The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-19
O B 1T U A r Y

| Jnmes Il. whiting.
The death OF eX-Judge James II. whiting which
| occurred at his residence at Spuyten Duyvil on
Saturday night was an event not wholly unex-
| pectcd. Advancing age and the almost untlring
activity with which he devoted himself to his pro-
fessiona duties in addition to the supervisory care
or his large property interests In this city, had
greatly impaired the robust vigor OF his cOnstitu-
tion. His illness was brief. He died Of pneumonia
after only weeks sickness. Physically debilitated
though lie was when the disease attacked him. and
greatly Frustrated by Its rapid and acute progress
he retained the possession his mental faculties to
the last, and, liles itful 1ever' over passed away
with Tranquil and hopeful resignation, lacking only
| few weeks OF being sxty-three years OF age.
| Few men have been more prominently before the
| public for the last thirty years than ex-Judge
| Whiting The march OF events connected with our
municipal progress and politics and its varied
measures OF reform IN this time. brn ging to the
| front, as il naturally did, the younger and more
daring, impulsive and sinewy element, have
ceede S IN Keeping him 10 the background. The
MIN greater energy OF Will. Regarded by many as
OF the Don Qulxote school OF enthusiasts, ana fight
ing windmls, he yet fought with lustiness OF
purpose and honesty OF determination that encitea
commentator of ms heroic endeavors, though
often lruluessly expended in what plainly fore
Swallowed Itself as hopelessly lost cause. Fight
ing against odds was MS element. No amount of
defeats daunted MIN. Pushed under at one point
ne rose TO the surface elsewhere, as fiery, i'm
petuous, determined as ever These remarks apply
| when he was IN the zenith OF his ref0rmatory
measures For me past two or three years he has
ever, more his own election than the result OF the
strenuous opposition ne mad 70 eomoat There was
The sou6riQaet Little Bitters" applied to him,
IRE ike II aos s n ny
oence IN political integrity shaken, If not wholly
lost he voluntarily exiled himself from political
strife.
The life record OF such man as ex.Judge
Whiting so fun OF activity. extending through such
~ a fAd
many events OF stirring character connected with
The past history OF the city, Is full OF interest. To
or man SO widely known. Born In the city OF |
Brooklyn on the 2ad Of April 1909, and having en-.
early selected the law as his profession. He ap.
plea himself Y.Ra mpassoned zeal to his legal
OF legal lore he embraced IN his curriculuW--t1e |,
common law, an9 maritime and International lew. !
his mind was Naturally analytical ana he sought 20
lathom It's most intricate subtletles, to make mere
precedents subsidiary to great underlying principles
He pursued MS law studies In the 0iCe OF George
wilson. He passed brilliant examlnation-for IN
those days examinations for admission to the bar
We're far less the 1ormality they mainly nova
days-and entered upon the practice of his PROBES.
sion under auspices most brilliantly promising.
HIS success at the bar Iully sustained the highest
expectations. An adept In the law, fluent of speech
graceful speaker, cogent reasoncr, sharply
acute III cr0ss-eXamlnation, quick as repartee,
sharp TO detect the most assallabe points ON the
opposite side ana always keeny alert to the advan,
tages OF unexpected issues and contingencies pre-.
sentlng themselves IN the progress o. q case he
rapidly acquired an extended gi. lucrative practlca
young man he WIS elected District Attorney for the
city and county of New York. lie held This posi-
ton Tor .sGny years, and in the discharge OF Ills
duties as city prosecutor added new laurels to mis-
Trepatation as an eloquent and lorcioe advocate
most interesting TRIALS that nave ever taken place
IN ind TINS i, city; conspicuous among these was the
murder as viii be remembered, having been COM
mi TED IN room occupied by Colt at The corner of
ha
latter cheated the gallows by suicide
Edwards the noted iorger, Securing his CONVICTION
and Riding the community or one OF the most
Oar, daring and successful ioigers OF the period. lie
prisoner and 1t was to the lact OF his conducting
MS prosecutions win such bitterness OF spirit That
ferred to above, and which chung TO him through
ms long years Of professional practice. Shortly
after is retirement from the District Attorney ship
mis- professional merits received further tribute or
public appreciation through his elevation to the
honor he aud not long retain HIS peculiar qualities
OF mind did NOT ind here congenial develop
too slow work for one Of his restless, imretuous
activity OF temperament. Besides-and that may
were poorly paid tnen and he could make vastly
more in the practice OF his profession. Resignlng
upon MS legal practice. He continued practice
his profession up TO recent Illness though Tor the
most part OF late years as advisory counsel and
torney. ana seldom appearing In The trial OF SUITS
Few lawyers IN this city have enjoyed larger
~
lawyer OF class now rapidly passing away, and
enjoyed The reputation IN ms day OF being the fore
most criminal lawyer at the New York Bar.
alne political career OF Judge Whiting be briefly
told. AT one time ne elected Alderman OF the
seventh ward-a portion OF the city by the way
which ne resided twenty years. That ne gave sat
siactIon TO MS constituents Is SHOWN In The fact of
MS having been frequently solicited to accept q
election, but which he as frequently declined.
After resignng as supreme Court Judge he became
candidate Tor Mayor lie was pretty much his own
candidate however and put forward as the ex-
ponent oil ultra reform. He worked hard, giving
many speeches, one Of specially memorable char
acler III the Old BOwery THEATRE OF which he was
The owner, and promising, II elected, to initiate
municipal government Inc puJlc, 1t so
happened, was not ripe for reform as
at the last election, and the result |
was that ne polled but lew votes Ills purchase, IN
ten wears TO Messrs. Brown, Devoe * Knapp, \
though hardly appropriately 10 be set down as
forming part OF his political career Is certainly |
an episode IN his later life that cannot well be |
passed over without mention. The dissatisfaction |
engendered by his manner OF doing the work Is |
well remembered. 1t was believed he wo uld do The |
WORK US IL ought TO nave been done and as required
ny the contract; but he disappointed the public. |
lie under took 10 explain himself In the public |
prlnt5i but, as Is well known a Legislative commit
Tee was appointed 10 investigate the case and he sub
sequenlJ resUld the contract To the original owners
Though We la no respect would lmpugn the eharac.
Ter OF Judge Whiting for sterling integrity, IL GER
lllly would nave been much better for hls reputa-
,toh hal he never been mixed up with this street
Clcdhlng contract.
5uuge Whling was man OF large wealth. The |
tuituHe ne leaves Is estimated at ~, 600 600 The
louhudu)n OF thls fortune lie laid his profess
Sohd4 pIdCtiCe though ITS large accumulation was
giealy Owing TO udlc0us Is IN real estate
&c 00Wled asO the Old Broadway Theatre and built |
a,iV Hnv s'oies Occupying lis site. lie leaves Tour
cnIiuTen. VINO Inherit the buk OF nis property
Judge Whiting man OF large ii,,er5i,,y az
III private lie the most genial and comnanlonanle