The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-13
TIE LATE JAMES W. GERARD.
Tributes of Respect by the
Bench and Bar.
speeches by Edwards Pisrrepont Edgar Van
Wrinkle, John McKeon, n. B. Field, Ex-
Judge Davies, w. b. Anthem,
w. NJ EvartS &c.


the meeting Of the members of tho New York
Har called for two p. n. yesterday, In the
suprems Court General Term room, to pay its
tribute OF respect to the late James w. Gerard
was LARGELY attended. Such = brilliant iegsl
assemDlage, comprising nearly al tho Judges Of
she federal and State courts and the leading lights
has In fact been very rarely seen In this city. In
addition the list of officers given below nearly oil
Of whom we're present. there were also in attend
ance Judges Donohue, Lawrence and Barrett OF
the Supreme Court; Judges Van Worst and Spier, of
the Superior Court; Judges Robinson and Larre-
more, OF the Court or Common Pleas; ex-Judge
Peabody, Assistant United states District Attorney
Tremain Aibon P. Man, Amos G. Hull. Henry
Nicol, Nathaniel Jarvis Jr.s and others. The
speeches were touching and eloquent tributes TO
Mr.. Gerard's accomplishments as q lawyer. TO his
learning geniality, humor, great Kindness OF heart
and never ALTERING integrity in his profession. 40
well as to his broad and generous philanthropy, as
shown in his devotion to our public schools and
the interests of reform
Mr.. HENRY NICoLL said THE hour for the
meeting having arrived, beg to move that
Judge Charles p. Daily do take the chair. All in
favor OF that motion say aye" t"Aye, aye.'9
Judge Charles p. DAILY then assembled the bench
and took the chair.
Mr.. NIcoLL read the following list OF
VICE YREsiDgsTs:-
Noah Davis L. b. WOODRUFF, Samuel Blatchford,
Claudius L. Mcneil, Charles oConor, William NJ
Evarts, W. +. Stoughton Clarence A. seward.
James j. Roosevelt, Charles W. Sandford Daniel
r. Ingraham William Mitchell, Benjamin d. Silli-
man, Joseph ). Boswortn, John McKeon, Edgar S.
Van wlnke. E. H. owen, Edwards Pierrepont J.
J. Marbury Isaac P. Martin, James Thomson, A. J..
yanderpoel, John f. Parsons.
Smith Z. Lane appointed Secretary
Judge DAILY invited Judges Davis and Mitchell
70 take seats on the bench.
REMARKS OF MR.. Z. PIERREPoNT.
Mr.. PIERREPoNT said :-"Of the eminent members
OF the New YORK Bar who have died within the
memory Of the living l tnlnk one has been
followed to the grave by larger cOncourse OF
sincere mourners than was our 1riend the late
James w. Gerard. The sorrow for his death did
not arise from the TACT that an eminent lawyer
had ceased to 1--we. 1t had its spring in the
hearts OF those Tor whose benefit he had devoted
All the latter years OF long life He had sought
No public honor. He had desired to devote
his time and his energies, after he had ac-
CURED his great reputation and sufficient
fortune to the good OF his fellow citizens all the
varied ways with which we are familiar. He had
preferred, instead OF taking puolic course and
serving his fellow men in public station, to de-
vete himself IN private to their best interests,
nghtenment-to lead them in the paths OF honor
and virtue. Sometimes rejecting men in our
country OF late begin to be alarmed lest men like
Mr.. Gerard should neglect the public service ana
prefer III the serene walks Of private life to gam
their honOrs to perform their duty, to do their
great work. II the time shall ever arse, II the
day shall ever come, when good men shall turn
.neil packs on tne paDic service, ana prefer 10
walks, 1t VIII not be an suspicious day for those
who I'VE under our great government The com
mlttee nave prepared some resolutions, which
shall now read TO the meeting" The honorable
gentleman then read The following
aESOLUTlONS:-
Resolved, That IN the death OF James W. Gerard we
o w a. as 81 @
Bar OF New YORK among its most prouneni and dstin
aud Official ststioa the charactei model
citizen. and who thro active lie
fourscore years retained unSuied the reputation OF
Resolved That the Bar OF New YORK desire to place on
record their appreciation Of his ability his sell
munity and his indexible integrity In walk Of
Resolved, That though he among full of years
and donors the connecting link between this and tor
yoathiu spllis and genial humor AND his unioIm kind
nea us nam en tho
nv e. as rn4i s we nde a WITH hs ha
copy OF these resolutions and OF the proceedngs OF this
meeting be duly certified TO BY the President and sscre-
REMARKS OF Mr. EDGAR VAN wNKLE.
Ar. EDGAR VAN WINKLE SAID be had been requested
by one or two friends to second the adoption OF
the resolutions, and he heartily did il tending
20 contribute 10 the memory OF their deceased
iriend little tribute, slight indeed, but per-
haps the only one that could be PAID to the men,
Dry Of lawyer as q lawyer he could not but
gentleman who moved the Resolutions that il was
dt and proper that the members OF tue Bar should
ON occasion like the present, meet together and
pay their tribute OF respect to the memory OF their
departed brother. Having spoken at some length
oil the ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF lar. Gerard as a lawyer,
and of the valuable Efforts he had made to estab-
hsn the House OF Refuge and confer the blessings
OF education upon children, Mr. Van Wrinkle con-
cluded by stating that he entirely joined Ia the
sentiments contained in the resolutions.
REMARKS OF Mr.. JOHN A'KEON.
Frequently, Mr.. Chairman, has the Bar Of New
York Deen summoned to pay the last tribute OF re-
spect to some one OF our distinguished dead, but
with sadder hearts than on this occasion The
grief our brethren feel lor the loss OF James w.
Gerard Is deep and sincere. All OF US are aware
how feeble words are to express our sorrow or TO
speak OF his merits as q man, citizen and
lawyer. Mr.. Gerard was native Of this city. In
his nature were mingled Scotch and French an
cestry. In him were united the solid sense OF the
saxon with the refined taste or the Celt Edu-
Gated in Columbia College, in this city-an instltu-
ton which has given to the Bar and the Common
wealth intellectual giants like Hamilton and Jay
and Chnton--he prepared himself diligently for
the profession OF the law and Tor about nall CEN
tury he pursued the practice In this city. During
that period he contended successfully with the
master spirits OF his time and retired, only few
years since, amid the plaudts or LIS asso-
ciates. An ovation was rendered TO him,
a. which his professional brethren appeared to do
honor to one whom they not only respected but
loved. III was compliment SUCH as no man but
himself ever received In this city. IL may be said OF
Mr. Gerard that he tried more causes than any other
member OF the PROCESSION and II also may be said
OF him, he tried them more successfully than any
other. AT TiSt pr'tuS he was unrlvalled He
interchangeable In the preparation OF ais case, He
was master OF his lacts. lie was armed with the
law applicable to those facts. he catered the
arena the well oiled gladiator. In the struggle be-
fore the jury he was always courteous the court
and to his opponent. There was not a weak point
IN his adyersary's case which he did not attack
with v1gor and at the same time he never exposed
m w al "a ntSa fttoxkt
His knowledge OF human nature, displayed In his
examination OF witnesses; his genial humor and
kind heartedness, enllyenng and Frightening
every step in the cause his style OF putting self
perfectly en- rapport with the jury above all, his
matchess tact, all combined TO give command Of
the and sweep him on to easy
victory. One OF his peculiarties well
expressed by the late Chief Justice Nelson, that
Mr.. Gerard knew when to stop speaking to a Jury.
He hal LAIR md ardf arndt Tod hu Iaxaa fhuA