The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-08-27
Judge David McDonaId.

success tn8n nc yet mas uOnes
=w-@==zHuuasl-uussuaz@@
Judge David Mcdonald.
The telegraph brings US the news
of the death Of Hon. DAVID McDoN-
AID. Judge Of the United States Dis
tr;ot Court of Indiana, at the time of
his death. and for years past at tie
head Of the legal profession Of the |
State.a man Of the purest morals, and |
a citizen who possessed in the highest |
degree the esteem and confidence of |
the people.
Judge MCDONALD was born in
Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1903, |
and died at he age Of sixty-six years.
His early education was Of the rudest
and most imperfect kind which could
be gathered in few months attend
ance at the Winter schools of that
early period in the settlement Of this
western country In 1917 he emf
grated to Daviess County, Indiana.
In 1928 he commenced the study of the
law, and in 1880 was admitted TO
the bar. Dilligsnt and laborious
study supplied what was lacking
from defect Of early education,
and his marked ability and
elesrness Of intellect were soon
recognized by the people and his
ASSOCIATES in the legal profession. In
1893 he was sent to the Legislature,
and in 1884 was elected Prosecuting
Attorney Of the Circuit Court, the du-
ties of which he discharged with
marked ability, and was selected for
a second term, in 1886. On the expi-
ration of the second term, he was
made Judge of the Tenth Judicial
Circuit, which position he held for
about fourteen years, during which
time he acquired most enviable rep
utation as an able and learned jurist,
and a fair, pure minded and incor-
ruptible judge. Few, if any, of our
State judiciary, have succeeded so
fully in acaeptability with both the
legal profession and the people. For
several years he filed the position Of
Law Professor in the State UNIVERSE
ty at Bloomington, and a multitude
of the members Of the bar of Indi-
ana and the Great West to day can
testify to his scholarly ability, 10 his
urbality and kindness az an instruct
or. ind to bis purity of life and NOR
ais.
81 In 1853, having left the bench and
re-engaged in the practice, and find
ing his business growing so rapidly
he removed to Indianapolis in
order the better to attend to his prac-
tice before the Supreme and United
States Courts. For ten years he en-
ioyed probably the largest and most
lucrative practice of any member Of
the Indiana bar. In 1864, feeling that
he had passed the Summer of his man
hood, he accepted the less arduous
but highly responsible and honorable
position of Judge of the United States
District Court, which he held at the
time Of his death on the 18th inst
AS an attorney he has left worthy
example for the legal profession of
the present and coming generation to
follow. He scorned to countenance
or advise useless litigation for the
sake of personal gain. AS an advocate
in the courts he was singularly con-
soientious and manly. His success
and acceptability as a Judge presents
model for the judiciary of to- day to
study and initiate.
By the purity Of ais life and the
ehild-like simplicity of his manners
no inspired all who knew him with
esteem and the utmost degree of re-
spect and confidence. His religious
or spiritual experience was varied
and singular one; and yet no one
ever doubted his sincerity or devo-
ton to truth as he understood it. In
his early manhood he occasionally
preached as an evangelist of the faith
known as the New Light He
was fora time associated with JESSE
MAvITY. well known in this section of
the State at an early day. In after years
Judge MCDONALD became skeptical
Of Revelation and the Christian faith !;
but deeper thought and family be-
reavements brought him back again
to an assured belief in the Christian
religion, and he united with the Meth
odist Church, and became thor
oughly pious man and devoted mem
Der of the church. For some time
before his death he accepted the mod
ern doctrine of spiritual manifesto
tons and intercourse with departed
friends; but it it is stated that 10 the
last days Of his illness lie became
doubtful of the doctrine, and aban-
doned it. He retained his conscious
ness to the last moment, and in the
full possession Of his faith, and with
no fear Of the hereafter, he passed
away from life.
-----@-
The rebels started, and the Cop
perhead papers echoed. the CRY OF
spoons" and thief" against Gen
Rrvrr rp baoa,vse bo ynada tba webo