Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-19
Judge Henry E. Dnv1es.

From the New York Heraldl
 Judge Henry B. Davies, one of the oldest and most noted members of the American bar, died Saturday morning in his Lome at No. 60 West Fifty-frst street, in his seventy seventh year. He was born at Black Lake, near Ogdensburg, N. Y., on the Sth of Febru- ary, 1895. His father came from Litchfield county, Conn, where his family had for more than fifty years been well known and highly respected. For a long time he held the honorable office of sheriff of St. Law renee county. Judge Davies mother was a member of the Foote family of Connecticut He was bred on his fathers farm, and until his fourteenth year attended a common school. Then, in conformity with custom of those days, he went to live in the family of a lawyer, under whose direction he could pursue at the same time collegiate and a legal course. This was Alfred Conkling, the father of Senator Conkling, and afterward Judge of the United States Court for the Northern District of New York. Young Davies was admitted to the bar in 1926 at the general term held in Utica. He began his practice in Buffalo, where he soon became prominent in politics, being elected village attorney. He was then and ever afterward Whig In 1880 he removed to this city and shortly afterward formed law partner ship with sx-J Judge Samuel A. Foote, which lasted for seventeen years. His business was large and his reputation constantly increased. In 184S this partnership was dissolved, and MT. Davies next formed partnership with ex-Judge William Kent, @ son of Chancellor Kent. In 1885 Mir. Davis married daughter of John Tappan, of Boston, whose brothers, Lewis and Arthur, were famous as abolition ists. About 1S4O he served as an Alderman for the Fifteenth ward in which he resided. In 1850 he was chosen Corporation Counsel by the Common Council One of his strong est political friends was Edwin D. Morgan, afterward Governor, but at that time Alder man.
 In the fall of 1855 MT. Davies ran for jus tice of the Supreme Court to succeed Robert H. Morris, deceased, against Edward P. Crowley and Henry Hilton. No notice of 8 vacancy having been filed with the sheriff by the Secretary of State,a 8 question arose which was very similar to that in reference to Rich ard O'Gorman and the Superior Court. It was decided by litigation in favor of Judge Davies, who had been elected by the popular vote. In the summer of 1855 he went to Europe in company with ex-President Fill more, of whom he had been an intimate friend and confidential adviser during the latter's term as chief magistrate. In the au- tumn of 1859 Judge Davies was elected to the Court of Appeals. He took his seat Jan uary 1, 1860, and served until 1869, being the chief justice for several years. He then en- tered with Judge Noah Davis into partner ship. This partnership ceased when the lat ter was elevated to the bench.
 After that time Judge Davies was conspic- uous only in his practice, as counsel and trusteesof the Mutual Life Insurance compa- ny, receiver of the Erie railway, counsel for the American Exchange bank and member of the commission to determine the advisability of constructing an underground railroad un= der Broadway. The day before he was taken ill, two weeks ago Saturday, he sat for many hours in succession listening to testimony on that subject Of late years he took no part in politics He served often as referee or chamber counsel in important legal cases. Two celebrated murder cases were before him while he was Chief Justice, that of Cancemi and that of Burdell. The former was noted because a trial had proceeded by consent of both sides with only eleven jurors, and on this account the verdict was set aside.
 Judge Davies left four sons, thDee of whom are lawyers, and two daughters. His leading traits were his integrity, his mental vigor and strength of will and his untiring energy and industry.