Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-10-13
LOCAL NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENT ON THR DEATH OF CHIep
JUSTICE TANEY In THR SUPRRMR CoyRr-
At the opening of the Supreme Court OF ths
District of Column ia this morning, Chief Jus.
tice Cartier presiding, Mr.. Richard ). Coke,
ESQ, announced in the presence OF large
number of the mem bers OF the Bar, the death
of Chief Justice Roger b. fancy, in the fol-
lowing words:
your Honor please, have been asked, and
in a way that 1t is impossible fer me to refuse,
to announce to this Court the death OF the late
Chief in. tice Roger B. fancy.
Roger B. fancy, whom l have Known per-
sonally, for forty years, think, died at very
advanced age-1 believe In his eighty SCI enth
year During the long period which 1 have
marked before, has been about forty years, I
have never known time when could not
reasonably look for bis death within six
months-infrm in constitution ana yet vigor-
Gus in mind.
In regard to the character and strength Of his
intellect, can say, after a great deal Of close
observation, from association with him at the
bar. and from my relations to him whilst pre-
siding Judge OF the Supreme Court Of the
United States, that he possessed to q degree
beyond, think. almost any man I have ever
known, an acute and discrimin ating mind. He
was not so enlarged in some OF his views as
many others with whom have been on familiar
terms, and in consequence of the state Of his
health and the peculiar position he occupied at
the bar as a lawyer entirely devoted to country
practice fer 80 large portion OF his profes.
sional life, he was not SO familiar with the
general subjects Of constitutional law, with the
law Of nations, with maritime law, and with
known; but within the limited sphere in which
his practice consisted, he had, beyond all COM
parison, the most acute and discerning mind I
ever met with at the bar
There was one popularity about him which
desire to notice, rather for the benefit Of the
elder members Of the bar, than for that Of the
younger.
On enc occasion 1 was concerned with him
in a very important case that was coming on
for argument in the Supreme Court. He was
engaged at Annapolis, and 1 prepared a very
full brief Of the argument OF the cause to be
submitted to him for his consideration.
He arrived in WI hington q few days before
the argument came IN, and took me to his room,
where he kept me for about four hours discus
sing every point of this preliminary argument
with which I was to open the case. have
been associated with other gentleman Of the
highest character, but never found one who
devoted himself SO intensely and absolutely as
he did to assist in aiding and instructing his
junior counsel
His appointment to the Bench of the Supreme
some surprise among many; but he has indi-
Gated degree OF talent since he has held that
position, and has acquired learning in all the
different branches Of the department, which
seems almost incredible, when we consider bis
feeble state Of health.
It will not be necessary, nor do think 1t
would be proper, for me on this occasion to
undertake to review any Of the decisions
which he has made while presiding as Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of the United
States, but may say that they are all marked
with scholarly ability, and with the same dis.
eliminating faculty of mind to which have
already alluded, to a degree perhaps not sur
passed by any gentleman who ever presided in
that court.
that such had been his state of health from the
time he commenced the practice OF his profess
sion that he was never able to pursue gen.
eral or even a systematic course of profess
sional reading, much less of reading beyond
the limits of his profes sion, and he was neces-
sarily limited by the infirm state OF his health
to the immediate exigencies Of the times. Yet,
with all that feebleness of constitution, he re-
tanned bis intellect to a degree which, con-
sidering his advanced age, is truly surprising;
and, until within the last ten days OF his death,
he never gave the slightest indication of q rail.
ure of his intellect
or course my remarks on such an occasion
cannot do stice to the merit and character Of
the distin Suished dead. All that can do Is to
suggest to your Honor the propriety of having
the Bar meet in more solemn and formal
manner to commemorate the memory Of this
eminent lurist; and in the meantime move the
court adjourn.
In accordance with the suggestion Of Mr..
Cox, melton was made, and acquiesced in
by the court, to have the members Of the Bar
assemble in the Court House tomorrow, at 12
O'Clock M, to pay the last appropriate honors
to the deceased.
The court then adjourned until tom orrow
morning, at 10 o'clock.
CRIMINAL CoURT-In the Criminal Court,
the death of Chief Justice fancy was an
nounced by Mr.. Nathaniel Wilson, Assistant
District Attorney, when the court adjourned
until to. morrow morning at ten O'Clock.
THB NUMBER OF MEN TO BE FURNISHED
BY THB misunderstanding to the official
returns made to Captain Putnam by the Board
of Enrolment up to the night OF the 18th inst,
the following is q correct statement Of the um.
Der OF men yet to be furnished by the different
wards and sub.districts:
Second Ward 81
1ulIO w dIO ID
fOuTtn WarQ.... .lO9
Fifth Ward. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Sixth Ward ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, %
ScNcAtu w Oh
Eleventh Sub. District. 50