Anderson - Albert Barnes - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: Indianapolis Star 28 April 1938 p 1
Albert Barnes Anderson was born near Zionsville, in Boone County Feb 10, 1857, the son of Philander and Emma A. Anderson.  He received his AB degree at Wabash College in 1879 and his LL D in 1907.  On Nov 14, 1882, the year after he was admitted to the bar, Judge Anderson was married to Miss Rose Campbell of Crawfordsville.  He practiced law in Crawfordsville 21 years and from 1886 to 1890 was prosecutor of Montgomery County, leading a vigorous campaign to "clean up" county affairs.  President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Mr. Anderson judge of the US District Court in Indianapolis. D>ec 18, 1902 and Judge Anderson held this post 23 years, establishing a reputation for keeping criminal and civil dockets clear. He was opposed to long delays in legal jurisdiction.  Later, Judge Anderson incurred the disapproval of President Roosevelt when he held that Roosevelt's libel suit against a newspaper publisher was to be tried here instead of in the District of Columbia, where the suit originated. Roosevelt refused to greet the judge during a reception held for the President in the Columbia Club here some time after the decision had been made.  In the famous dynamite conspiracy in which 100 persons were killed during a series of dynamitings of building in which steelwork had been erected by nonunion workers.  Judge Anderson presided at the trial in which 38 men were found guilty of conspiracy and violation of the Federal Law prohibiting transportation of explosives. A quantity of dynamite had been found in a downtown building here. The court was in session 75 days and 744 witnesses were heard. Judge Anderson presided in the trial of former Governor Warren T. McCrary, convicted of fraud.  During the national wide coal strike in 1919, Judge Anderson issued an injunction against officials of the United Mine Workers of America, enjoining them from prosecuting the strike and later issued an order directing them to call off their strike order. John L. Lewis, then president of the Union was successful in overcoming a radical element in the miner's organization which would have defied the Federal Court's order and the strike was called off and later setlted through negotiations.  During prohibition Judge Anderson assailed bitterly city and county officials, whose laxity he said was responible for the jamming of Federal Court dockets with prohibition law violations. Uring prosecution of the "men higher up" in booze rings, Judge Anderson was instrumental in pressing charges against a number of officials, including nearly the entire city government of Gary.  In politics, he was an ardent Republican.  Judge Anderson was appointed to the US Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago in 1925 by President Coolidge. His retirement four years later was marked by praise from Hoover for his long and colorful service as a Federal jurist. Since retirement, Judge and Mrs. Anderson spent most of their time in a winter home in WInter Park, Fla and a summer cottage at Burt Lake, Michigan. While journeying between these homes, it was their custom to spend a month visiting with friends in Indianapolis.

