Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-04-29

was in the fullest sense OF the term genial
character, an attractive mana charming
man, In whose presence you felt stronger,
that the place was more secure; l always
felt safer wherever he was. He was an
honest man. II he found himself on the
wrong side his client had the poorest advo-
cate ever saw. He could not maintain
u false position. His faults were
like his heart. Every one who saw him saw
him exactly as he was, All the offices he ever
tlllOd he filled with honor and with respect
to himself, and whenever he was II candidate,
people forgot their parttsanshlp and voted
for him. They voted for him because they
knew him to be honest. | was with him
when he performed some acts as brave as
l believe have ever been done on the field
OF battle. All men loved him; all men
trusted him. When he was appointed to
the bench all men OF all parties said "That
is the right appointment" and all men felt
secure In the rights Of property and In the
assurance of the righteous Justice. know
no man whose loss will be so universally de-
plored as the loss OF William G.. Whiteley.
John H. Rodney said:
feel disposed to pass by the public and
professional life of our departed friend. In
that respect he served his day and genera
tion wisely and we'll. AS young man 1
learned to love him for his kindness, and In
| later years | esteemed and respected him
| for his consideration and manlness. But
to me he was connecting link between my
| present and past. His death recnlls faces
In connection with his which make this oc-
! casion doubly sad to me. In the fulness OF
time our friends will assemble to hold this
same observance over us as we are engaged
| in on this occasion, and IL they can render
the same tribute to us that we can to our
brother, we will leave precious memory.
| Levi O. Bird spoke feelingly Of the de-
ceased in these words,
1t Is impossible upon an occasion of this
| kind to even outline the leading character
| istics Of n life so connected with half con-
| tury Of the history OF our State, MS citizen,
| lawyer and public servant, making It at
once remarkable and eventful; for it was
| both.
In many respects Judge Whiteley or Col
| onel Whiteley as l loved best to call him,
was the most remarkable man ever knew,
He had more power over men than any man
1 ever knew. He had more magnetism; he
was the most companionable man l ever
knew; he charmed the student; he inilu-
enced the court; he combined the simplicity
OF boyhood with the experienced wisdom OF
"a strong manhood. He loved nature, be-
cause he had studied it. He was full of
manly impulses; there was not In his make
up the suspicion Of hypocrite; If he did
not like you surely you were never deceived;
not u tyrant; strong partisan as he was, he
was yet just. | have seen more than once
the proofs of 1t, and so have some of YOU
he was emphatlcally Delaware man He
loved our little State and all her traditions;
prided himself upon her institutions; cher
tshed her memories, was devoted to her
history, knowing 1t by heart from Kirkwood
and Caldwell of colonial fame down to the
names of the great ones with whom he
mingled in his earlier days at the bar.
A learned and upright judge, rich and
poor, white and black, friend and foe, shared
alike even Justice at his hands, always
teml cred by the mercy of so tender aheart.
IL w,ts my good fortune for many years to
9e h+ neighbor. | knew him so well. The
,enileness of his nature, so apparel every
where, shone brightest In his home life. A
happy home and general welcome
awaited every conner. His death was not
surprise to me, for In the months gone by
saw the gradual giving way Of ths strong
man, and felt that he knew that the end
was fast upon him-but he never muir
INJURED. He had cast his lot, and like
brave man as he was, he uttered no COM
plaiut.
His memory shall cherish while l live
proud always to have called him friend.
Anthony Higgins said;
Whenever / met him l have always re-
ceived from Col. Whiteley that kindly
greeting which made me feel that here was
one man that knew me, and suppose that
is the experience of every man at this bar.
1t was the rare quality that seemed to link
me with his kind regard. In practice he was
expert. We feel that bountiful source of
authority has been removed from us; as
though we had been deprived Of kind of
court outside that had received its tradl-
tions from another fountain and that was
founded on good sense. He possessed the
confidence of the bench, a quality without
which success at the bar Is not complete. l
remember an incident that occurred in the
United States court. l was associated with
Mr.. Whiteley on a case and after presenta
ton of the law and adjournment had been
reached the late Judge Bradford said to
me, "What good lawyer Whiteley Is" He
had the faculty of putting his statements Of
the law in a way that satisfied the mind.
His broad cathollcity, his saving common
sense, thorough kindness and good heart
loved by the court, profoundly respected by
the bar-mnkes his loss to day a personal
one with the people In all parts of this State.
Judge Wales closed the expressions of
sorrow and esteem by saying:
feel the death Of Judge Whit.ley as
personal loss. His success was remark
able; have never known case Of more
rapid advancement. This was due to his
abilities. There was charm about his
manners and address, on all occasion, both
public and private, that was simply inde-
seribable. He did not try experiments.
He tried his cases rather on the beaten
paths, and this fact gained him the confl-
dence OF the bench. | can only add my
own to tho general expressions of the
sorrow which feel at this loss and on this
occasion.
AT the conclusion of the eulogies the
resolutions were formally adopted with
standing vote. The following commit
tees were appointed TO present copies of
these resolutions to the various courts:
Superior Coult-George II. Bates and
f. G. Bradford, Esqs.
Court of Chancery-J. III. Hoffecker,
Jr., and Harry Emmons, Esqs.
United States Circuit Oourt-Austin
Harrington and Harry Sharpley, Esqs.
The following committee was appointed
to accompany the remains to the grave
William c. Spruance, Anthony Higgins,
Benjamin Nields, George H. Bates, E. G.
Bradford, Levi @. Bird, John H. Rodney,
j. H. Hoffecker, Jr., Harry Sharpley,
Austin Harrington, Walter II. Hayes,
Tilghman Johnston, William r.. Lyman,
J. Frank Ball and Walter Bacon.
The meeting then adjourned.
OlI1 .
During the meeting of City Council
Saturday afternoon, Merris Taylor moved
that committee of three be appointed to
prepare resolutions expressive of the SEN
timent of Council in relation to the death
of Judge Whiteley. The motion was
adopted, ana the committee, Merris Tay-
lor, L. b. Brison and E. C. Moore, re-
tired, and after consultation reported the
following
WHEREAS, This Council, has heard with deep
regret, of the death of II n. william q. White
ley, associate Judge Of the superior curt, and
formerly mayor OF this city, and
WHEREAS, 1t Is nt ing that Council should
give an appropriate expression OF Its sense OF
the loss sustained by the community through
the death of this distinguished citizen; there
| fore be IL
Resolued, That in the death of Hon. William
| q. White ey the State is deprived of the ser
| Vices of wise and profound jurlst, wi ose ripe
eSperi4 ca and eminent learning would have
| adorned the bench and prove of lasting benefit
| to the citizens OF his native State.
Res0iged, That In his d.ath the people OF VIII
mington have lost a felow-elttzen whn was
| always identified witn tneir best interests, and
who, as chief executive of the city, added his
best personal Efforts TO the in crest he always
| felt r the public welfare.
Resolved, as a further mark of respect 10 the
| memory of the deceased, the Council Will attend
| the funeral services In a boiy, and accompany
| the remains 10 the place of departure from the
city for b rial; and further. that n committee OF
| 1ve be II pointed To acco npauy the funeral to
/ the place of interment
| ResoiCed, That these resolutions be spread
| upon the m nut OF Council, printed In tue
| city papers, and copy there u, properly at
tsstej, sent b Lhs family u the deeeased.
| MERITS TAYLOR,
T. BRIsoN,