Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-06-14
DEATH Of JUDGE ssOcxrON.
B A r ME- ETIN &c .


II Yous HoSoR PLxAsx:-At the sugges.ion
Of several members Of the bar. srise to dis
charge the painful duty CT announcing the
death Of the Hon. L. D. Stockton, one Of the
Associate Judges Of the Supreme Court Of this
State This is not the time nor place to speak
OF bis character. We all have known him %
40 upright. honorable and able Judge, and the
vacancy created by his death will bs one din
cult to NIL. ! arose simply to make the an.
nouocement and to move an adjournment OF
the Court in respect 10 bis memory.
Judge Dillon then enquired what it Wa pro.
posed to do.
Judge Grant stated that the bar intended to
hold meeting and pass suitable resolutions.
The Court then adjourned.
On motion Of Hon. Il. O'Connor, Hon. ]. F.
Dillon was appointed Chairman of the meet
ing and Ira n Clifford. Clerk, Secretary.
A Committee Of three. consisting Of Judge
Grant. N. Rogers. Esq. and Geo. E. Hub
bell. Esq. we're appointed to report suitable
resolutions.
After short absence. Judge Grant reported
the following resolutions. viz:
l. Resolued, That the bar of Scott county
have heard with much regret Of the death Of the
Hon. L. D. Stockton. of the Supreme Court of
Iowa.
O. Resolved, That we hold in the highest es-
timation the integrity, learning and exalted
virtue Of the late Judge Stockton. and deeply
deplore the loss which the Bench and the State
have sustained by the death of one 30 emf
nently qualified for the high station which he
filled.
3 RESOLVED. That we deeply .ympathize
with his bereaved family in their sfflction,
who mourn the loss Of an affectionate hu sband,
sk'nd parent. and q good citizen
4. kes>tved. That these resolutions be com.
municated to the Court by the District Attor.
ney. with request that they may be entered
on the records Of the Court. AMI that they be
communicated to the family of the deceased
by the Chairman of this NEE ing.
Hon. Henry O'Conner Prosecuting Attor-
nsy then arose and said that he could not let
the occasion pass without expressing his own
feelings and the feelings of the bar upon upon
the mournful occasion He had been acqusint-
ed with Judge Stockton ever since he came to
the State, some ten years since; sod more es
pecally since he had been upon the Supreme
Bench. From his extreme d,fidence of char
acter, his modesty, be had been less known
than others less deserving. A, the bar he was
modest and retiring. and quiet in his profess
ionsl career. Previous to his elevation to the
Supreme Bench he was little known out of Des
moines county, but there he was known and
recognized as an able and learned lawyer; he
had fully that not uncommon index OF charac-
ter which goes to make up Q iull grown man
aud lawyer; he vas always ready to take .
young lawyer by the hand and assist in ac-
qusinting him with the statutes and laws Of
the state he (the epeaker) knew this by ex.
perience and cherished grateful memories Of
the assistance he had received from the learned
deceased.
In common with many other m members of the
bar, he (O'Conner) was disappointed when
Judge Stockton was elected to the Supreme
Bench. but was afterwards agreeably disap-
pointed. He was not prepared for the exh.bi-
tion Of legal acumen and that inexhaustable
fund Of common sense which he displayed
He did not wish to speak in disparagement Of
any other If the jurists Of the State when he
said tha. there has never been one who has
sdorned the bench in higher deg. ee than
Judge Stockton. 1t was among the members
Of the bar acquainted with him, the common
be ief that his untiring industry and zeal in
the prosecution of his du les as Judge, in the
study of cases and the preparation of opin
ions, had much to do With aggravatiog his die.
ease. if not bringing it to a fatal termination.
He had been told that it was the habit Of the
Judge to rise early in the morning and to work
all day, only stopping sufficient time for hi.
meals, and until late hour at night. in prepar'
ing cases His labors were more arduous than
thoss of any other Of the Judges on the ber ch,
aud one reason was that he never refused cham
Der business; he did more in that apacity than
any other Judge. and that had aggravated his
disease. He possessed in an eminent degree
every quality to make up and fill up the char
acter of an American Judge. He had now
gone before great and upright Judge. and
carried with him there the character Of Just
and upright Judge. No one regrets him more /;
be (,he speaker) had learned to love and revere
him. He could not trust himself to say more.
Judge Grant then arose. very visibly affect
ed even to tears, during some portions Of his
remarks. He said that he had been twenty.
two years q citizen, and with the exception Of
few months, practicing lawyer. in the State
Of Iowa. In the course Of the professional ca
reer which it had been his interest ard choice
to pursue. he had been acquainted with all the
Judges in the State: he knew Judge Stockton
when be first came to the State; he brought
With him reputation for honesty and integ.
rity which moved uuinterruptedly with him
to his dying day. In early years he was
Prosecuting Attorney Of the Burlington Dis.
trict. AMI this. with the exception Of his seat
upon the Supreme Bench. was the only in-
stance in which the people of lows had the
benefit Of his distinguished ability in public
capacity. He might relate . portion Of his
history which was not generally known
His first appointm Mt to the Supreme Bench
was not received ct the hands Of the people,
but conferred by Gov. Grimes, who tn en- occu
pied the Chair. Hs had been told that bic ap-
pointment was not entirely acceptable to his
party. It Was a fact that even Judic al 40.
pointments we're sometimes controlled by OAR.
tisao influence, but the Governor replied, to
those who objected. Il know Stockton; 1 know
that he will make learned and eminent
Judge, and will take the whole responsibility
Of the appointment upon myself" And be
never made . truer prediction. He had served d
but single term-indeed. had de ivered but
single opinion. when he took HE place in the
first rank, not only an honest but learned