Evening star., 1939-05-31
Gov. 0'Conor Names
3 Trial Magistrates
For Montgomery
Two Are Organization
Democrats, One Is
An Independent
BY JACK ALLEN.

Gov OConor today named two
Organization and one Independent
Democrat to serve in the trial mag
istrates courts that will be set up in
Montgomery County under the plan
for reorganization of Maryland's S
inferior courts.
The appointees are:
Donald A. De Lashmutt, who is to
sit in the new tribunal at Rockville.
James c. Christopher, Judge for
the court at Bethesda.
Ralph G.. Shure, magistrate for the
court at Takoma Park and Silver
Spring.
The three jurists, all we'll known
in Montgomery's legal and political
circles, received their commissions
today and are to assume their new
posts tomorrow. Their positions
carry annual salaries of S1.8OO
In naming Mr.. Christopher and
Mr.. Shure. the Governor ignored
the recommendations of former
States Attorney James H. Pugh,
who managed his primary campaign
in the county. and approved the
nominations of the United Demo-
cratic Organization. which sup
ported Mayor Howard w. Jackson
in the primary fight
Mr.. De Lashmutt led the OConor
primary forces in Rockville district
and was chairman of the Inde-
pendent Democratic Party, which
opposed the United Democratic
Organization in the county primary
and also supported Gov OConor in
the gubernatorial scrap. The Or
ganization made no recommended
ton regarding the Rockville ap-
pointment.
Mr.. Pugh is understood to have
backed Frank B. Proctor of Silver
Spring for the Takoma Park-Silver
Spring Court, and Robert S. Bill
himer of Washington Grove for Be-
thesda.
Informed sources said the appoint
ment of Mr. Christopher and Mr..
Shure probably is the result of the
deal which Howard w. Bruce,
wealthy Baltimore banker and one
of the Governor chief advisers, has
been trying to swing.
The reported deal provides for
county patronage to 60 to the United
Democratic Organization, with the
latter supporting Mr.. Bruce if he de-
cides to make race for United
States Senator George l.. Radcliffe's s
seat next year.
Serving as Judge Now.
Mr.. De Lashmutt is judge of the
County Police Court at present, hav-
ing been named by the Governor a
month ago to serve until the court
reform law becomes effective tomor-
row. He held the same Office from
1882 until 1885, succeeding Judge
Charles w. Woodward upon the lat
ter's elevation to the Circuit Court
and remaining there until replaced
by Harold C. Smith when the Re-
publican party came into control of
the State in 1885.
His first appointment to the coun-
ty Police Court was made on the in
dorsement Of the organization, but
he split with that faction before the
county primary and led the Inde-
pendent Democratic party.
Christopher Was County Clerk.
Mr.. Christopher, who has law Of
fees in Bethesda and Rockville, is a
former deputy clerk to the county
commissioners and was associated in
legal practice with Judge Stedman
Prescott before the latter was elect
ed to the Circuit Court bench.
Shure Long Resident in County.
A native of Texas, Mr.. Shure,
who lives in Takoma Park and has
law Offices in the same community,
has resided in Montgomery for 18
years. He was graduated from
Maryland University and George
town University Law School and is
member of the bars of the Dis
trict of Columbia and Maryland
Court of Appeals.
Under the new court system the
new magistrates will hear cases in
the communities to which they are
assigned. Justices of the peace, who
formerly presided in such hearings,
in the future will serve only as COM
mitting magistrates and will not
serve Is jurists.