New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-28
GUITEAUS JUDGE.
WHO AND WHAT HE HAS BEEN.


IThe following enlogy of Judge Cox. before whom
the assassin OF the President is on trial has been
furnished us from Washington. 1t is pity that
Gentleman who seems 20 have had so many fine
things said of him in the past should be so situated
as 10 command so little public approval now.l
Judge Walter Smith Cox Associate Justice of tho
Supreme Court OF the District OF Columbia, presid-
ing over the tllal of Guteau the assassin OF PreSi-
dent Garfield, was born in Georgetown, ID. e., IN
October 1926. lie is a grandson OF John Cox, Who
was Mayor Of Georgetown twenty-tCn years IN sue
cesson. John Cox was Leading merchant az
Georgetown and was az one time associated IN bust;
ness with George Peabody, the eminent banker ana
phlauthropist. The father OF Judge Cox was Gem
emit OK of GEORGETOWN. who was IN his time lead
ing LAWYER in the District OF Columbia. water =
Cox was graduated at Georgetown Coiege
and afterwards at tho CaLnprage Lsw
he assumed charge of the extensive
law practice of the Latter and took leading po-
stion at tho bar OF he DISTINCT "9icn
and thorough knowledge OF District ana natyian1
iurisprudence was widely appreciated, ana durlos
the later years OF his ptacIlce III vS'ou 80 90
counsellor than ms IN attorney, when the Act OK
1879 increasing the number Oh Judges Oh Tue Dis-
trict Supreme Court was passed, MI COX was WIZ
ont application solicitation o. ms OWL appottett
as Aesociote Justice by President Hayes Al that
time ne was president of the Bar ASsoclatloh ana
petition praying for his appointment WIS si5'''u ~
nearly every member OF the Dls'rct par an Pr
sented 10 President Hayes together Win Tie Iouo"-
ing resolution; ,,-.,
ResoIred That the Bar OF the District In General
Assembly DO respectfully represent 70 tue Presen OK
the United States that 1t is thor wish that Weer p
COY es0 be appointed as Judge OF the supreme Court
OF the district OF Columbia; that IN ADDITION 70 MS
ability IA LAWYER MIR. Cox has the important gla'
ton OF being thoroughly learned IN the
this district and that Is their belief that the apO
ment of Mr. Cox Will be qualification IL ali tho people
OF the District.
A DELEGATION headed by Chief Justice Cartier,
with whom were associated such eminent lawyers ~
Messrs. DayIdge, Riddle, Webb Elliot, MerrIeA,
Henkle. Totten and Judge James, of the Supreme
Cont Of the District visited the Attorney -Genei1n
and the President and urged the appointment OK
Mr. Coz. The esteem in which he was held by tlo
bench and bar was greater than that ielt Dy inc
leading and most prominent citizens OF the DiSt'lCs
in general as was shown by the tact that nearly al
of them signed a petition asking for his appoih'-
ment. -. a
the Columbian University and lectures regularly.
He is declared by those who know HIM Des s
to be a man of the purest and most exalted prya.9
character of calm and judicial temperament anu anu
of unshrinking devotion TO the c0nSclehtlous
discharge of his duty. HIS friends say thai ~, y,
his extensive legal practice before his elevation ~
tine bench. he seldom had occasion to parucIPi,w :"
criminal TRIALS ms attention being very iuIiy s
crossed with civil and equity cases but u u assoi
that he is nevertheless tuliy equipped Win u 'n''