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

/ VI bOAuB plhn
and comprehensive, while at tht
same time 1t was keenly analytical and
abounding in sparkling wit and touching
pathoB He was the "Nestor Of the bar,
loved and respected by all his associates
aud the hand of death could not fall upor
one whose loss would be more keenly fell
or more sorrowfully regretted.
In addition to his-immediate family
Colonel Whiteley leaves one sister, who
has lived in this city for several years, but
recently went to Atlantic City. She Il
Mrs. Howell, widow of the late Genera
Howell of the United States army.
A special meeting of the bar of New
Castle county was held at o'clock OIL
Saturday afternoon in the main hall Of
| the county courthouse to take action
upon the death of the late Judge
Whiteley. There was full attendance oi
members of the bar, including Secretary
of State Thomas +. Bayard, Senator George
Gray, Congressman O. B. Lore and Judge
Leonard Il. Wales of the United States
district court. The bar organized by
selecting Judge Wales as chairman and
George FL. Bates, ED, as secretary. A
co nmittee was appointed to draw up
suitable resolutions, and was composed
of the following gentlemen John @.
Patterson, Thomas II. Bayard, William O.
Spruance, Charles B. Lore and George
Gray. This committee retired to the law
library and returned with the resolutions
given below, which were presented by
Mr.. Patterson in the following words:
Mr.. Chairman The death OF such a
member of the community us William G..
Whiteley, distinguished alike by his many
admirable traits Of character and by the
many prominent official positions he has
held, cannot be passed by with Indifference
or unnoticed. He has resided among US
too long, and his generosity, his kindness,
his affability, his frankness and his un-
assuming cordiality have laid too strong a
hold upon the affection Of his friends to be
readily loosened or lightly regarded.
have known him long and Intimately and
more than 50 years Of acquaintance and
association have not tended to diminish the
regard which L formed for him when we
were both young men together. His man.
ners were such as generally TO render him
exceedingly popular, and, coupled with his
predominant good sense, without any re-
markable brilliancy OF intellect, will ac-
count for his subsequent success In life and
attainment TO successive prominent official
positions, all of which, with few exceptions,
he filed with credit to himself and ad-
vantage to the public. As private citizen,
as professional man, as prothonotary of
the courts, as mayor Of Wilmington, as a
State commissioner to arbitrate the terri
torial controversies between this State and
New Jersey, and as judge Of our courts,
he performed his duty well and to the
general acceptance.
But he Is now gone from among US Only
raf foh aI t,,
tellect and genial spirit, remains. We shall
long miss him, his kindly salutation, his
friendly voice, from our ordinary walks
and social gatherings And whilst the
sympathizing spirit may think that many
another could have been better spared than
he, we bow uncomplainingly and trustingly
to the inevitable, and to the will of Him
who knoweth better than we what is better
for us, and doeth all things we'll. AS we
look around and note the breaches which
death has made in the ranks OF our profess
sion within few recent years, 1t seems as
II our mission here was only to say, Hail |
and Farewell but be our fate what 1t may,
lot us go our way, resting in the unfaltering
conviction, that
"When shadows end, we shall see light"
"The star that ushers In the night
Is herald also of the dayl"
Influenced by such sentiments, In behalf
OF the committee present for the accept
ance and action OF this meeting the resolu-
tlons adopted by the committee as embody-
ing Its sense of tho life, character and SER
vices of our deceased brother. and of the
action fitting to be taken with reference to
his death.
Resolved. That in the delth of the honorable
William q. Whiteloy tbs bar uf Delaware are
called upon to mourn the loss Of ne of the
oldest and most distinguished of their profess
sional brethren u man endowed with so Id in-
tellectu4l ia, ultics, coupled with the most at
tractive qualities of the human heart. That In
him was combined the learned lawyer, impress
sive advocate, sagacous counsellor, upright
magistrate and impartial Judge A true son of
his native Stats; faithful chronlcler of the
civil and military virtues of her citizens; n
Itatriot'c and useful representative Of his $ ate
In the national councils, prothOnOtarv Of the
superior court, mayor of the city Of Whining
ton, and In other places of public trust and
honor, he filled all alike with credit 10 himself
and benefit to the people.
Resoiped, That the bar will attend In a body
the funeral services at his residence on Monday
morning next, and that u committee Of fifteen
he appointed to accompany his remains to their
last resting place, 10 Brldgeto l, N j.
ResOtped, That committees consisting each of
two members, be appointed to present copies of
these res buttons TO the courts Of this Sta e, and
of the United Stttes for this district at the next
ensuing sessions I'll reOf, respectively
ResOiUed, That the secretary be and is hereby
directed 70 cause a C Ply OF those resolutions to
he properly en- :rossed and transmitted to tbs
fam ly of our deceased brother In testimonyDr
our respect Tor his memory, aud our sympathy
for them In their deep anli"tion.
After the reading of the committees
report by George ii. Bates, ESQ, Mr..
Bayard arose and seconded the resolu-
tions. He remained in thought with his
head bowed for some time, during which
the scene became impressive and solemn,
recalling vividly the nature of the occa-
sion. Finally he spoke as follows:
The younger members OF the bar who arc
here present can scarcely comprehend the
flood of emotion and reeollections that
sweep over the past to you, sir, and to me
and to my friend who has presented these
resolutions as the organ of the committee,
when we attempt to gather all that has
gone beyond us in the removalo this Judge
and lawyer from his place of usefulness In
society. / cast my eye through yonder
window and 1 can recall Mr.. Whiteley as a
mere STRIPPING, a graduate Of Princeton
| College, coming In his youth to read law
under the instruction Of my father who was
then in the practice of the law and a resi-
That was my first personal acquaintance
with him. We had every element of sym
| pathy and congeniality. He was man so
| full OF natural qualities, readiness, sym
pathy, hilarity, convlviality, open. hearted
ness, genuineness of likes and disllkes.
| Those qualities which we term free-hearted-
ness especially characterized this man and
he never lost them. He was fresh
hearted man to the day of his
death. Frank, simple-hearted, fresh, affec-
tionate, you could scarcely say he had
| a foe though at times he necessarily op-
posed men. He came to the bar with great
credit. Circumstances favored his rapid
progress. He obtained full and fair prae-
| tlce at time when many linger only In
postponed hopes. His profession bore Its
| fruits early to him, and he then exhibited
remarkable aptitude, II sound, well-balaneed
Judgment and very excellent faculties as a
lawyer. He was a popular man In the
| proper sense Of the word. He did not gain
| popularity by coneeallng his opinions; by
| misleading his follow citizens. He ex.
| pressed his opinion and took his chances
| as to whether minority or majority were
to follow the opinions he expressed. He
lid this in no acrid or forbidding spirit
| He never awakened animosities and theil
| disruptlons. While n full-blooded party
man he was an ardent patriot. While meI
| differed from him in opinion they did MOI
withhold from him their friendship and re-
spect.
Importance to both the bar aud bench In
this county. He was for more than ont
term the prothonotary of tho superior cour
Of this State. His courtesy, affahility and
ability endeared him TO every man In the
bar. He was an expert In the knowledge o
practice and n guide to the bench In points
OF practice and points of pleading. H.
had wide range OF influence; a very grea
influence, and he left the office without
charge of any kind IN his connection witt
1t. When l recollcct his patience, tho many
who came to him and received his cheerful
impartial and honest guidance / begiI
to appreciate part of his services
in thls community. 1 have tried
| cnaes with him and against him ant