Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
TWO POSTS FILLED
UNDER NEW LAW
Fred C. 0'ConnelI Assignment
Commissioner of D. C.
Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Alfred A. Wheat of
Ehe District Supreme Court yesterday
announced the appointment by the court
Of Frederick c. O'Conne1, assistant
clerk Of the court since 1894, to be the
new assignment commissioner, author
lied by the recent law and recommend
ed by the commission to expedite the
work of the courts. The salary was
fixed at $4,000.
Announcement also was made of the
selection of William r. Harr, former
Assistant Attorney General and one
time secretary to the late Justice John
M. Harlan Of the United States SUI
preme Court as commissioner to aid
the court in the disposition of suits
brought by veterans against the United
States. His salary was fixed at $500.
The position also was created by the
recent law and recommended In sep
arate report by the courts commission.
Mr.. Harr is expected to get the cases
ready for action by the court and will
probably have offices in the Fendall
Building, directly opposite the court
house.
Both Born in Capital.
Mr.. OConnell is native of WASH
ington. He was born June %, 1872,
educated in the public schools. and took
his degrees of LIB. in 1893 and LIN.
in 1894 at Columbian (now George
Washington, University. He was adj
mitted to the bar, but continued as a
court clerk. He was selected by the
court as member of the commission,
which visited other cities and reported
on methods for expediting the work of
the court. He has handled the as
signmentS III one of the Circuit Courts
for many years and is regarded as es-
pecially equipped for the duties OF the
new position. Mr.. O'Connell Is I'M
married and resides at ll0S Allison
street.
MIR. Harr is also a native of Wash
ington, being born July S. 1872, the son
Of Peter and Adelaide Harr, and re-
sides at So Primrose street, Chevy Chase,
Md. He was educated In the public
common and high schools of the Dis
trict of Columbia. He studied law at
the GEORGETOWN University Law School,
graduating in 1895, postgraduate 1895.
Admitted to the District of Columbia
bar in 1897, he served as secretary to
Justice John M. Harlan Of the United
States Supreme Court for several years.
appointment by Taft.
He was an attorney in the Depart
nnent of Justice 1902-1909 and ap-
pointed an Assistant Attorney General
Of the United States by President Taft
in April, 1909, serving as such until
September, 1919 Upon leaving the
Department Of Justice, formed a law
partnership with Charles H. Bates of
this city, which continued until 1927.
Since then he has been in practice
alone, with Offices in the Investment
Building.
He married Martha B. Harvey, sister
Of the late Gen. William E. Harvey of
this city, in 1900. They have two chill
dren, q daughter, Mrs Lilo M. Perrin,
jr, now residing at Stockton, Calf, and
q son, Richard w. Harr, with Grow,
Lewis & Wick, architects. New York
City. He is a former president of the
Columbia Heights Citizens Association.
He also helped organize and was elected
president of the Hughes Republican
Club of Washington, D.NC, in 1916.
He is q membar of the Lawyers Club,
District Of Columbia Bar Association
and American Bar Association, and for
several years has been secretary Of the
Washington National Monument So
ciety.
Chief Justice Wheat also announced
that there win be appointed an assist
ant TO the assignment commissioner at
q salary Of $4,000 and a clerk at 81 300.
A clerk will also be selected for Mr..
Earr at a salary Of $500, and an
other clerk In the Office Of Amos A.
Steele, probation oficer, at 81 800. No
announcement was made Of the selec-
ton Of the persons to I'LL these posi-
tons, all Of which were authorized
under the recent law.