, 1872-12-14
THE RESIGNATION OF JUDGE mel SON.
an Outline OF Fifty Years. Service on
the Bench.

an Outline OF Fifty Years. Service on
the Bench.
The home Of Judge Nelson, whose retirement
from the bench OF the Supreme Court Of the
United States, has Just taken place, is in Coop
erstown, n. 7. One Of the village newspapers,
the bTeemd1a's Journal, whose editor has long
been Intimately acquainted with Judge Nelson,
contains an account Of the principal events OF
his public life. The body Of the article Is as fol-
lows:
"After service of twenty eight years on the
bench of the Supreme Court Of the United States,
and twenty-five years as q Judicial officer Of his
native State, Judge Nelson on Thanksgiving Day
sent to the Secretary Of State his resignation as
one Of the Justices Of the Supreme Court. and it
VAS accepted on the 1st instant.
1 and and
reer, covering period OF half century. As to
point Of time and constant service, it is without
precedent IN this country or England, aud We
doubt whether it has parallel in the history Of
Two years, and Lord Eldon twenty-eight years,
| and they were longest On the bench of Great
Britain Chief Justice Marshal was thirty-four
years On the bench, Chief Justice Taney thirty
chancellor Kent about twcnty-a years-and of
the distinguished Judges Of this country they
longest held judicial positions.
Judge Nelson was appointed Judge Of the
Sixth Circuit, which lnc1uded Otsego County, in
April, 1928, . position which he held until Feb
1uaTy, 1881, when he WAS made Associate Justice
OF the Supreme Court Of the State Of New York.
and on the resignation Of Chief Justice Savage,
in 1887, he took his place. In February, 1915,
he Was elevated to the bench Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States, where he has won
the highest honors as Judge Of strong common
sense, broad views, the highest sense Of honor,
and ready grasp OF weighty topics On o'1es-
tions in admiralty law and intricase patent suits,
writer in leading Phlladelphia paper recently
remarked, especial Difference was always paid to
the opinions OF Judge Nelaon.
"The Judge, has With slight exception, always
enjoyed robust health, and has never been ab-
sent from duty at the State or United States
Courts but one term, that Of last year. 1t the
closing session Of the Grand High Commission
in tho spring Of 1871, which 1asted seventy days,
and was not only Of vast importance, but al
times very leborious, Judge Nelson took &C.
vere cold from sitting several hours in room
not sufficiently warmed, AMI after his return
home was for several months confined to his
house from its effects. From this he recovered,
and for the past SIX months has enjoyed very
comfortable health, while his mind has retained
all its wonted force and vigor-
"Judge Nelson completed his judicial 1abors
the week OF his resignation BY deciding an ia- ]
portant and final motion on the tax-t;. !
costs, amount claimed about 940, ,030 III !.
mona suit which had been in the courts dnr7 i
half the long time he has been on the beng
the sHook~headed Spike Case,' Troy Iron ar +
H; nai Factory Burden & Co. against a EEs1tq: t.
spring, p --'~-'noqs pa
pera too labor
f Jui age Of
80 Te nd his
frieT lad to
les. ;. ard to
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