The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-07
OBITUARY..


This gentleman, whose repu tation as Jurist IS
not confined to this country, but extends 70 Eu
rope died at his residence 10 Irving place on sun
day. Judge Edmonds had reached venerable
age. having neen born III uudson, IN this state on
March l3 lIo9 He was educated at Union College,
from where he graduated with honors in 1916. He
Immediately began to study law and was admit
ted TO the Bar when only twenty years old. In the
year 1920 Judge Edmonds came to this city
and began the practice OF his profession.
He was strong-willed man, and his pro-
fession was the one in which he earnestly
desired 70 rise. Clients found MIN out, and
so did his professional brethren; and his name
was mentioned as that OF q clear-mInded studious
lawyer. At that time the Bar was more compact
than at present. 1t was dominated by lawyers who
had regulations also as politicians, and there was
a great help at the Bar TO be got from reputation
acquired at the party convention or on the stump
Judge Edmonds, therefore, turning his atten-
ton 70 politics, became a member Of the Tammany
society. AS a result Of this he was elected men,
Der OF the Assembly OF 1881. From 1882 TO 1886 ne
was state senator and member OF the Court Of
Errors and in the latter year ne was appointed an
Indian Agent or Commissioner. ne spent some
time among the Western rm Indians our sG
vantages for them. Ever afterward he kept
up interest in the condition Of the
aoorgInes The Judge returned to New York in
1885,. and to the practice Of his profession Then
began tne real period OF his success as lawyer.
He practlSed until 1913 with good results IN mon ey
and repute, and tnen was chosen a state Prison
Inspector In this capacity he stndied the systems
| OF discipline and correction used LII our prisons.
/ aud his kindly heart was hurt by their severity.
I He undertook to remodel them SO as to DO away
unnecessarily hard, not to say brutal punish
! ment. His endeavors were conrnua, and his
strong sympathles awakened the feeling OF other
influential men Tor the convlcts, who, though de.
graded. were yet men, neither more nor less.
The influence OF himself and his followers pro-
cured from the Legislature the sanction or reform
in the manage ment OF our prisons. The Prison
IfnfCr ~ hn n mi
Der this action OF Judge Edmonds, and make some
demonstration OF regard for 1t now that its author
Is dead. Alter his term OF service as Prison In:
spector was over Judge Edmonds was appointed
Circuit Judge, and TWO years later, IN 1S47, he
honor attaching to both OF those places ana reject
ing upon their occupants, Judge Edmonds added
new splendor. He was in the best time o.
crowned him with the proper iuridlcal
wisdom that prevented him from slurring over
his decisions there delivered have since been
taken as models and are even quoted in the
British law courts. Before Judge Edmonds there
were many Judges on our Bench whose decisions
have had equal regard with his, but since his re-
tircment rom the Bench there has scarcely been
one. Judge Edmonds served in the Supreme
Court until 1852, whea he became member OF the
Court of Appeals. He did not remain on the
bench OF this Court long, but IN 1858 resigned from
it and once more took up his practice.
For some time the subject OF spiritualism hat
given some attention to it: Almost Immediately
alter his retirement from the Court Of Appeals ht
! Il
municatlon OF spirits with mankind, and pubnsne,
work defending his new faith. 1t wa
then. and has remained, an unpopula
courage IN adhering TO it openly. M
power OF mind was impugned by many withou
cause for the intellectual ability that he revealed
before his adoption OF belief in SpiTitualism ha
never shown any evidence OF decline, On the con
trary, his opinions given even OF late wears snow
that he continued in the possession OF rare and IN
impeachabe legal knowledge and wonderful skill
in lts use. what caused him to become
Spirltuast is not known, unless indeed. il
a k,n say an His bee ras r
and true. He applied himself to investigating
every socalled phenomenon OF Spiritualis N,
and several times denounced as jugglerS and i'm
posters persons who made themselves notorious
| as mediums Since his retirement from the
, Court OF Appeals Judge Edmonds has been prac-
ttoner in this city, and his clients have demanded
| all his time. No lawyer was more closely confidec
| III by clients and no one gave more cause for trust
He was quick to understand a case and quick
on the bench always kept him from I'M
due haste. His emergencies into the public
view have been few since 1858, and they
have been only TO direct attention to pOlitica
or humanitarian purpose or to try to clear away
some OF the mlstlness OF Spirltuallsm. IL will be
remembered that his last appearance as an apostle
OF the new faith was to promulgate a letter that
he said he mad received from Judge Pecknam, one
| OF the passengers OF the lost Vine du Havre.
Judge Edmonds was IN appearance lawyer-one
| whose time was passed in the dryest OF the dry
studies OF his profession He was thin and saow, but
MS tall form and venerable appearance made MIN
| attractive and even imposing He was kindly ma
tured, and TO see pain indicted upon another gave
him pain. This caused hlm-when he saw the op
portunlty. in 1862. for the accomplishment or the
| scheme-to draw up petition TO Congress to eman
cipate the slaves as war measure. Almost with
| his last breath the Judge asked that his funera
services should be held at st. Georges church, o
whose pastor, DR.. Tying, he was long an intimate
friend. Alter the funeral services in this city a
| two p. NJ. to-day Judge Edmonds' body will bt
taken to his birthplace tHudsonl for interment.