The Cecil Whig., 1882-06-03
DIED IN COURT.

DIED IN COURT.
! WEST CHESTER, May 2J.-rhis morning
| Il few minutes after / o'clock Hon. Persifor
| Frazer Smith, unly brother Of Eev. V.
Smith of the Wilmington Annual Confer
| cnce, Il prominent member of the bar of this
county, fell dead from heart disease while
arguing II case. Mr.. Smith went to the
courtroom this morning in apparent good
health, although he was complaining yes
terday Of feeling unwell. Shortly after he
commenced to try the case of Joseph j.
Lewis, Esq, against John f. Leonard,
which was 4 suit brought to recover fees, he
was noticed To have trouble in breathing.
He went out of the courtroom To the hall
in the rear OF the Judges bench to get
fresh air. He was followed from the court
room by Joseph Ilemphill and John H.
Green The latter stepped quickly to his
side to render him any assistance: but upon
taking hold of him, Mr.. Smith remarked,
Thank You, do not need assistance, and
immediate sank into a chair beside the win
dow. Messages We're sent for physicians,
but before they arrived Mr.. Smith died. As
soon rs it was announced that he w;ls dead
Judge Futhey ordered the discontinuance
of the case and adjourned the court.
Mr.. Smith was born i'll Philadelphia in
1903. He remained in that city until 1924,
when his iather moved to this county. In
1928 he graduated at the L University of Penn
sylvania and three years later commenced
reading law in the office of the late William
II. Dillingham;, in this borough. He was
admitted to practice in 1929, and with the
exception of Frances James and Joseph j.
Lewis, both of whom are retired lawyers,
was the Oldest living member of the bar.
In 1880 he was appointed by Governor
Wolfe, Clerk of the Orphans Court. In
1882 Attorney-General johnson appointed
him State Attorney for Delaware county.
Up to the time of the war he was an earnest
Democrat, and then joined the Republican
party. In 1861 he was elected to the State
Legislature, and represented this county
there until 1864. In 1866 he was appointed
State reporter of the Supreme Court, which
position he held until the Centennial year.
Mr.. Smith was of Scotch ancestery. His
paternal grandfather, Robert Smith, was
ing the Revolutionary war. While his ma
ternal grandfather, Persifor Frazer, was
Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army.
Death of Mrs. Hannah Louisa Yates.
This lady, the wife of Mr. James I. Yates
who has been a sufferer for long time from
disease of the lungs, died at the residence
Of her father, Judge James McCauley, at
New Leeds, in this county, on Friday even
ing last, at s o'clock. The deceased was
thirty nine years of age. She was lady
possessing many admirable traits of char
acter and deeply loved by large circle of
relatives and friends The deceased up to a
short time ago, resided with her husband in
western Maryland and later in Lynchburg,
Va, but her health having broken down
and she becoming a complete invalid, she
was, at her own request, removed to her
fathers home-her place of birth,-that she
might spend her remaining days surround
ed with the associations of early lite. Her
death was calm and peaceful, she being en-
tirely resigned and ready to receive the
grim messenger.
The deceased was Il daughter of James
and Sarah McCauley, and was born at New
Leeds June 2S, 1913; her mother was Sarah,
youngest daughter OF Hugh Beard, who
lived near Zion, and was well known as
land surveyor in this county previous to
1920. She was educated at the Elkton
Academy under Mr.. Thorp and others.
She was always quick to learn and favo-
rite with teachers and pupils. In 1860 she
joined the NJ. p. Church at New Leeds, and
was active in all matters pertaining to the
interests of the church and Sunday school,
On the 2Sth of June in the Centennial year,
she was married to Mr.. James T. Yates, at
her fathers residence, by Rev John G. vii.
son, of Philadelphia.
Last year she went with her husband to
Va, but the weather was so
hot that she returned home quite feeble,
and her health has been gradually declin-
ing until her death. She was always, even
to the last of a bright and cheerful DISPOSE
ton, never complaining, but always making
the best of every thing. She died as she
lived-a Christian. Mrs. Yates died in the
same house in which she was born.
The funeral service took place on Monday
afternoon last at the residence of Judge
McCauley, the interment being in New
Leeds cemetery, Rev. john G. Wilson, of
the Independent NJ. p. Church, of Philadel
phia, and Rev. Dr. Shermer, of New Leeds
NJ. p. Church, officiating. The following
gentlemen acted pall-bearers: William
7. Warburton, Thomas Warburton, John
NJ. Terrell, VIM. McCauley, H. c. Wells,
and Robert Ricketts,. The funeral was at
tended by large number of relatives and
friends of the family, almost every resident
of the neighborhood and many from dis
tance being present The pall-bearers
were all relatives (Cousins) of the deceas-
ed