Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-09-17

The death Of q federal magistrate 50 con-
snicuous. so useful, and so beloved as Judge
Woodruff, deserves more than passing ne
tice. The customary language OF common
place eulogy Is inappropriate TO character
and services like his. 1t Is sanitary as well
as lust. that they should receive more con-
siderate attention. while his remains are on
the way to the grave.
Judge Woodruff belonged to that class oil
old-fashioned American judges, whose dImin-
isbipc circle marks the gradual decay in the
administration of justice in this country.
Born in Litch6eld, Connecticut. place very
prolific of eminent lawyers, be graduated at
Yale, in 1880, and pursued his professional
studies, first in Judge Reeves famous law
school in Litchfeld, and afterwards IN the
Office of George Wood. in the city OF New
York. with whom. after admission to the
har he was associated in business. Mr..
Wood was one Of the ablest lawyers ol his
day. lie was distinguished by great losica'
power, the calmest demeanor, and the most
complete knowledge of his profession II
was Of him that Webster said to younger
associate who remarked that Wood, in the
progress of q cause in which he was opposed
to them. appeared to be asleep "Slr' II nc
Is asleep, You had better not wake HIM up.
Judge Woodruff did not fail to profit by III
intercourse with his preceptor and friend
In his own subsequent practice at the oai
he was remarkable for strength, solidlty ana
usefulness. rather than brilliancy lie was
the LAWYER and the counsellor, not the elo-
ouent speaker. lie was better adapted iC
convince than TO fascinste- lie had the
Judgment that discerns the path, not the I'M
agiuation that illuminates II.
The Judicial quality of his mind and the
independence Of his character. soon indiea-
Ted his fitness Tor the bench and at a com
parativelv early age he was made Judge oil
the Superior Court Of the city OF New
York. That court was then IN IT. best
DAYS and inferior to none Chief
Justice Oakley presided, and among hi
ass,ciates were John Doer and Murray
Hoffman. Oakley was man OF extTaordi-
nary powers. Under rugged exterior he
carried the kindest heart. The Common Law
seemed TO be in him natural instinct He
was probably the best presiding Judge Al
n iprv trial that ever sat il this country
The bar revered him. Duer, a true gentle
man OF the old school. with q stately con
tempt Of all that was paltry AMI mean had
enriched with fine learning q philosophl1
and elegant mind Hoffman, OF quiet
and unassuming manner. was especially tht
master Of equity Jurisprudence. Oakley
might be thought the embodiment OF the
law. Hoffman Of equity, and Duer OF the
high moral philosophy that should animate
both.
Before this court were daily displayed tho
impetuous logic Of Charles O'Connor. the
lmperturbable strength of George Wood
the rich requirements Of Daniel Lord, the
learned industry Of William Curtis Move
the eloauence of ogden Hoffman, the Wi
Of John Van Buren,. the dexterity OF james
". Gerard. the finished reasoning OF
Nicholas Hill. of Albany, the varied abi-i-
ties OF many others hardly les di-tin-
caishe1. Those named have now passed
from the scene. and, for the most part.
verv different successors occupy their place
O'Connor alone remains a spectator OF the
theatre In which he was once 50 c0nspicu-
Gus. And all but him departed
seldom. since the DAYS of the old nited
States Supreme Court of Marshali's time,
have been seen g bench and bar 50 able. 50
elevated. 50 dignihed. 50 courteous Il
was in this school. ana IL these associations
tina, Judge Woodrua-s Judicial habits AID
ideas were formed. /; would have been
strange If mind Ike his had not lmbibed
something OF the character and tone that
belonged TO them. Hcwa- accustomed often
to auude to those DAYS Of his early prime
doubtless they were among the happies; Of
hi, life
After his retirement from that court, lie
was some time in private life In lN6o. he
was appointed Judge Of the Court Of AI-
peals O. the State Of New York, where be
served with great acceptance and usefulness
In $50. when the act Of Congress providing
for United States Circuit; judges took effect.
and while he WAS still a member Of the
Court Of Appeals, he was appointed by
President Grant, Judge Of the Fedora CIR
cult in which are comprised the States OF
New York, Connecticut and Vermont. and
occupied the place till his death He brought
to the discharge Of that duty his ripest
powers and a most unwearied industry
Conscientious to the highest degree, in the
effort to accomplish all that deyoived upon
him. he worked too much and too hard
The press Of business il his circuit, espe-
cially in the city Of New York, was very
great. and IN the end he gave way under II.
He was attacked. last spring, with com
plicated disorder of the kidneys. Il was
hard for his strong viii and ardent temper,
accustomed a he had always been 10 find
himself equal 10 whatever duty was set be
fore hin. to Weld to the inrOad- OF disease
After a while he rallied and it was believed
he would recover lie went from New
York 10 his summer residence 1t Litchheld.
but there relapsed, and for the last two
months there has been little hope that he
would be spared He died on the 10Th in
slant, and his funeral is to be attended in
New York to-day, the 18th. His age was
sixty-fve
Judge Woodruff terms in Vermont were
holden At Windsor and Rutland. He never
held court in Burlington, a. his duties at
Albany prevented his attendance AT the Feb
ruary term here His last duty in Vermont
was ut the October Term 1874, at Rutland
at the conclusion of which he visited Bur
lington mainly to Pay visit 10 his associate
on the bench, Judge Smalley, then danger
ously ILL.,
1t Is not necessary to claim, nor would it
be just to claim, for Judge Woodruff the
genius of Marshall, the learning of Story,
or the magisterial sway of Nelson. It i
enough to say, what Is true, that he was an
able, upright, fearless. conscientious, labor
ious and useful Judge We shall see many
before we see a better one. His integrity
and independence were unquestioned and
His was not merely the
honesty that stands fast it was the impet-
uous honesty that slnote and spared not,
when it encountered fraud, trickcry or false