The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-05-16
MELVILLE WESTON FULLER.
Illinois Furnishes a Successor to the La
,uented chief Justice Waite.

Illinois Furnishes a Successor to the La
mented chief Justice Waite.
The new Chief Justice could scarcely
have been anything but a lawyer. HIS
father and his fathers brothers were
lawyers. One of his grandfathe-s was
lawyer and a Judge of Probate. His
mothers brother was a lawyer. His
maternal grandfather was Chief Justice
of the Court OF Common Pleas OF
Middle District of Maine: and after the
separation of Maine from Massachusetts
was appointed one of the Judges OF the
Supreme Court of the State Of Maine,
and he afterwards became the Chief
Justice of that Court. Nature gave
Melville Weston Fuller a good start on
the road to distinction in his profession.
The choice OF Mr.. Cleveland for the
highest place in his gift was born IN
Augusta, Maine, on FEBRUARY II, 1873.
He received his collegiate education at
Bowdoin, where be was a classmate OF
Minister Phelps, and was graduated IN
1853. Mr.. Fuller pursued the study OF
law at Bangor, and also attended lectures
at the law department of Harvard Uni
versity. In 1855 he began to practice IN
his native city, but devoted himself
chiefly to editorial duties. ThefoIowing
year he was elected d member OF the
Augusta common council, and vas made
president of that body. In addition to
this he was city solicitor, but he resigned
both offices, and went to Chicago. He
at once established lucrative practice,
and made reputation as an able lawyer.
At an early period he took an active
part in politic:. He worked hard in the
Presidential campaign Of 1886, support
ing the Democratic candidate. Five
years later he and 'sLong john Went
worth were elected delegates to the State
Constitutional Convention, where his
legal abilities came into play, and he
rendereda distinct service in the revision
of the Constitution. In 1862 Mr..
Fuller was sent to the Legislature from
a usually Republican stronghold. He
has continued to be actively engaged IN
politics, and was delegate to the Nat
ional Conventions for several years, tax
ing part in those held in 1864, 1872, 1876
and 1850. His recordin the Legislature
was one of efficient service. 1t was IN
1868 that he was ct Springfield, and he
was the recognized leader Of his party
during those stormy days. Among the
numerous public addresses which he de-
livered the one at Michigan City IN 1860,
in welcoming Stephen a. Douglas, is
mentioned as especially noteworthy for
its eloquence. He it was, also, who de-
livered the address a year later when that
celebrated statesman died. In the mean
time he had been rising in his profession.
He was notably connected with some
celebrated cases before the State
Supreme Court arising out of the proro-
CATION Of the Legislature by Governor
Yates in that year. In 1869, when
Bishop Whitehouse attempted to discip-
line the now Bishop Cheney before an
ecclesiastical tribunal for leaving ssrege-
nerate" out OF the Office of infant babtism,
the offender was advised and defended
all through the years of tedious litigation
by MIR. Fuller, who exhibited profound
research AID knowledge of ecclesiastical
law. The Reformed Episcopal Church,
of Chicago, OF which Cheney is Bishop,
largely owes its existence to the prosecu-
tion thus instituted. Mr.. Fuller has
often appeared before the Supreme
Court Of the United States, and his rep
utation is that of learned and sound
lawyer and man of very superior cult.
vation and attainments.
He was married in Chicago in 1858,
but soon lost his wife. In 1866 he was
married second time. Mrs. Fuller is a
little woman, blonde, with sympathetic
face, winning manner and a ready
tongue. She has five daughters and q
little son. The young ladies of the family
are remarkable for their cultivation and
originality. One of them attracted a
great deal of attention two seasons ago
in Washington. There is no doubt that
they will be bellies in the society OF the
Capital.
In personal appearance Mr.. Fuller is
unusully handsome; his hair and mustche
are silvery and his features clear-cut and
intelligent. he is short in stature and
of slight build. His membership in the
Democratic party has been continuous.
While holding advanced views of State
rights, he was loyal to the Union cause
during the war. He is a member of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, and has
been prominently identified with that
denomination.