New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-13
THE COURTS.
ALAWYER HONORED

A LAWYER HONORED.
A LARGE MEETING or THE BAR IN The SUPREME
COURT IN HONOR or rHE LATE Jas. W. GERARD
-ADpREssEs by EDWARDS PIERRgroNr. WIN. n,
EvARTs, AND OTHERS.
Following the sad services over the remains
OF the humane and eminent lawyer. James W. Gerard.
and Hy closing tho record Of his life and death.
the mournful meeting OF tho Bar OF this city yesterday
In the General Term room OF tho Supreme Court called
to pay tho last tributes Of respect ami affection Tho
attendance very large snd included n its number
beside the younger and already prominent members OF
tho Bar, many distinguished men, grown gray aud ven.
cradle In counsel and practice. Tho Courts In many
instances adjourned In order to allow the presence
OF the Judges The prominent we're those OF
the Hon. VIM d. Evarts. r. w. stoughton. the Hon Ed
wards PIerrepont ChiefJustoo Daily OF tho Court OF
Common Pleas xCbef Justice Barbour OF tho Superior
Court Henry Nicoll. John Il. Parsons oxJudge Horny
T.. Davies, Judge LarremOro OF tho Court OF Common
Pleas. john McKeon. the Hon. W. w. Niles OF West
CHESTER ChiefJustce Davis. and Judges Barrett Law
renee, and Donohue; Judge Robinson Of tho Court OF
Common Pleas. exJudge Mitchell, Judge Woodruff ex-
Judge ngrshaw. Edgar &. Van Winke. f. F. harburys
Isaac Martin, and exJudse Peabody. The large as
sembage was called to order by Henry hieon. VINO
nominsted the following as officers:
Presidsnt-C Justice Charles p DAILY. vte-Irer
dents-CniefJustiee Noah Davis, Judge b. woodruff
lord ex Judge d. p Ipqrlham. exJudge VIM Mitchell,
b D. oiiIman, exJudge Joseph $. Bosworth, John NC
Keen, Edgar Kotohum Clarence A. Seward, ChofJ as
uce Claudius H. MOneh. Judge samuel Biaoulora the
Hon. WIN. a. Eyarts. Il. W. Stougntop. Edgar . Van
WIhkle, Edward ii. Owen, Edwards PIerrepont r. r
MarDury Isaac l.. Martin, James Thomson, Aaron D.
yanaerpoe Jonn f. Parsons. Seeretarv-Smitb f. Lane
After these appointments had been confirmed unsni-
mously ChiefJustces Daily and Davis took their seats
upon tho Bench, and q little later Joined by the
venerable o. Judge Mitchell and exJudse Bosworth.
The Hon. Edwards Perrepont then stepped forward
before his and said among other things:
or the eminent members OF the NewYork Bar who
had died within tho memory OF the ying thinK DO one
mas been followed the grave by larger coucourse OF
mOurners than was our friend. th6 late James
W. Gerard Inc sorrow r0r bs oesth uil hog sri5o from
had its spring Ia the hearts OF those 10 whom he had
devoted or TOR whose benefit he had devoted. all the
no public honors. lis had desired to devote
his time and his energies, after he had acquired his
goat reputation and a sufficient fortune. TO the good OF
s fellow IONS in all tue varied ways with which we
are ali familiar He had preferred. instead OF taking
public his fellow men IN tho puDlio
gaze, devote himself TO their private interests. to
welfare to their education TO their enlig0tenment
lead in the paths Of honor and OF virtue BONE
times rejecting men In our country OF late begin TO be
somewhat alarmed lest good men. like MI Gerard, shall
too neglect the public service and prefer, III tho
serencr walks OF private lfe to gain their honors TO
perform duty, and 10 do their great work. II tho
time snail arrive, II the day shall ever come whet
good shall turn their backs upon the public service
and prefer 10 serve their country and Their fellow mel
in private walks, II will not be suspicious day for
those who love our country and our Government The
Committee have prepared some resolutions when lt -
proposed shall present TO this meeting aud Will non
s,o,d That the death Of James W Gerard VIC recognize w
safss % TIE Bar Of STors among Il. most sod
station the ct,,O who Throughout
he than retained unsue the
soiyed NesYo. desire place record their
interests OF the community sud h nhenoIe integrity e'ey walk Of
E,ou,a though smons full Of aud full Of
honor the connecting pS between , 1d Gtnst
and h uniform sndness heart endee him . to toe Oldest and
RSoVo That sincerely smpsbs with toe family Of late
friend their bereavement tha ie resolutions and Of
proceedings tbs meeting duly cered them ~ tue Presi
dent and secretary.
The resolutions were seconded by Edgar 8. Van
winke, who. laying aside Mr.. Gerards historical re-
cord, which was comparatively uneyentfu, expatiated
his nOblest virtue philanthropy, and love OF his
fellow mon, adding few words about the transitory
character OF lawyers name and memory. and citing
melancholy instances the names OF deceased lawyers
whose fame in city considerable. but who
were now almost forgotten.
John McKcon and Judge Maunsell b. Field spoke next,
the very warmly referring to the general regret
which would he felt on account Of Mr. Gerards death.
ExJudge Henry l.. Davies also mentioned the successes
OF Mr. Gerard the bar and the reputation he acquired
as a pleader before jures. Gen. Vim. Anthony. in
short but eloquent speech bore his testimony 10 the &C
tive virtues of the deceased
The Hon. Vim. NJ. Evarts then concluded she ad
dresses, remarking that among all the prominent law
who had been under his sight during the last 3j
years. all but Mr. OConOr had Withdrawn, and he could
not say true that among them all there was
seemed truly an active practclDg useful
lawyer than Mr.. Gerard. Whatever might he said OF
the learning superior OF the logic OF another as
more penetrating and suote and OF The grasp or larger
questions less frequently brought into play that might
be assigned to third yet during all these many years
Mr. Gerard in the multitude OF hs in the variety
litisations aud III the versatility or hls powers.
was promising any and II was always true OF him
that he touched nothing that he did not nge with the
traits Of his genial temper No doubt Mr. Gerard
sometimes pushed the furthest verge the comnunlca
ton his personal traits and In tie management OF
causes sometimes his opponents, who, either without
felt the prosperity OF this and their own disaster
from it, he sometimes criticised; but think no
one preserved any temper " cepsuTe beyond the mere
day week Of the discontinue
Mr. Gerard has seemed 10 us all in this community as
one principal and most usetul citizens; aud yet
be never held public office aud aspred 10 the
hOnors OF politics. Our profession furnishing as 10 does
great part OF tie pubic service III most distinguished
positions quite familiar with relations TO that
form Of public life but Mr.. Gerard las seemed 10 me
always favored example of the public relations OF
lawyer in the every-day discharge OF bis professional
duties Who has done more ~ settle and advance prn
cpes essential the welfare OF great cities and OF
great communities than Mi Gerard Who has done
10 place rmer basis the right OF the mother 10
be heard to the faith and control Of her child Who
did mitigate the severity and h0rshness OF the
criminal law IN dealing with youthful Migrants and
marauders, and who, later IN life, has better under
stood aud worhly adopted the principle than Mr.
Gerard that " be who cares for the nurture and admo
milton of the boys and girls Of the country Will find Its
matrons aud s men able 10 take care OF thepselyesp
ChefJustice DAILY, in submitting the resolutions,
spoke briefly OF his own relations with Mr Gerard,
when had always been pleasant, Tss resolutions were
then passed and the meeting adjourned.