The New York herald., 1870-04-27


in and devotion TO the cause Of the demo cracy At
tracing the attention OF the party leaders, he
singled out Tor political precrment, and, al q step
ping stone to future office, was chosen member Of
the Tammany General Committee. TO which branch
OF the city democracy he had alta ed himself
from the beginning. Ia 1857 he for the first time
received position OF honor and profit being In that
year elected City Judge for term OF four years His
first official acts the bench created intense excite
ment among the criminal classes and gave great sat-
isfacti0n TO honest citizens The severity Of his sem
tences slruck terror to the hearts Of evil d0ers
was at one time prominent topic OF conver.a-
tion. It will be remembered that he once sen
fenced q young man TO the Stae Prison for
term OF torty years for robbery In the first degree
This case, which included garrong, was OF great in
terest to the public. Although Judge Russ felt i'm
PEELED by duty to pass the severe sentence he did,
tn re were certain initiating circumstances In the
case which impelled HIM subsequently to join Others
In petition for the release OF the criminal young
man named Young, and which was granted by the
Governor. HIS Stern administration or Justice also
gave rise many humorous o graphs In the ncws-
papers anu 10 considerable amount OF doggerel
On one casion the punishment inflicted by him pro-
duced q Cog &c .el one stanza Of which was wOrded
somewhat as lOllOws-
Ny brothers Weller.
And he a clever teller,
On a wet and rainy day;
Kase he travelled on his muscle,
Oh, he sent him to Sing Sing
TO try 10 mend his way.
Even at the present time the foregoing lines
Oc asi ma ly sung At the tine or their compO-
sition they were almost as popular as the ''Shoo,
Fy," nonsense.
RETIREMENT FROM AND RETURN TO BENCH.
On inc close oil his tsrm, having failed to receive
tn nomination OF 1ammany Hall. Judge Russell
retire from tn bench which he had sat four years
with ability and good judgment Prior TO me en-
nomination for that position, but failed, Governor
| Hoffman. who was elected, Receiving II. Judge
McCunn, who had succeeded him as City Judge re-
signed on the 7th Of January, 1864, and Governor
Seymour promptly appointed Tie deceased to I'll the
vacancy In 1866 he was reelected to the same office.
and held 1t until the cloc Of his term in Dee enbcr,
1859 when he succeeded by Cunning s. B dfOrd,
Jr the present popular and efficient City Judge. In
1858 he served as delegate 10 the Constitutional
Convention OF this State with credit and ability.
during the first four yeas OF his judicial career,
the last term OF Judge Russell rendered ewor-
thy by the scrl seye ty OF his sentences Except in
certain ca es where ex enuating crcums anc s were
roal and well dehne, ne was ed no weak pity upon
criminals. or course DIacOnian stefnness ma lc
him unpopular with the dangerous classes. His
iOrmalitv Of manner and reserved disposition also
made him ess popuar with the mas 'es than h; was
win o. his Ter Ona friens AMI acquamtan, es. At
| the ,ame time his treatm mt OF roIues Warmly
aJplauied by the pres 8 and The honest puDic with
| out exception.
RETURN TO PRIVATE LIFE.
,i w M ,e II ~ ro s1 ,h heuE NJ % 1aaSo - Snsy,r
| AID opened an Office at No. q Chambers street.
Long absence from the lar rs practitioner had. as
might lie supEO,ei, lost him all OF his Oil clients,
| I'd ne was thus compete to virtually begin ega
lie over again. His ie utatton however ailei him
greatly, ana at the time OF his death he was fa,t
attaining large practi e. Tie lat case he de-
.ended was that OF Mcdonald, the tickes swindler.
| VINO was convicted OF the chage on which he was
ried ana sentenced for term OF live years to he
| StIte Prison. On Monday last Judge Russ ~ visited
he Disrt Attorney Office for The purp ose OF sat
ting the bill OF tons in this case, and while
there made arrang ments for the copying OF some
par OF the testimony, 10 be delivered to him ye ter
t.pa. ntt rom in
health.
THE END OF LIFE.
Judge Russell man fairly advanced In life,
being In the fifty eighth year Of age and not III
seventie year as is reported in several journals
aud by some OF ms acqualniansc .. ne leaves
has for several Years been an ofhcer in the
UniteI states Army. Judge Russell had large circle
OF devoted personal frends. man uf ability, ne
was admired by those who knew him for his variei
atiainnents. Warm hearted and genial he was
popular in the social circle and was heartily vel
| coined wherever lie went for the sake Of MS com
paniOnship. An inquest WI | be held on his remains
this morning ancl on iday they will be burIe l.
| when the bench AMI bar together with a his ac
gu intance, VIII unite IN manifes ting their apprc
ciatOn OF the stening qualities he possessed wnilc
| living by attending the funeral
| Announcement Of the Death =, Judge RusseI
In the Court Of General -es.iOns-lsemmrk rks
Of Recorder Hackett, judge Bedford and
Before Recorder HacKett.
terday, Dstric. Attorney Garvin rose ana, address
ing the court, which presided by Recorder
Hackett said:-
NAV IL please your II onor, deem it my duty 10
call attention to the sudden demise OF Judge Russell
who pi resided over this court for period OF nine
years. The deceased Judge was called from
midst last night about twelve O'Clock Parting from
| his family for few moments TO go to another
With which he intended returning, and being absent
| longer than was expected, member OF his family
went to seek him aud found him in the basement Of
| his house dead. With tins inscrutable dis
position Of Providence we must be re-
signed. / know that on more appropriate
| occasion the merits and virtues Of the departed viii
he appropriately cOmmemordted. never had the
| pleasure OF practising in his court, but knew him
Judre and while he presiied In this court he was
terror 10 evil doers. He has left hennd him name
| and fame which will be remembered by his asso-
| ciates and the members Of the bar. / desire your
| Honor now, as fit and appropriate act, To move
| that the court adjourn In memory OF the departed.
| Mr.. Gerry, seconding the motion, said:-
Idesire, your Honor;4t TO add few words 10y way Of
| With the learned District Attorney ana with Judge
Russell spent many happy hou,s during the
which he was member from this city.
Aud when the news OF his death
Sa the % Ssa ns dea Ssy With a sa
ness and will recall to their memory the many
happy hous they spent with him at the State CAPT
tai. AS presiding Judge on this bench he was
always KIND and courteous gentleman TO
the young members OF the bar; always
| ready TO assist them; and mono will regret
him more than they and those who practiscd in his
court, and were brought in contact with him. AS q
Judge, he has left many decisions behind that will
compare favoraby with the published reports OF the
| Judges Of the city and 8 ae. As lawyer, he was
unqucs csionaby one of III. Lest criminal lawyers that
ever practised at the lar and his Will he severely
felt only by his friends and by the bar, but by
| the whole community.
After some further remarks Recorder Hackett
| sad:-