Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-02-11
JUDGE BRADFORD,
TRIRUTES TO HIS MEMORY AND
THAT OF THE LATE GEORGE
II. RODNEY.

AS mentioned In last Saturdays Court
report, the attention of the Court was
just previous 10 adjournment, called tt
!. the death of Judge Bradford, of the
United States Court, by Attorney-Gen.
t eral Gray, who in:presenting the res0lu.
. tions adopted by the meeting of the bar
addressed the Court as follows
May it please your Honors On the
18th day OF January last, death claimed
for his own the Hou. Edward G. Brad
ford, the District Judge Of the United
States for the District Of Delaware. His
death saddened this whole community,
and TO the members of the profession
which he adorned brought a genuine
sorrow, that found eloquent expression
at the largest meeting OF the bar that
have ever seen Assem- bled in this State.
The resolutions which testify the honor
and respect paid to his memory by that
meeting but inadequately represent the
feeling that permeated it. hold a copy
of them in my hand, having been en-
trusted with the sad duty OF presenting
the IN to this Court atits present session.
Before doing 80 it is proper that |
should obey the dictates of my own
heart by saying, with your Honors
permission, q word AZ to the the charac-
tier Of the late Judge Admitted to the
bar in lS4l, he was identified with it
until his elevation TO the bench of the
Federal Judiciary of of this district in
1874, at which time he had won for
himself a position as one of the ac-
knowledged leaders of his profession
and was looked upon all as the fit and
chosen successor Of Judge Hall who had
then just laid aside the judicial ermine.
The reputation made by Judge Brad
ford at the bar was an enviable one. He
was justly regarded as an eloquent and
able advocate, whether before the
court or a jury, but above all ard more
tnan all, be was este emed and re-
spected as an honest and upright law.
yel.
Manly and chivalrous in his bearing,
he was withal gentle and sympathetic
in his nature, and attracted, in a
marked degr e, the atfectionate regard
of those who were brought in intimate
association with him. Frank in the ex-
preston of his own opinions, but CON
siderate of those of others, he possessed
charm of manner and voice which,
added to conversational powers of a
high order, made him delightful CON-
lpanion and friend. Sensitive in all
that concerned his honor, he would
have felt dishonor like a wound. He
appreciated in his relation to his pro
fession the full force of that finest OF
sentiments, "Noblesse oblige." Thus
he brought to the guild of our profess
sion that most valuable of all c0ntribu-
tions, high character and manly cour-
age, and left to those who come after
him an example that is well worthy of
emulation.
,. As a Judge he maintained the char
acter of the judiciary of this State and
district for ability and purity. No
man ever doubted that the judgment
of his lips was the honest expression
Of his conscience and the public conf.
dence in the honor and purity of the
bench, 30 essential to the maintenance
of n government of law, was never
shaken or disturbed by him.
1t is eminently fitting, then, that
we should pause for a little space, amid
the pressing duties of life, to bear tes-
timony to the personal worth, exalted
character..and ability Of one whose loss
we all mourn as that of II brother
or friend.
therefor, in obedience to the instruc-
tions Of the meeting of the bar Of this
county, present to this court, before
which his reputation as a lawyer was
established and maintained, these res
| Olutions and move your HOnOrs, that
| as a mark of respect to the memory OF
our deceased brother, they be spread
upon the records of this court
| He then handed the Chief Justice a
copy of the resolutions, when ne replied
as follows: We receive, with regret,
the announcement of the death OF the
Hon. Edward G. Bradford. For more
than thirty years he practiced with
distinction in the courts Of this State,
and only left them to take his seat upon
the bench Of the Fedora! Courts for
this district.
My acquaintance with Judge Brad
ford began about the time he was ad-
mitted to the bar and he struck me
then as a young lawyer who was
destined to become prominent in his
profession. AS Deputy Attorney-Gen.
eral under his preceptor, the late CLief
Justice Gilpin, who then held The prin-
cipal office, he showed himself to be
well equipped, by learning and acute
ness of mind, for the task of conducting
criminal business; and in his addresses
to the jury he found himself unusually
gifted with tluency of speech, and ease
and vigor of action-two qualities that
are never without their effects in argu-
haf fhnt Fri rihuunl Hn
also very candid ip dealing with facts,
though they seemed to be against him
and during his career as deputy 10
not recall single instance wien he
could be Justly charged with pervert-
ing testimony or making an unwar-
rantable use Of it
While he had all the desire and am
bition TO succred, doubtless, that others
had, vet he did not allow them 10 eX-
cite in him an unworthy Purpose OF
-, go. re