New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-02
DEATH OF FRANCIS N. BANGS.
SURPRISING NEWS FROM FLORIDA.
HIS HEALTH IMPAIRED BY HARD woRK-sUCcEss-
Full CAREER AT THE BAR.

mont OF his death was complete surprise to most Of
his friends and professional associates 1t known
that he had been troubled with kidney difficulty for
long me but except by the members of his family and
close friends 1t was not supposed that he was
seriously ILL., But as matter OF fact his health had
been rapidly failing during tho last year. He Sas q
man who entered With all his soul into any litigation
which he was conducting Two Of the most important
terminated adversely to the side he repro
sented-the Stokes will and tho ID Cesnola libel
suit The result of the latter seemed especially to wear
upon his mind, and tho less because he realized
that popular sentiment sustained the verdict against his
client He physically run down in the latter part
OF last July when called upon to appear for the
Police Commissioners OF Yonkers in regard to some
charges made against them before the Common Council
OF that city With characteristic good nature, to oblge
a friend. and without fee, he went. He began
the trial In close and crowded room
at O'Clock In the evening and continued it for nine
hours He completely Frustrated when the trial
That tho last piece OF legal work that ne
dd. a trip of fow days to the White Mountains did
him good, but when he appeared at his law office
in tho first week in September It PLAIN that he
not fit for work. After September he did not return to
his Office He was confined to his house until abouthree
weeks ago. when under the advice OF he took
for Charleston and thence went to Florida.
Mr. Bangs was born at No. As Rivlngton-st. Febru
airy 49, 1923. His father tho Rev. DR.. Nathan
Bangs an eminent Methodist divine, who was at one
was manager of the Methodist Book Concern here.
When he first began his work a Clergyman the Rev.
Mr. Bangs was circuit rider " IN tho West raversing
especially the country along the great lakes history
Of Mcthodsm which he IN later life is In consid-
cradle repute still In that denomination When he died
he nearly ninety years old The early education OF
Francis ~ Bangs gained in the schools of Newfork
lie was proficient and digenJ student and displayed
considerable talent at that time. When he ready to
enter college his father was president OF wesleyan ana
this led him to pass years at that Institution. But
he returned to this city and entered the junior class OF
the University of tho City Of New York, from
which he was graduated at the age OF
tweuty-one. lie had classmates or fellow
students O number of persons who have reached
prominence bar including John E. Parsons. Will
lam Allen Butler, A. Oakley Hall and Judge Sedgwick,
OF Superior Court Two years later he was gradu'
ated from tho Yale Law School, and soon afterward was
admitted to tho bar iu this State From the time
he left college he supported himself by his own
lie not one OF those who sprang at once
into at tho bar. He had lndOmtabIe energy,
thing that he undertook; but II lie hAI NOT ais0 Du
patience would not have overcome the obstacles Ia
his way For long time after leaving the aWSchooI
he was iu the Office OF Hiram ketchum or struggling
alone get OOthold in his profession linen ne en-,
George Buckram, under the firm name OF Van Colt.
Buckram Il Bangs. subsequently Mr.. Van Colt was
ndgo of the Superior Court and the firm name
became Buckram selgwlck Bangs stl another
and the admission Of Thomas NJ; North as partner
when Mr.. sedcwlck became judge IN 1871 the hrn
name was made Bangs X North. Mr. Bangs afterwards
entered into partnership win MS nepAew uhuet tnG
nrm OF I'm. * Q. W. Bangs. TINS continued unui
lssO when the firm that has continued under the
name of Bangs Il stetson was formed The Other mem
beers of the firm have been C. W. Bangs T. L. ete'Soh ana
L. \ Bangs the dead lawyers oldest SON.
Mr. Bangs attained special prominence ana success
in the bankrupt courts His partner John SsaETeE
ruptcy Act OF 1867 Mr. Bangs devoted himself assldn
oiy 10 The study OF the Act and mastered al its diff
he TO be acknowledged as one OF Tue
leading authorities the sub ec and was retained IN
mauy OF the most important bankruptcy ltgaons The
training to which he had subjected himself ~ an ac
during his period OF preparation here bore ex
celent fruit The qualities were also SHOWN IN
marked degree I'm the successful IN which he closed
up the tangled affairs OF Morris ketchum.
