Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1885-09-16

OTTAWA, Ills, Sept. 14.--This city was
thrown into great excitement Saturday
morning by the remark on the street that
Emery A Storrs, the great Chicago lawyer,
and counsel for Joseph G. Mackin in the
suit now before the supreme court, had died
very suddenly at his room in the Clifton
hotel in this city.
Investigation proved the report to be
true. Mr.. Storrs is dead. For two days he
had been suffering a slight indisposition,
but no serious consequence had been even
thought Of. He had the best of medical
services and at no time was he confined to
his room.
His wife came from Chicago Tuesday eve
ming. During the night it was necessary to
administer medicine, which was done by
Mrs. Storrs herself.
Saturday morning upon awakening she
found him in dying condition and beyond
medical aid. His death took place at 7:10
o'clock and was without suffering, the cause
being paralysis Of the heart Mr.. Storrs
has been in the city about ten days in the
interest of his client, Mackin, laboring as
siduously for success, and to this end had
made an argument on Wednesday in behalf
of remanding the cause for new trial 1t
was also believed he was preparing to move
before the court that Maxim should be
released from the Cook county jail upon
bail, but this latter motion had not yet been
made.
Mrs. Storrs is Frustrated with grief. The
profoundest sympathy of the people is ex
tended to her. Many of our prominent peo-
pie have called on her to offer sy ympathy and
condolences.
The remains left at 11:55 o'clock Saturday
morning by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pa
cif1c railroad, and arrived in Chicago about
2:3o p. m. A meeting of the LaSalle county
bar was held at $50 in the morning, and the
following gentlemen appointed to ac-
company the remains: Hon. E. F. Bull, H.
Mayo, J. II. Eckels, W. Gentleman, Capt.
T. c. Fullerton, Hon. j. W. Duncan and D.
McDougalL
Mr. Storrs has bsen Ill for several days,
and his physicians have been quits anxious
regarding hum.
(Mr. Storrs was born in .Cataraugus
county, New York, Aug. II, 1885 He
studied law with his father and Hon. NJ. B.
Champlain at Cuba, Allegany county, N.
Y. Young Storrs then went to Buffalo,
where, after diligently pursuing his legal
studies In the office of Austin & Scroggs, he
was admitted to practice in 1855 In 1857
he went to New York city, remaining there
but two years. He came thence to Chicago
in. 1882 Devoted to his profession, he has
never been an ofice-seeker or office-holder,
and yet, as q conspi cuous citizen of the
republic, he has ever taken profound,
intellig igent, and efficient interest in political
Affairs.
Politically decided Republican, to that
party he has constantly dedicated his great
talent. In 1865 1872, and 1880 he was dele
gate-at-large from Illinois to the national
Republican conventions, being on each oc-
AnaSN ft,o ct,o nit,ry ft,n
policy, characterizing the resolutions, and
formulating the pla tforms of the party.
He drafted the constitution and bylaws
OF the Citizens association, and was in
terested In the Historical society, the Press
sna etef nstuGn5 b motto Sd kndbsa bas
been instanced by his connection with the
Citizens league for the suppression of the
sale of liquor to minors As substantial
mon uments of his varied accomplishments
in general literature, attention might be
called Ito to his numerous me 39 Lectures, nota;
Culture" Patriotism" "Men of Action"
Municipal Government" and lectures
before the Chicago Historical society. His
Garfield funeral orations before the Union
League club and at the great lake-front
meeting were of noble quality and lustered
phrase. or the important cases in which he
figured as counsel it will suffice to enumer-
ate the great Babcock conspiracy case
In st. Louis; the contested election cases
for the incorporation of the city under the
general law, the famous Michigan univer-
sity case, the case involving the duty of
railroads to deliver grain to. elevators to
which it was consigned, the Uniformity of
taxation case, and those cases involving the
cons titutionality of the law providing for
the erection of the new state house, and
also of the Lincoln and South park
statutes, involving question as
to the power of municipalities
to impose taxes with consent.
His fine abilities as criminal lawyer were
amply dem onstrated in the famous Sullivan,
Ransome. and Cochrane murder cases, as
well as his mastery defense of Storey and
Wilkie, ,at Belvidere indicted for conspiracy.
In this connection it is we'll to note his de-
fense Of The Chicago Times in the Higgins.
libel suit His familiarity with political
history political philosophy and political
economy has been revealed again and
again."
In 1881 Mr.. Storrs friends suggested him
for the office Of attorney general under Pres
ident Arthur, but without success. Notainp
dispirited, Mr.. Storrs engaged actively in
the campaign of 1884 and stumped several
of the eastern states His practice suffered
considerably from his neglect occasioned
by his interest In politics and those who
know of his affairs intimately were not
surprised when pecuniary considerations led
him to espouse the cause Of Mackin, the
ballot box suffer. 1t was while in Ottawa
in attendance upon the supreme court in
this case that he broke down and died. He
leaves charming wife and married SON,
wins resides in New York