The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-03-28

The Chief Justice Of the Su-
preme Court Dies Sudden
Iy at Washington.
His Death a Surprise to Those Who
Did Not Believe HIS Illness
Serious.

Supreme Court, died at his home in Wash
ington, on the morning Of Friday, the 23d
of March, of pneumonia, after q brief
illness. His death was wholly unexpected.
as nothing like fatal result was appre-
hended of the severe cold he contracted
last Saturday evening. His last appear
ance officially was on Monday, the 10Th,
when he was present in the courtroom to
present the decision in the telephone case,
which he had prepared, but was not feel
ing we'll enough to read the opinion, JUS
tice Blatchford performing that Office for
him. Following are the particulars of the
distinguished jurist's sudden demise, as
telegraphed from Washington:
He was not considered dangerously i'll, and
no one was in the room with him but hired
nurse when he breathed Ills last Mrs. Waite
left Washington about ten days ago to spend
the spring months in California. telegram
has been sent announcing the death OF
Judge Waite attended the reception given
to the authors by Mrs senator
atmosphere and searching wind. During
the reception his coachman was stricken with
spoplexy, and fell of the box. There was
considerable excitement, and Judge Waite
posed himself by leaving the heated parlors
and going bareheaded and in his evening suit
into the open air to give orders about the
treatment OF his servant and the disposition
OF his horses, and after the reception was over
he walked home. Several of his friends Of
fered their carriages. but he was unusually
robust man for one Of his years. and pre- fsrred
to walk His shoes were thin. and. together
with the exposure in the earlier part OF the
evening. gave him q severe cold Monday
morning his cold WAS SO uch worse that he
was induced TO remain at home, but it was not
until Wednesday that he had physician and
Ruth surgeon in the navy and friend
Of the family, who happened 20 call at
simple remedy Wednesday morning. but
when he called again the day
told Miss Waite that her father was threatened
with pneumonia, and recommended that the
family physician, Dr. h. A. Gardner, be sent
for. Thursday morning DIR. Gardner would
not permit Judge Waite to leave his bed, and
sent prof essional nurse to take of him.
Thur day afternoon young Mr. w ate arrived
from Cincinnati. The son and daughter sat mp
with him until after midnight. and then retired
without feeling the slightest apprehension.
! About o'clock Friday morning young Mr..
Waite was awakened by hearing groans from
his fathers chamber, and found that he
breathing heavily and seemed to be suffering in
his sleep. He assisted the nurse TO turn him
over when he seemed 70 rest more comfortably
and the groaning ceased. Shortly before d
o'clock a M. when the nurse went TO give to
him his medicine, Judge Waite was found to be
almost pulseless. The SON and daughter were
awakened, and the doctor sent for but before
he came the venerable man had ceased TO
breathe.
The following official notice of the death of
! Chief Justice Waite was issued by the Depart
ment OF State:
ITO the People of the United Stitss: The
painful duty devolyes upon the President to
announce the death at an early hour this morn
ing at his residence in this city. OF Morrison II.
Waite. Chief Justice of the United States, which
exalted position he had filled since March 4,
1874. with honor TO himself and high usefulness
to his country.
I'm testimony OF respect TO the memory OF
the honored dead it. ordered tina the execu-
tive offices IN Washington be closed on the day
OF the funeral and be draped in mourning for
IA rfy az md fhaf fhn naffn al Haar ha1
played at halt mast on the buildings and on all
the national vessels on the day Of the funeral.
Secretary OF State"
Both houses OF Congress- upon assembling
passed resolutions eulogistic OF the deceased,
and immediately adjourned. The announce
ment of Justice Waite's death produced a pro-
found impression upon tho President, with
whom he was on terms OF warm personal friend
ship
BIOGRAPHICAL
Morrison Remick Waite received his APP
pontment as Chief Justice of the United States
January u, 1874, and was the eessor of Chief
Justice Chase. He was the seventh in the line
of distinguished jurists who have held the Chief
Justiceship Of the United states. In the rural
town of Lyme, Conn the old house in which
he was born November -, 1916, still stands.
At the age Of II he entered Yale College, from
which he was graduated ia 1857 in the class
which included William NJ. Evarts, Edwards
Pierrepont, Prof Benjamin Silliman, and
other distinguished men. He began the Ftudy
of law with his father in Lyme, and CON
cluded his preparation for the bar in the
Office of Samuel w. Young, then II prom
inent lawyer in Maumee City. Ohio. He
formed partnership with Mr. Young shortly
after being admitted in 1889, and the year
after ne took as his life partner young lady
of his native town. He was elected TO the
Ohio Legislature in ls40, and the following year
tho firm OF Young & Waite removed to Toledo,
where they built up very large and remuner-
atiye practice ,, The r first position in
Of the whole country was that OF coun-
sci for the United States in the tribunal OF
arbitration which met at Geneva in ls1-2 lie
was associated in this delicate negoti alton
with Caleb Gu hing and William M. ENarts.
Their tact and good Judgment largely served
to terminate the difficulty arising oct of our
civil war between the United States and the
United Kingdom. The year after his return
home in 1873 he presided over the constitution
al convention OF Ohio
Chief Justice Waite had a charm n home in
Washington. at 1i15 street. Here Mrs. Waite,
a lady OF refinement that well htted her for the
social tasks imposed upon her by her husband
exalted ofiicfnl station has Ifesided hostess,
and so far as her delicate health would permit
has been "A leader OF society Mrs. Waite
the second cousin Of the Oh Of Justice, and o.
name before marriage was Amelia Warner.
She 10 the great-grandca lghter Of Col. Samuel
Seldom n distinguished officer OF the Revolu-
ton, and Maria Selden, n granddaughter OF this
same Col seiden was Chief Justice Waites
mother
The White family is one OF the oldest fam
lies in the country. Thomas Waite, who
member OF Parliament, signed the death
warrant of Charles III f., aud the family moved
to this country soon after the restoration. IL
was about thirty years after the landing of the
Pilgrims that Thomas Waite settled at Lyme,
Conn. and this nj ans son one of the first
Presidential cleo ors after the of the
Revolution and cast his vote for George Wash
ington. Judge Waite 8 father was chief justice
OF the Supreme Court Of Connecticut, ana he
studied law under Matthew Grswold, one of
the most noted state smen OF early days. Like
Judge Waite he WAS graduate OF Yale and
eminent as a jurist He left the Supreme
bench, however, at the age OF 80, and died
ut 20.
Though the distinguished Chief Justice was
| in his 72d year, one who met him in the street
even recently would have yentured the predic-
ton that he would live many years yet TO grace
| the bench. He was OF medium height. with
broad shoulders aud sturdy figure. Everything
about his appearance indicated a splendid
physiQue. He stood strai ght and was dignifed
in carriage. His largo head was crowned with
n thick growth OF iron gray hair. His fore
head was broad and full, the eyebrows dark
and heavy. The mouth and nose were large
and full OF character He wore beard ABOUT
his face, but his upper lip was clean shaven.
His figure was familiar one on the streets,
as he almost invar ably walked to aud from his
house and the Supreme Court chamber ia the
Capitol.
In the summer OF 1879 Chief Justice Waite
was one OF the party with President Arthur.
| Gen. sherman. Gen. Sheridan, and others who
went on a trip through the Yellowstone Park.
On that trip he met with accident that
caused consider able alarm at the time. While
en- route from the Mammoth hot sprngs to the