Since the repeal Of the Bankruptcy Act Mr. Bangs mas
been engaged counsel in many important cases OF
general character. Among these were the ocean
Bank In which he was associated WIN Geega Gar
field the foreclosure OF the Mobile and ONO Railroad
nected with the Havemeyer Morgan anu stokes estates
aud the Di CesnOla libel suit MI Bangs was retained
a SSpssre t for Mr. Cooper When the
ing the his right TO remove some OF the foire
Committee that Investigated the charges OF bribery IN
C"nklng When tho election Of ex-senator Robertson
was contested MI Bangs successfully Conducted MS
case Ills ready wit illustrated In this case. The
pont was whether certain ballots IN which R0bertsohs
name spelled incorrectly should be counted or u
Tho only question:. said Nh Bangs. Is as To nom tue
voters intended to vote when they cast their ballots
There doubt about here Why u they had SIMPLY
put the ballots For senator the Judge etcryhody
would have known whom 1t was meant Tor ana IL would
have been quite enough. 49,, ~, -
was concerned the time OF MS death wtre those grow
lag out Of failure OF Grant Ward In these lac repre-
assignee Of the Marine Bank ana he
of Mr. Fish IL through his SKIN t1a the eHanlhI
ton of Ward was secured Almost 1 % ntb i
failure one question that he put TO Nitu Is Wotny 81
quotation illustrating one OF the lawyer > iueht
qualities and remarkable Characterization OF M"td
financial transactions IL was this so that me real
nature OF the business consisted IN dlscOuntnS the
ncltul prospect Of imaginary profits To he derived rom
uctious contracts founded manufactured and arli-
hcial contributions OF altogether imaginary moneys.
that 1t I" Ward SAID that nc cou'uV answer lh"'
Mr. bangs prlded himself on being lawyer without
allowing his attention be diverted IN other directions
III the progress OF The controversy over Tue eios1 o
the Police Commissioners, he sald 10 tn Court am
strictly true lie was IN that appearing for Dem
ocratic Mayor although he had been ardent kepubli
toronSbv in the parrys cause ana eit dcop
in s Success but neither his ordinations nor his devo-
IN noitical work his sympathics with tho Abo.
tnnts before the Rebellion, and he served for short
time in 'aS U showed ARMY WITH great pride the
sword became his when he was promoted 10 some
Sr I a%ycr he was great worker Indeed not
surprising that tho pGrstGnSy Si s emed when
he appeared court to be thoroughly wen ptcptrcu
m Vas mot nm orator; but he spoke with drectness
an1 force that carried conviction lie was stout OF
figure His face not handsome, but displayed
quick Intelligence well as alniabIlty lie was Ionu Oh
Joke ana his wit was ready ~ frequently was dry
ami caustic lie popular among New-f ORR lawyers
and none the less 50 because OF ms fearless 9sloso
and energy in striking at what he beloved 10 Ice eHa OF
judicial abuses He one OF the organizers OF inc bar
Association and always prominent III ita COUNCILS
Barnard and CaroLo he was one OF tho most earnest ia
the m c ng $40 and 1883 he was
president OF the Bar Association ana made ono OF inc
best presiding officers 1t ever HAD; u,n,o,oN
Mr. Bangs leaves three sOns-FrancS >, william ":
and John X. telegraph dispatch from oc@ia iccolNeu
yesterday indicates that the body w rcaea thiS Guy On
Friday The funeral probably VIII he held next M"idy
at All Souls Church Uhc Rev. H. eOer newton reeVorj'
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