Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-25

From just and feeling obituary of the
late Judge Steele in the Rutland Globe.
evidently written by warm personal
friend and admirer, we copy the following
interesting paragraphs:
Having obtained common school eduea-
ton, he entered Norwich University but,
after n year, entered Dartmouth College,
where he graduated in 1857, among the
leaders of his class He here developed and
DISPLAYED those methods of investigation,
habits of thought and felicity of express
sion. which ever afterward characterized
him. If his preference for one study over
another was especially marked, it might be
said that English classics and oratory more
especially claimed his attention. The bene-
fits he derived from his readingsand studies,
in these branches, were particularly notice
able, in after years, in his efforts ut the bar,
his charges ~ the jury. his opinions as a
Judge of the Supreme Court, and, later, IN
his political addresses. During his college
course. he pursued his legal studies, at
leisure moments, and with 50 much effect,
that after some six months study, II we
mistake not. he was admitted TO the bar IN
Boston. after most rigid examination, re
| ceiying the especial cOngratulation and
communication of Rufus Choate for the
thoroughness OF his preparation and the
| knowledge and understanding of the prin-
ciples. which underlie all law, which he
evinced.
lie Immediately, or soon thereafter, en-
tered upon the practice OF his profession al
| Derby. and, at a bound, took the leadership
/ of the har in Northeastern Vermont, and IN
the bordering counties in Canada. Ills
practice was large, lucrative and constantly
| increasing, he standing without a peer or
even a rival. If he was pre-emlnent Tor
ANYTHING in particular as lawyer, 1t was
for a ready and correct apprehension OF the
facts and law of a case and brlllmney ana
force as an advocate.
! Asa Judge he excelled at niSl PriHS, deter
| mining, almost by intuition, the law, as
well as the degree of credit TO which an IN
| divIdual witness might be entitled. 30 IN
preparing his decisions upon questions OF
/ law in the Supreme Court, his mind would
/ grasp, at once and without apparent labor,
| The guiding and controlling principles, and
| his opinions were always perspicnous ana
terSe. and the reasoning lmpregnable
The Rutland Herald, in a brief sketch Of
the Judge. says that as member oil the
Supreme Court he shOne forth as one oil lis
most brilliant lights, and the monuments Of
his wisdom, as u Judge OF that court, are
remarked BY all, upon an examination oil
the Reports of the State. As presiding
Judge of the County Court, IN trials at
nisi prius. he was particularly conspicuous
bv reason of his quick apprehension OF le-
gal points and his clear and logical manner
OF submitting questions of fact to jury.
The father of Judge Steele was Sandtord
Steele. a son of Zadock Steele, whose story
of the burning ofRoyalton and his own cap
tivity among the Indians has been for years
familiar to most Nermonters.
After the Judges graduation from Dart
mouth College he was for time principal
of Barton Academy, and had during his
college course taught school in Concord,
Massachusetts, and elsewhere.
In 1872 Judge Steele was appointed one
Of the trustees Of the State Library and a
such made his last visit to Montpelier after
the death of Mr.. Reed in March His health
had been poor during the latter part of the
winter. and about the Goth of March he
went to New York for medical treatment,
hoping that the disease with which he was
afflicted was mere bronchial difficulty. In
New York he grew better apparently for
some time, but in May was worse and COM
ing home left for Minnesota under the advice
Of his physicians.