The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-09-03

longer terms Of years, He had .hc
distinction, too, of being one of the
first federal Judges named for old
oklahoma Territory, back in 1890,
when q territorial form OF govern
ment was granted Az that time he
was a resident OF Crawfordsville,
Ind.
Served Under 2 Presidents.
I'm the White House then was Ben
jamin Harrison, also n Hoosier. and
many OF the leading men OF his ma
tive state we're appointed to posi-
tions OF prominence in the new COM
monwealth. George w. steel came
as tho first governor. John II. Bur
ford on the federal bench, and Hor-
ace Speed as district attorney. Bur
ford served until dispossessed by
the Cleveland regime that came In
1898, and he was e-appointed when
the republicans were restored to po-
wer with the Mckinley election IN
1896 He continued 10 serve until
statehood came in 1907.
With statehood, Purford had hop
ed 70 again become one of the fed
eral judges, and he was an active
candidate for the western oklahoma
district place, MS were also others.
This Fas while Colonel Roosevelt
tho recommendations OF Governor
Frank Frantz and Chairman "Charl-
ie' Hunter Of the republican state
central committee, and John IT, Cot
teral OF Guthrie, was named district
Judge. He ana Judge Burfor6
were the closest friends and re-
NAMED so always.
was II Strong PaTy Mnn.
Judge Burford was all that the
term of 'Hoosier Republican" means
and continued to be strong party
man during his lifetime. In 1914 he
was the republican nominee for the
United States senate, but was de-
feated by r. Z. Gore OF Lawton, the
blind senator.
On the bench Judge Rurford was
never 'hard-boiled." He was pos
sessed Of a dry wit that frequently
helped things wonderfully in the
courtroom, and his eyes had n twin.
kle that gave prophesy of n with
cism about 10 come.
During Burford's first term on the
federal bench IN Oklahoma, his ter
ritory included old No Mans Land
Beaver county. ard at a later date
he held court also in Woodward fol-
lowing the opening OF the Cherokee
strip in 1893. At woodward lived
Sam Houston, of Alamo fame. The
son was q fine lawyer, hut peculiar
an times I'm his habits, and he was
liable 10 spring almost anything in
the courtroom. on one occasion he
entered Judge Burford's courtroom
with rattlesnake skin a. n necktia.
At noon Burford said:
Temple, a ratt'esnake In any
torm always Is abhorent to me;
please remove the one you are wear
ing during the noon recess" and
Houston complied.
on one occasion n negro attorney
'at Guthrie had a contemporary ar
rested on a charge OF assault with
Intent 20 kill. claiming the defend.
ant had shot at him The fury freed
The defendant and In dsmissing
hin, Judge Burf9rd's eyes twin
fled and his cheeks dimpled, as he
said I've got n notion 10 fine you
Tor being such poor shot"
During all the time that he lived
IN Oklahoma. until several years
y'ter statehood vhs inaue1rated,
Judge BuYford lived IN Guthrie
several years ago he formed a law
partnership, which included the
present Governor, ]. r. A. Robert.
son, and moved 70 oklahoma City,
whore his son, Judge Frank Bur.
iord was then serving as an appoin-
Tee on the state supreme bench. HIS
VIE. who survives him. was Miss
lMary Cheek, whom he married IN
Nndiana. prior TO coming to Okla
homa. Her sister, Mrs, Martha
Neal, Is clerk of Logan county. At
Guthrie.
During his entire period on tho
bench, Judge Rurford was the head
or chief Justice Of the Oklahoma