The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-26
OBITUARY.
Hon. Robert e. Grier.
nnittee.

This venerable and distinguished jurist died at
his residence in this city, No. 142s Spruce street. at
a late hour last evening, in the seventy-seventh
year of his age. For number of years past he had
been laborng under paralysis, and OF late his health
was so greatly impaired that the announcement OF
his death will not startle the community During
the past week he has been lying in a
critical condition. being almost entirely insensible
and at last he has left the OF his earthly abors
full of years and honors and amented not alone by
the circle Of relatives and intimate friends, but by
the members of the profession which he adorned at
large and by the people of the whole country which
he served faithfully for so many years.
Robert G. Grier was born in Cumberland county
Pennsylvania, the 5th of March, 1884 He was the
son of the Rev. Isaac Grier, under whose watchful
he grew up, and to whom he is indebted for the
careful training that laid the foundation of his edu-
cation. Soon after the birth Of his son, the Rev. Mr.
GTier moved to Lycoming county, where he cuti-
waited farm, taught school, and preached to three
different congregations. The son, as soon he was
old enough to do 80, aided his father on the farm
and in the school, until he was seventeen years OF
age, when he was sent to Dickinson College to COM
plete his education in regular manner. He
graduated from this institution in 1912. taking the
highest honors and in so much esteem was he held
for his scholarly attainments, that he was immedi-
ately offered the position OF teacher. This he held
for one year, when he removed to Northumberland,
where his father had established an academy. This
institution achieved a high reputation, and on the
death OF the Rev. Mr. Grer, in 1915, his son sue
ceeded him as principal.
His leisure moments, however, were devoted to
the study of the law, and in Is Z he admitted to
the bar, and commenced practice in Beomsburg,
Columbia county. He remained in this place about
year, when he took up his residence In Danville,
where he speedily acquired large and lucrative
practice and obtained the reputation OF being a
sound and able lawyer. In 1885, after he had been
about twenty years at The bar, he was appointed by
the Governor OF the State to be the President Judge
OF the District Court OF Allegheny county, and he re-
moved to Allegheny City, where he remained until
1s4s in which year he removed to this city, where he
continued to reside until the time of his death.
On the 4th of August, 1916, he was appointed an
Associate Justice OF the Supreme Court OF the
United States by President Pek, the successor OF
Justice Baldwin. From that date up to the close OF
January last Judge Grier was actively engaged in
the discharge OF the duties OF this important and
responsible position. Gifted with an unusually
strong constitution, he enabled to bear fatigues
that would have Frustrated many men less hardy,
for, with the exception OF few weeks each summer
he enjoyed holidays, even after advancing years
and bodily infrmities weighed heavily upon
him. In addition to his duties at
Washington, he had charge OF the
circuit embracing the States OF Pennsylvania and
New Jersey, which necessitated his presiding alter
natey In this city, Plttsburg, Wiliamsport and
Trenton. His eminent fitness for the position he
held was shown by the terseness and clearness OF
his decisions and charges to jurles in important
cases, and by the rare instances in which his dec-
sions as circuit judge were overruled by the Su-
preme Court OF the United States in banc Among the
causes eelebres the trial OF which he presided
was that OF Castner Hanway, who was put on trial
before the Circuit Court for the Eastern District OF
Pennsylvania in 1851, on the charge OF resisting the
Infamous fugitive slave law OF 1850. This trial was
OF great Importance In consequence OF occurring
soon after that scandalous measure became the law
OF the land, and 1t awakened great deal of inter-
est on both sides Of Mason and Dixons line. The
! United States were represented by John w. Ash
mead, George L. Ashmead, and James r. Ludlow,
| Esqs.; Maryland by Robert j. Brent, James
| Cooper, and r. w. Lee; and the defendant by John
| NJ. Read, ]. j. Lewis, OF West Chester, Theodore
| Cuyer, ThaddeUs Stevens, and w. Arthur Jackson.
| The trial was opened on the cath of Novem-
! ber aud not concluded until December
J 10. The testimony developed the facts that Noah