Milford chronicle., 1939-01-20

the only man ever elected twice to a
courthouse Office here IN the history
of this, one of the original thirteen
colonies, and the first State in the
Union. His record was broken,
however. at the last election when
Francis F. Morgan was reelected
for the second term in succession,
establishing a record of all time.
MIR. Lawson was elected clerk OF
the peace for Sussex county on the
Republican ticket in 1918, serving
from January, 1919, to January,
1923, He was elected to the office for
the second term in 1880 and served
four years, January, 1881 to January
1885. At the expiration of his term
he became deputy to the present
Clerk of the Peace, Mr.. Morgan,
serving until January 2, this year.
He served as deputy clerk of the
peace under John S. Cooper of near
Delmar, for two years, 192g-1931.
He was married on February 21,
1894, to Lillian Z. Godfrey, daughter
Of the late Samuel ]. and Rachel
(Ryon) Godfrey, of Bishop, Md.
For many years he served as a
MEMBER of the Republican County
Executive Committee from his home
district as well as treasurer of the
committee.
Two years ago there was a con-
tention on the Del-Mar-Va Peninsula
as to the Oldest Sunday school at
tendant; but Mr.. Lawson, from avail
able records, proved to be the old
est. At that time. George Slee, of
Aberdeen, Md, had 80 years credit
as a Sunday school attendant and
Frank w. Wagner, coming to Della
ware from Berwick, Pa, in 1888, was
believed to have established a record
in the Second Representative Dis
trict of this county. However, Mr..
Lawson's record caused all to fade
on the Del-Mar-Va Peninsula, and
also throughout the eastern part of
the country.
Mr.. Lawson was in Georgetown
one day this week and mingled with
his large circle of friends, socially
and politically, throughout the court
house and on the main streets here. /
He has been a prominent figure for
at least l6 years here. ALI know him
as ''Uncle Frank" He related his ex-
perienee as clerk of the courts dur
ing those years, and told of some of
the sensational murder trials and 4
the tOrrid weather at the June term
of courts and the frigid weather at !
the February term of courts. One /
of his most thrilling experiences. as
he relates them, was a few years ago |
l.. In.
during a sensational murder trial, /
with the thermometer reaching lOi /
degrees In the shade. Out of respect
for the. court he kept his coat on.
but ii became necessary to install
electric fans in order to stand the
heat.
The duty of clerk of the court is
10 carry on, and that is what Mr..
Lawson did, despite the fact that
several times during the particular
murder trial he was sick from the
heat. The judges complained of the
intense heat, had all of the windows
md doors opened. Yet they suffered.
For the clerk of the court it was an
ordeal. He had to swear the wit
nesses and see that everything in
with the trial was ac-
,ording to Hoyle. Much rested upon
ii mas clerk of the court.
He stemmed the tide, the heat, the
)rdeal. 1t left him a man weakened
nj mind and physique, as it did all
,thers who attended the particular
rial during that intensive heat.
Mr.. Lawso nrelates many expert
,nces in his official capacities. but
he murder trial of Asa ]. Smith,
ormer school teacher, convicted of
numbering his wife, near here,
tands out as the most prominent.
That trial, during the intense heat,
las often brought forward the query I
Why officials should have to wear
oats in a court room when the ther-
is registering 104 degrees
n the shade. The general public
Onsiders it nonsensical as well as
gainst human natures instincts.
In addition to Mr.. lawson being
elected as the secretary of Zoar NJ.
:. Sunday school for the 56th year.
ther officers elected were: Super
ltendent and treasurer, Joshua r.
Ioore; assistant secretary, Miss
live Thoroughbred; librarian, Miss
irginia Rust; class leader. Henry
Iastings. Il
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