The daily gazette., 1876-05-01
FIRST EDITION
thicf Justice GHpin.

HIS SUDDEN DEATH AT DovER-A BRIEF
RECORD OF his HONORABLE LIFE.
About o'clock Saturday night, the
was made public in tie
streets Of Wilmington that Chief Justice.
Gilpin had died suddenly during the
evening, in Dover. At first the ne VS. was
received with incredulity, but when con-
tirmatory reports were sent from Dover,
and astonishment gave way to
feelings of profound regret at the great
loss which the community had sustained.
Just previous to his death Judge Gil
pin suffered from no apparent affection
save slight cold, which was not regard
ed as dangerous though troublesome.
During the day the business of the Kent
County Court had been hurried con-
siderably in order to effect an adjolrn.
ment by evening. The Chief Justice
presided all day, but just before five
o clock he became somewhat restless, and
to Judge Wales that he felt as
II he was going to have an attack Of
pneumonia. Shortly afterwards he
paced up and down for few minutes in
the space behind the Judges chairs, and
then. upon the suggestion Of N. z.
Smithers, Esq, he LETT the adjournment
of Court to his Associates, and started
for his lodgings, assisted by Elias S. Reed,
ESD, and Chas III. b. Day. Previous to
this he expressed desire to return to
his home, but the hour was then too late
to admit of his taking the evening train.
While being assisted to his lodgings
the Chief Justice sank into state OF in
sensibility, and in this condition wa1
taken into the house and laid upon a
lounge. Drs. Jump and Salisbury were
Immediately sent for, and on their ar
rival they had the Chief Justice removed
to his room and placed in bed. All
known remedies were applied, but in
leLs than half an hour, after slight
rally, Judge Gilpin calmly and quiety
sank into the sleep Of death. His death
occurred at five minutes past six o'clock,
just thirty five minutes from the time of
the first attack. The cause of death as
determined by the attending physicians,
was Angina Pectoris.
The body of the deceased was properly
prepared, and at eleven o'clock Sunday
morning was placed on Il special train
and brought to Wilmington. While the
remains were being conveyed to the de-
pot the bells of the town were tolled,
and large number of people joined in
the procession. The pail bearers were
Geo V Massey, Hon n b Smithers, Hon
p Comegys, Edward Ridgley, John b
Pennington and j L Walcott.
An escort also accompanied the re-
mains to this city, comprised of Judge
Wales, Wilson l. Cannon, Victor Du
Pont, Chas & Rumford, John c Penne-
will, Titus A Irons, IL C Collision and
others.
In this city the remains were met at
the depot by undertaken Mitchell, and
large number of personal and family
friends, and escorted to the late resi-
dence Of the deceased, Oh Delaware Ave-
nue. near Adams street. The interment
will take place on Wednesday morning,
at the Wilmington 4 Brandywine Gene
terry. Funeral services will be conducted
at the house, at eleven o'clock, by Rev S
S Seward, pastor Of the New Jerusalem
(Swedenborgain) Church. The legal f-a-
ternity throughout the State will attend
the funeral, in addition to other friends
and relatives.
Hon Edward Woodward Gilpin, whose
death is recorded above, WIS born in
Wilmington on the 18th of July, lS03.-
He was son of VIM Gilpin. In 1921 he
entered the dry goods store of John Pat
terson Gather Of John G Patterson, Esq
en- Market street below Second, where he
remained as Il clerk for two years. He
then learned the trade OF tanner or cur
rer, but did not long continue at this
business.
lie next entered the law office of Hon
Jehn Wales Gather of the present Judge
Wales) and after pursuing the usual
course of study, was admitted to practice
at the New Castle County Courts in No
vember, 1927. Hon Thomas Clayton was
at this time Chief Justice, and between
him and Mr.. Gilpin u warm friendship
soon formed, which was only severed by
the death of the former.
Judge Gilpin's first Office was in the
second story of frame building on Mar
ket street above Fifth, where No 506 is
is now located. He next removed to a
small frame building which stood OH the
n w corner of Seventh and Market st.
His practice soon grew large and remu-
nerative, and he was soon looked upon
as one of the leading and successful law
yers of the State.
After commencing the practice of law,
Mr. Gilpin for short time run one of the
Brandywine mills, in connection with
Mir Hounsefeld, but finding the business
neither congenial nor profitable he soon
returned to his law office.
In 1910 he received from Gov Cooper
the appointment to the position OF
States Attorney General, and in 1Sf5
was reappointed by Governor Stockto
During these ten years he performed his
Official duties with an efficiency and coni-
pleteness that gaired him an euviaule
reputation, and classed him as an able
lawyer and a most successful prosecutor.
| 1t is said that during his two terms as
Attorney General he never had an in
dictment quashed on the grounds of in
| formality. At the end of his second
term he was succeeded by Willard Sauls-
bury, and resumed the practice of his
profession. Hecontinued to practice un-
til 1857, and, in addition to his reputa-
tion as an able criminal lawyer he pos
sessed q large collecting practice. At
the bar he ranked high in all the depart
ments of his professi IN.
In 1855, upon the death of Chief JUS
tice James Booth, the vacancy WAS filled
by the appointment of Associate Justice
Samuel NJ. Harrington and in 1857,
when Judge Harrington was appointed
Chancellor to succeed Kensey Johns, Jr.,
who died March eth, 1857, Mr.. GilPin