Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/353

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

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lie w as alw ays ready to overlook the faults lle.NRv M. H j . c k u : y, 1888. Judge Elwcll n and mistakes of the young practitioner. A resigned from the bench in Ju ly, j8 8 8, and lover o f justice, he tried alw ays to be ju st; Governor B eaver appointed Henry M . Hinck­ an advocate of the right, his aim was always ley, o f Danville, as president judge of the to be right. H e rcs)>cctcd the rights o f all Twenty-sixth Jud icial district. Ju d g e Hinck­ and he was ]iaticnt m the hearing o f every ley was bom at Harrisburg, Pa., Ju n e 2, 1850, cause. H e hated sham and the pretender and attended the public schools there. He found little encouragement in contending be­ entered the freshman class at Princeton in fore him. H e had great respect for the September, 1870, and graduated in June, 1S74. higher courts and zealously lalwrcd to line In his class were Jam es Scarlet, C. K. Savidgc up his cases with their decisions; never hesi­ t.for twenty years subsequently president tating. however, to criticize what seemed to judge of the Eighth Judicial d istrict;, Delanoffend his sense o f right and justice. A t one cey Nichol (.ex-district attorney o f New York time a principle was before him which had C ity), N cviii U. Punk ( o f Bloom sburgl, been ruled time after time by the Supreme Ju d ge H . A . Fuller ( o f W ilkes-Barre), eourt. The integrity o f (he position was Charles H . Beign cr ( o f H arrisb urg), William doubled and he was asked to rule contrary to 1 1 . Sponsier, and a number o f others well the decisions of the higluN' court. H e tiled known in this locality. Ju d ge Hinckley read an opimoii, aligning himself with the Supreme b w with I. X . Grier, o f Danville, and was court and fortifying his position by their de­ admitted to practice in 187s;. F o r a number cisions. The Sujirem e court reversed ihcm- o f years he was associated, in the practice of selves, and consequently reversed Ju d ge E l­ law, with 1. X . Grier, under the linn name o f wcll, at the cost of the appellee. Some time G rier and Hinckley. He presided until the a fte r the appellee look a rule on the appellant first .Monday o f Jan u ary, 1889, "h e n Judge (o show cause why certain costs in the pre­ E . R . Ikclcr, who had been elected in Novem­ lim inary stage of the case should nut be paid ber, )888, breamc the presiding judge of the by it. Ill arguing the matter before Judge district. Elw ell, it was successfully contended (hat the E. R. iKiiLEx, i8 8 8 to 1898. Ju d ge Ikeler Supreme court had reversed at the cost of was Ijoni in Greenwood towiishi]>, Columbb the appellee, and that consequently the ap- county, Feb. 27, 1838. H e read b w with tlol.

llcc should pay the costs in question. Judge John G. Freeze and was admitted to the bar

Iwcll, still annoyed by the fact that he had ill M ay, 1867. In 18C9 he was elected district been reversed, while holding with the S u ­ ailom ey and served during a part of the preme court, said, "W ell, gentlemen, there is Mollie M aguire trials, ju d g e Ikclcr died Aug. one party that ought to pay these costs and I . i8 y8 . that IS the Supreme Court." G r a n t H k r r in g, 1898. On the death o f Ju d ge Elw ell had a keen sense o f humor Ju d ge Ikclcr Grant H erring w as appointed which sometimes cropped out in the midst president judge of the Twenty-sixth Ju d ic b l even of the most important case. H e w as try­ district. Judge H erring was liom . ay 19, ing such a case at one time. P ro f. S, N. i8(>2. H e prepared fo r college at the State W alker w as (he official stenographer. Mr. Normal School at Bloomsburg and entered W alker sat at the desk, which w as just below Lafayette College in 1879, gradualing in 1883. the juilgc's bench. .Ml connected with the H e then studied b w with Judge Ikcler and courts at ihat time knew Professor W alker’s was admitted to the bar in February. 1885. deep aversion to (otiacco in every form, espe­ H e practiced fo r four years in {>artiiership cially in smoking. The reporter had a small with Judge Ikclcr. and afterw ards alone, ac­ oil lamp burning on his desk, and like the quiring a b rg c and rcmuncralive practice. .At lam(>s o f those days it began sending up a me election in iS«j8 Robert R . Little. Esq., column o f smoke which soon rose to the was elected president judge of the Twentyju d ge's bench. Judge Elw ell. with that twin­ sixth Judicial district. Judge H erring died kle in his eye which to those who knew him Aug. 4. 19 12 . best betokened a Hash o f humor, leaning over K o r k r t R. I . h t l e, 1899 to 1905. Judge his desk, called ou t: "M r. W alker, arc you Little was l>oro at Berwick in 1852. In 1872 smoking?” "N o . sir,” was the quick reply, he graduated from the State Nonnal .School “ it’s my lam p." "O h.” said ludgc Elw cll, " I at Bloomsburg and in 1873 cummenccd the didn’t know you would even have a bm p that study of b w with his father, Ephraim H. smoked.” .And the (rial went on. Judge E l­ Little. In 1875 he w*as admitted lo the l» r and practiced in [xirlnership with his father. Be­ well died Oct. 15. 1895.

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