such things had constituted grave scandals.
This and other important reforms in judicial
practice were instituted by Justice Golf during
his long career the bench. He continued to
fill the Office of recorder from 1894 until 1906,
and since the latter year he has been upon the
supreme court bench.
Some say that Justice Golf is a harsh judge
Some say he is too impetuous, and that he dis
plays at times the qualities of Judge advocate
rather than those of the dispassionate evenly
balanced dispenser of justice. Others know that
more than one occasion he has reversed him
self because in his mind there existed grave
doubts about the fairness of trial
Throughout his career he has retained an old
fashioned respect and reverence for the admin
istration of the law and has always insisted
upon the little details that dignity the court