Litchfield enquirer., 1870-06-09

called, and the points of testimony brought out. His associates depended greatly on his skill in conducting this part of the pro- ceedings. He had kind, affable and win ming way in his social intercourse, and his offices were employed in adjusting and settling legal controversies. He acted as comnittee~and arbitrator in more cases than any other member the bar of his time, and if a desire to make himself as indifer- ent as possible to all parties sometimes seemed to hold him back from decisive ac- tion, he always, in the end, showed true firmness and integrity. He was an asso ciate judge of the County Court from 1929 to 1886, and after that chief judge for ten years. He died at the age of seventy seven years.
 COLONEL WILLIAM COGGSWELL
 Of New Preston, very worthy and respec- table gentleman, was member of the bar and was very seldom absent from the courts. He never engaged in the trial of a case, and very seldom spoke to the bench, but he was always busy man in the court room. He was one of the electars who cast the vote of Connecticut for John Quincy Adams for President in 1924. He died before he had reached a very advanced age.
 | SETH P. BEERS
 When came to the bar in 1920, Seth I P. Beers, Esq, was in full practice. He was appointed States Attorney soon after, { but resigned in three years, having been appointed Commissioner of the School Fund, which office he held for twenty five years. have heard him sayathat at some terms of the Court he had commenced as many as one hundred and fifty cases, and he was very thorough in all matters con- mitted to his trust. His talents as an ad- vocate were respectable, his briefs being very full and hls knowledge of every mi mute point being very complete. It is hardly necessary to speak further of him as he lived down to a period within the memory of most of those who are pres- ent.
 PERRY SMITH,
 Of New Milford, held somewhat promi- nent place at the bar and his practice was extensive. So many different estimates have been made of Mir. Smiths real quali- ties, that it is difficult to speak of him with any very strong assurance of correctness. That he had talents and friends, the suc- cess which lie achieved both as lawyer and politician render certain. but those who remember the time ofehis professional experience, here, know that he had enemies, and such would be the natural result of the unrelenting bitterness with which he pursued his adversaries in his efforts be, fore the courts. There was a bitterness in his invectives, persistence in his persecu tions, an implacab1lity in his enmities. which gave decided character to his pro- fessional career, and which insured to him the enmity of all against whom his efforts were directed. He was always listened to with kind of inquisitiveness as to what new fountain of bitterness he would open. or what new invectives he would invent to pour out upon his adversary. These were sometimes directed against the opposing counsel as we'll as the opposing party, and upon the whole he incurred great amount of hatred. I am only speaking of what oc- cured in court, and expressing the opinion which we would form in witnessing his professional conflicts. It cannot be doubt cd that he had many friends and support CTS outside of this scene of action, and it is not unlikely that he was as warm and constant in his friendships as he was bitter and unrelenting in his hatreds. After his election to the United States Senate he retired from the bar and was very seldom seen here.
 ROGER MILLS,
 Of New Hartford, was at one time a part ner with MT. Williams, of whom we have already spoken, from whom he differed in every respect except that both held the po- sition ot honorable and worthy gentlemen. Mr. Mills was slow in his conception of thoughts, slow ;n all the movements of his mind, and very slow in the delivery of hi s arguments, and yet, when all his duties in case were accomplished it would be seen that he had made creditable effort, and that he was far from being lawyer ot in different pretensions. His son of the same name succeeded him in the practice of law at New Hartford. but has since removed to Wisconsin where he has had successful career.
 MICHAEL F. MILLS
 Of Norfolk, was somewhat prominent member of the bar, not because he had very much legal ability, but because he had the tact to make much show out of lit tie substance. He never attempted to ar- que cases in the higher courts, but on the trial of motions as they came before the Courts, he was very prominent. We all thought we'll of Uncle Michsas we used. to call him, and so did the people of Norfolk, for he was always prominent man in the