The Washington times., 1934-12-12
BY JAMES L. KILGALLEN
Copyright, 1894,
By International News SeFvlce)

BY International News Servlce)
PENNINGTON. N. j., Dec. IL
U.N.S0.-Two distinguished JUS
tices-one II years old, the other
55-w1ll preside at the trial of
Bruno Richard Hauptmann on
the charge of numbering the Lind
bergh baby.
They are Associate Supreme
Court Justice Thomas w. Trench
ard and Common Pleas Judge
Adam O. Robbins.
Decorum will prevail at the
trial which opens January 2.
This is a foregone conclusion
with Justice Trenchard-a man
of "the old school" in law in
charge. of the proceedings. He is
not the type to countenance hip
podroming in the courtroom.
Strict Judge
Justice Trenchard is a tall, dig.
rified, scholarly-looking man with
q keen mind and a forceful de-
meanor. He is noted for his de.
cisive opinions which seldom have
been reversed by the Court of
Errors and Appeals.
His decisions are clear cut and
phrased in terms that are easily
comprehended. He has been a
members of the Supreme Court
for 81 years.
He is exacting in preparation
of legal documents and strict in
his orders. But he is not con-
sidered severe in his rulings and
is frequently lenient in adjusting
cases.
For a number Of years Justice
Trenchard has written many i'm
portant opinions as a member Of
the Supreme Court and has voted
on hundreds of others.
Active Career
Prior to his appointment to the
State bench, Justice Trenchard
held several legal positions. In
1899 he was appointed law judge
in Bridgeton and in the following
year he was named law judge Of
Cumberland county. He also
served as member of the house
of assembly in 1889.
For several years he was So
licitor Of Bridgeton, Cumberland
county. AS a Presidential elector
he cast ballots for Mckinley and
Hobart.
Justice Trenchard read law in
the office of Potter & Nixon in
Bridgeton and was admitted to
the bar as an attorney in 1885
and as counselor in 1893. He
practiced law in Bridgeton.
Reticent About Self
He was born in Centreton,
Salem county, N. j., in December,
1868. He was educated in the
Bridgeton schools and the South
Jersey Institute. He is married
but has no children. He is reti-
cent in giving information con.
cerning himself but is a delight
full gentleman with whom to con-
verse. He lives in Trenton.
Judge Robbins, who will assist
Justice Trenchard at the Haupt-
mann trial, is a typical country
gentleman" He owns a. large
farm near Flamington.
He was born on farm owned
by ancestors who settled in Hunt
ardon county a century tgo. He
is SIS years old, married and has
a daughter. When his judicial
duties are not occupying his at
tention he devotes his time to his
farm.
Presided at Curtis Trial
Judge Robbins has presided over
several important trials in Hunter.
don and Mercer counties. He
presided at the trial of John
Hughes Curtis. the Norfolk, Va,
shipbuilder, who perpetrated the
famous Lindbergh case hoax.
This case was held at Flamington.
He also presided at the widely
publicized case of two State
troopers who participated in the
Battle of Jutland" which re.
suited in the death of Miss Beat
rice Meany. Judge Robbins SEN
fenced both troopers to the State
prison.
Judge Robbins presides in
Mercer county as we'll as Hunter.
don county. He was admitted to
the bar in 1900 and practiced law
for several years. He has been
on the bench for the past IL years