The Morning herald., 1876-05-01
CHIEF JUSTICE GILPLN.

ASOs~Sv ~Vss~F~Ss~'
o,ss Landmarks Passed Asvay- assd
Character of the Deceased-7he Funeral
on Jredssssdav.
No greater shock could have been given
the people Of Wilmington, and In fact the
entire State, than the information tele-
graphed from Dover on Saturday evening,
that Chief Justice Edward W. Gilpin, had
died there suddenly, at five minutes past
six o'clock, after an apparent illness Of
only half an hour. In Wilmington the sur
prise was intensified by the lack of knowl-
edge from any one, not even his own
family, that there was imminent danger of
death from any inhrmity. 1t also caused
reflection that in the death of Judge Gilpin,
the State sus,ains severe loss, and in the
list of old landmarks that defined the prom
inent men of our State, and who are rapidly
passing away, Chief Justice Gilpin was the
most conspicuous. In this year we note
the loss, In short period, larger number
of the elderly citizen, than In such a lapse
of time for many years. Drs. .Askew and
Porter, Elisha Huxley and William Naff,
have all passed away this year, and follow
ing closely after is the subject OF this sketch.
His decease takes from us the last of the
list, with one exception, of those dis
tinguished lawyers, who occupy important
inches in the history of the State, who
figured at one time contempOraneOusly
with him, and were the Nest0rs of our
legal fraternity, among whom may be men,
toned, Clayton, Frame, Cullen, Bates,
Milligan, Harrington and others. The ex-
ception is Hon. James A. Bayard, who
practiced law coptemperaneously with the
late Chief Justice, and is the last of the
graduates of this school of lawyers left
among us.
Chief Justice Edward Woodward Gilpin,
was born in WfBrRgton, July l3, 1903, and
when quite & napslood as clerk IN the
grocery store OF his uncle in this city, but
after remaining in this business q short
while, ,engaged in the tanning business, which
At that time was considered as one of the
leading business interests of the State, in
which many prominent men were engaged.
In the establishment at the time, and work.
ing side by side with Judge Gilpin, was
Daniel Cowgirl, Esq, now Of Dover.
Notwithstanding the duties required Of
workmen in thisbusiness at that time were
very onerous, Judge Gilpin was possessed
of such unyielding energy and ambition,
that in his spare. moments he gave con-
siderable attention TO instructive reading,
and melted by desire to enter the law as
profession, gave that study much of his
time, and entered the office of Hon. John
Wales, father Of Judge Leonard E. Wales,
where he remained until 1927, when he was
admitted to the bar. From the very first his
progress AS legal practitioncrseem to be
marked with success, and he acquired a lu-
crative practice. He was appointed Attor-
ney General in 1910 by Governor Stockton,
who died while sitting in his chair At New
Castle, aud Judge Gilpin died but shortly
under an hour after leaving the bench in
the Kent county court house at Dover. He
was re-appointed to the position in 1845,
holding the Office for two terms OF five
years each.
After the expiration of his term of Office,
as Attorney General, he withdrew from ac-
tive service at the bar for about two years,
then resumed practice actively again until
1857, when he was appointed Chief Justice
of the State, succeeding Judge Harrington,
who was made Chancellor, Judge Booth
holaing the Office but short time before.
At this time Judge Gilpin was deemed as
one of the most popular men in the State.
His whole life had been one of pure actions,
and as a citizen, counsellor and jurist, he
had the unbounded confidence of the peo-
ple, and 1t was just about this time that
number OF the leading members of the Leg
islature determined that he was the most
fitted person to represent the State In
the United States Senate, and accordingly
caucus was held among the Democrats at
Dover, In the parlor of citizen of that
place, and he was made the choice of the
members for that Office, but wien the re-
suit Of the caucus was made known to him.
he declined positively to become candi-
date, as he desired life no more public
than that which he then held. This was
illustrative of the modest de-
meanor which had characterized his life
While ambitious, and of q
quick, nervous and energetic temperament,
he was not at all obtrusive for promotion,
and that which was extended him as Sly
nal mark of respect, for his legal lore, was
q gratuitous offering.
As Chief Justice Of the State, which posi- |
lion he filed uDinterraptedly Tor nineteen |
years, he gave the utmost satisfaction. He |
was of strictly conscientious motives In all |
bis administrations Of justice, and gave his |
opinions with stern fidelity to what he
believed was the proper course Of law, and |
was remarkable for the tenacity with which |
he upheld the practice and modes of pro-
cedure prescribed by the Common Law. In
he was pleasing and affable,
and his nature was One of the kindllest and |
mos: affectionate. His friendship was un-
swerving, and there are hundreds In OUT
city to-day. who regard his many deeds of |
kindness with gentle remembrance of the
spirit which prompted them.
During the war he was true friend Of
The soldier, and performed many actions to
secure promotion for those who had won 1t
by well-tried service upon the field of
battle. le~s
He was married in 1s41 to Miss Lamotte,
who preceded him to the grave q year since,
! daughter of Daniel Lamotte, Esq, and. q
granddaughter of Paul Beck, of Philadel-
lAsn.~A~5