Year: 1875

Deatn OI Judge Faull'


The people OF this city will learn with
general regret of the death Of the Hon
James PAUL, one Of the Judges of the
Supreme Court Of Appeals Of this State,
which sad event occurred at his residence
at Wellsburg yesterday, For long time
past Judge PAUL has been in i'll health, but
not in such condition az to seriously in
terfere with the discharge Of his duties,
His disease was supposed to DO at frat
chronic bronchitis, terminating perhaps at
last in regular consumption, lie had
always been u delicate man, but neyGrthe-
less constant student and worker in his
profession. At the time OF his death he
was well advanced in years, and It can
be said Of him that he has departed leav-
lug behind IN record Of duties we'll per-
fOrmed.n


We believe that Judge Paull spent his
entire life in this city, save the last two
years during which he has lived at Wells
burg, lie practicod law without inter-
ruptiOn from the date Of his admission to
the bar, (saye the few years in which
he had charge Of the Lindsey Tnstitute)
up to the time Of his election to tho Su-
premO bench in 1879, In 1868 he was u
candidate for the JudgoShip Of this Cir
cult, but was beaten by Judge 4. II. Cald-
well, Of Moundsville, between whom and
Judge PAUL the contest was 80 close as to
require recount after the election. This
recount grew out Of certain alleged ile-
gal votes polled at the election, and the
contest over il became exceedingly bitter
before II ended, A decision was finally
made in favor Of Judge Caldwell by Gov
crnor Boreman, but was never satisfac.
tory to many people here, who believed
Judge PAUL to be the popular choice. In
1872 the Judge was nominated and elect.
cd to the Supreme bench as one Of the
four justices Of that tribunal under the
new Constitution. In the drawing Of lots
the eight years term fell to him, Judge
Moore drawing the long term Of twelve
years, and Judges Raymond and Hoffman
the two short terms Of four years each.
There remains therefore an unCxpired
term Of service OF about five years, and
consequently the Governor can not Gil
the vacancy by an appointment, as he
could were the term less than two years.
The Constitution requires writ Of elec.
ton to be issued by the Governor, and as
there is no general election this year a
special election must needs he held
throughout the State at an early day TO
ill the vacancy,


OF course the candidates will be nu-
merous, and the contest for the success
sion will probably be all the more ex-
citing owing to the fact that the Third
district Is reported to be llsafected
towards the Democratic party by reason
Of the removal Of the Capital from
Charleston. This district, prior to Judge
Paull's death, had two members on the
Supreme bench, viza Judges Hoffman and
PAUL, and the Second and Third districts
one each, Wis Raymond and Moore. It
may be that Mr., Walker will consider this
favorable time to put into execution
the terrible threats that he has been
making since his senatorial defeat ia to
what the Third District would do when
the day Of election came rOund. We shall
therefore, look with no little interest for
the first intimations from his pen as to
what Ia llis good pleasure in the matter Of
supplying us with u successor to Judge
PAUL. ...