Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-15
MEMORIAL.
Resolutions i'm Memory of the Late
David j. Murphey, Jr.

Resolutions i'm Memory of the Late
David j. Murphey, Jr.
A meeting of the Bar Association was
held In the Law Library yesterday after
noon, to take action in memory of the late
David ]. Murphey. Jr., Esq, of Newark.
George H. Batos, Esq. presided and Harry
Emmons, Eco, WAS chosen secretary.
committee consisting OF Messrs.
Higgins, Sbarpley DOVE Harrington and
Ball was appointed which prepared the
following resolutions:
RESOLVED, That the members of the Bar of New
Oastle county have heard with sorrow of the death
Of David j. Murphey, Jr.
Resoiucd, That by his diligence and industry in
the study oflaw by his sincerity and earnestness
of character, and by his kindly and straightforward
conduct, Mr.. Murphey won the warm regard Of his
friends ADD gave promise OF high usefulness, both
hs lawyer and citizen.
Resofred, That we tender our respectful sympa-
hes to the family OF the deceased, IN the loss they
have sustained, end that the chairman be re-
qnehted to transmit them duly attested copy Of
these resolutions.
Resoiped, That a committee of five be appointed
to present copy of these resolutions TO the
Superior Court and to the United States Circuit
Court.
In presenting the resolutions, Anthony
Higgins, ED, spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman: In presenting the resou-
tons reported by the committee | will follow
the established custom in offering few re-
marks concerning our departed brother.
David ]. Murphey, Jr., began the study of the
law under my direction on the Goth day of
May, 1865. He was at that time q years of
age. After an adequate preparation he early
entered the academic course of Princeton
college and continued there until the Junior
year, when he gave up his collegiate studies to
enter upon that of the law.
can most heartily bear testimony TO the
zeal, industry and persistence with which he
strove to master the profession, and the cheer
fulness with which he accepted any task which
would give him knowledge OF its practice.
At the end of the allotted period of study
at the May term, 1875, he was duly admitted to
the bar.
During the following year he devoted his
labors to the study of equity and in prepare
ton for admission to the Court of Chancery,
to which he was subsequently called.
Afterwards, towards the close of 1879, he
opened his office in this city, but within few
months thereafter, in February last he was
stricken with severe illness, which came near
proving fatal. From this he partially re-
covered, and made arrangements for resliming
practice again. Suddenly, however, death came,
and closed his career, while yet he stood upon
its threshold Surrounded by all that could
make life happy, the future opened before him
its beautiful vista but it was not for him to
enter upon it. He looked upon it's beauty
and tasted Of its joy, and then laid all aside
forever. "Youth," az was well said by DIR.
Holmes, youth is to be judged by its promise
maturity by its performance" Before the
time had come for him to achieve and per-
form he was taken away. He was earnest,
honest, faithful and true; he was eager and
industrious in work, aud manly in purpose
and aim. His promise was to become a
creditable member of the profession and u
useful citizen. We can only deeply mourn
that he could not live to realize the full
measure of its mature performance.
j. frank Ball, Esq, seconded the reso-
lutions, saying:
Mr.. Chairman In seconding these
resolutions allow me to add a few
words to the memory of our
departed friend and brother David j.
Murphey. | met Mr.. Murphey at Princeton
College in 1872. He entered with me the class
of TO- and from the first | was attached to
him by his manly department He was the
soul of honor in his dealings with his fellow
students He has always the champion of the
oppressed. He endeared himself to all who
knew him by his gentlemanly and upright
bearing, and was very warmly commended
upon several occasions by the Faculty for his
zeal and earnestness in his studies. He was
always successful in everything he undertook,
and was foremost in his class and i'll all thugs
that pertained to his college Duties
In regard to his standing as a lawyer, there
are those here more familiar with his record
and will only say that from what intercourse
! had with him felt that he gave great
promise of becoming n valuable and useful
member Of the New Castle county bar.
Mr.. Ball was followed by Harry
Shsrpley, Esq, who said
Mr.. Chairman l do not know that l can
add anything to what has already been said.
My acquaintance with Mr.. hIurphey was rather
that of a friend. l never had any business
transactions with him, but we met frequently
while he was III Mr.. Higgins Office and talked
about politics, though of different political
faith, and was always impressed with his
afiability. He was gentleman, digniiied and
courteous, and it nude no difference how
much we differed from each other. we ALWAYS
parted as friends.
After his admission TO the bar the same
intercourse continued. l had always looked
on him AZ q young man of vigorous health
and had no idea there was in his system any
latent disease. After he was stricken with
fever and came back to Wilmington, | saw
him and asked him how he felt and he
replied, Better than / have for some time"
The next thing heard was that he was dead;
that one who was surrounded with everything
10 ilhhe NE nhppy anu successful mad been
suddenly taken away.
His death comes as q warning to other
young members of the bar. The past two
years have been years of sorrow to the New
Castle county bar. Those have been taken
away who had grown ripe in years, and who
had gained fame and reputation others have
been taken in the full meridian of their glory,
and now one is taken away in his early bloom
and budding promise. What he might have
l,atl .s.VlNt ln,v
accomplished must remain unwritten; but
had life been granted him we could but
expect from the promise of his early man
hood, that he would have attained to an
honorable distinction among the members of
the New Castle county bar.
II. @. Turner, Esq followed, saying :
/ would like, Mr. Chairman, to add my
testimony to the worth Of Mr.. Murphey. /
knew him quite well from the time he was
student in Mr.. Higgins office up to his
graduation. | always found him very
pleasant, agreeable gentleman. He was a
young man of gentlemanly instincts. l often
had occasion to talk with him ON questions of
law and believe if he had lived his future
would have borne out the promise of his
youth. | feel that his death is loss to the
young men Of the bar; l feel that his ex-
ample to the young men Of the bar was
always good. He was a man after whom any
OF us could well pattern a faithful, honest,
true gentleman and, looking at his death
through human eyes, it is pity that the
world must suffer by the loss of such men.
Clifford James, Esq, added the follow
ing tribute to the memory of Mr..
Murphey:
Mr.. Chairman l would not like to allow
this occasion to pass without making few
brief remarks in memory of out departed
friend.
first became acquainted with Mr.. Murphy
in the winter of 1876, when we We're members
of moot court which met in this room. He
was young man of studious habits and great
industry.
OF MIR. Murphey we can say that which
cannot be SAID of all young men, that il he
was II man OF strong and sincere moral char
acter.
Often have ] heard him express his aver
sion to the follies and dissipation of wild
young men.
Truly can we say, in the strongest sense
Of the words, lie was good and upright
young man.
George II. Bates, Esq, said in closing
the meeting
My acquaintance with Mr.. Murphey was
comparatively slight, but it was sufficient tC
respect for him. Though my acquaintance
with him was more during the time he was
student than since, | am sure he possessed t.
a very large extent many qualities pre-emi
nently desirable in lawyer. There was very
much in his career, short though it was, thai
we may take comfort in and that we may take
| pyaInfNla from