Source: Same - different section of page 1

Many attorneys who practiced in the court of Judge AB Anderson remember his kindliness and also the severeity with which he could deal with those whom he suspected of insincerity. Albert L. Rabb remembers all his contacts with the judge as pleasant and helpful.  "Judge Anderson was a kindly man and his severity was brought to bear only on those defendants who he thought were trying to put something over on him or on those attorneys who thought were lazy, unprepared or too garulous, Mr. Rabb said.  "The judge disliked arguments that apparently were leading to nothing and often interposed questions designed to bring matters to the point.  He liked to decide questions immediately if possible and his mind was as brilliant as any in his court.  Judge Anderson never liked to work at night and when he left his chambers in the Federal building it may have been late but he never returned until the next day.  Few people knew how well read he was. His interest in literature never wanted.  His manner was abrupt and his words sharp and cutting when he showed disapproval.  Defendants often were heard to say that they would rather be sentenced that lectured by him.  The judge was a good storyteller and enjoyed one on himself.  He liked to tell about the time when he still was judge of the lower court here a judge of the US Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago bested him in wit.  WShen the higher court chamgers were built, the ceiling included a dome-like skylight. Judge Anderson visitng the new chamber the first time, grinned at the appeals judge and said, "Well I see you are getting some light from above." The Circuit Court judge answered quickly, "That's more than we get from below."  That he wasn't all severeity is illustrated by another incident. I walked into his chambers one time and saw him seated at his desk with several papers of various sizes before him. When he saw me he showed me what he was doing. He had found that without measuring, he could pencl a dot in the exact center of any of the pieces of paper. He showed me and had me measure them and he was right.  A peculiar pastime but I couldn't do it.  But many attorneys can recall much homely reminiscences about him.  He was a human, just, brilliant man and his ability as a judge was recognized widely and respected. Samuel D. Miller said that Judge Anderson was essentially a just judge.  I remember that when the United Mine WOrkers and coal operators litigation was in process here Charles Evans Hughes, now chief justice of the US Supreme Court represented one of the parties, Mr. Miller commented. After the legal matters were settled, Judge Anderson told me that what he was about to say was difficult for him to say because of the many arguments he had heard during his career on the bench. But he said, "I have never heard a finer argument than that presented by Mr. Hughes.  None could complain of the rectitude of Judge Anderson's intentions. In many ways, he was a great judge.  His ability to absorb and assimilate facts was remarkable.  His legan learning was profound and he could marshal facts in their appropriate legal categories with unerring judgment. As a man, Judge Anderson was human and kindly.  He had a keen sense of humor and a correlative and appreciation of the pathos of life. He was a shrewd observer and nothing counterfeit ever got by him.  He was a true patriot and served his country well.  He will be much missed.  I cannot speak too highly of Judge Anderson Alexander G. Cavins, former assistant US district attorney and later acting DA said in tribute. "The judge was a manysided man with a delicious wit and a keen, ironic tongue. I have seen him keep a whole courtroom laughing many times. And again I have seen him administer stinging rebukes.  He was an impentrable man,  yet approachable.  He would sit and talk with a defendant as long as a half hour and then sentence him.  He was strictly impartial during a trial and when his decision was made it was irrevocable.  Judge Anderson had a keen mind that raced ahead of that of any counsel appearing before him. He was 10 questions ahead and more of the attorneys in his court. For that reason he was called severe.  But it wasn't severeity. It was the impatience of a brilliant mind annoyed by petty details and plodding presentations. He coujld see what was coming and if he disagreed with its conclusion he could forestall it with a few well-chosen words. The judge probably was more largely responsible than any other in this state for the feeling that certainty of conviction is a more powerful deterrent to crime than severity of sentence.  Judge Anderson, because of the position he held, allowed himself few intimate friends and many of tohose most closely associated with him during his years on the district bench have preceded him in death. Many other attorneys here who practiced in his court are unstinting in their praise of him and respect for his legal acumen. James W. Noel, who knew him well asserted, "Judge Anderson was a great lawyer and a great judge. He was a man of unusual power as an individual and it did not wane when he became a judge. He was noted fo rhis dignity and his strict enforcement of the law gave Indiana a proud place in the expedition of business and enforcement of criminal laws. Judge Anderson had a brilliant mind; one of integrity and sound judgment and his decisions seldom were reversed. He was a man of wide learning.  Personally, I enjoyed a delightful friendship with him and like many others, I regret his death keenly.

Judge Robert C. Baltzell of Federal Corut who succeeded Judge Anderson said he first became acquainted with him during the war. "I had charge of the draft then and thus came into contact with the judge in the prosecution of several cases which arose then," Judge Baltzell said, "I visited the judge every time I came to Indianapolis. He was an outstanding judge in this c9untry for 23 years. His influence on the enforcement of law in Indiana was felt many years after his term on the bench here. He was a brilliant man, a distinguished lawyer and a judge of rare ability.  Thomas D. Stevenson, pres of Indiana Bar who had practiced in his court said, "There never has been his superior on a district bench. The legal profession suffered a severe loss when he retired fro the Circuit bench and a great one with his death. None who knew him had anything but respect and admiration for his remarkable qualities. Judge L Ert Stack of Superior Court Rm 3 who served as DA while Judge Anderson was on the bench asserted, Judge Anderson was a man in whom great conscience and unimpeachable honesty was blended with brillance and unusual legal knowledge I value the association I had with him even though we did not always agree on decision and sentences and I subscribe gladly to every find thing that can be said of him.

Source: Munster Times Wed 4 May 1938 p 1
Crawfordsville May 4- Memorial services were held in the Wabash College Chapel here in honor of Judge Albert Barnes Anderson, distinguished alumnus and former judge of the federal district court at Indianapolis and of the US Circuit Court of appeals at Chicago.  Chase Harding local attorney and intimate friend of Judge Anderson eulogized the jurst and one of his favorite hymns was sung by the student body.  Judge Anderson was graduated with honors from Wabash in 1879 and for several years was a trustee. He died recently in an Indianapolis hospital.  

Burial for Former Judge To Be Held Tomorrow “At Crawfordsville." (Sorry missed this citation but the one above will at least tell you the time frame - SORRY - we don't mess up too often but ... occasionally :)