The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-05
BY TELEGRAPH.
LATEST REPORTS FROM OYER THE
WIRES
Death of Ex-Attorney-G General Brewster
The Western striko-Boycott on the "p'
Road Permanently RAISED The Chief
Justice General News

PHILADELPHIA, April 4. - Benjamin
| Harris Brewster, AttOrney-Ceneral OF The
United States during President Arthur:
administration, and during whose term oi
Office the fam Jus starrOute cases were
pushed to a successful conclusion, died
early this morning at his home in ihi.
city, aged II years. He had been suffer
ing during The winter with disease OF the
kidneys, but his condition did not be
come serious until about A month ago
since which time he has been confined TO
the house. About a week fgO IL was dis
covered by his physicians that paralysis
of the bladder had set in, aud his failure
since that time had been marked Eariy
this morning he sank into heavy slum'
Der and passed quietly away.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIs DEATH.
The first intimalion Of the death Of eX-
Attorney General Brewster, received at
the Department OF Justice, was lhroug
a telegram received by his son, Robert J.
w Brewster, merely saying "Falher IS
dead"
Attorney General Garland was in
formed, and he Immediately issued an an
nouncement OF the death 10 the clerks
and officials Of the Department, and or
deIed the flag To- be placed AT hali-mast
and the building draped in mourning for
thirty days A. the building is already
draped in mourning for the late Chief
Justice, the mourning will bo kept mp for
a period after the present thirty days eN-
pire.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
BENJAMIN Harris Brewster, eX-At-
torney-Generai of the United Stat s,
whsse death il announced in the Star 4;
telegraphic dispatches, was born in
Salem county, y. j., on October -, 1916.
His family was wealthy, and his father
was LAWYER who stood high at The bar
of Philadelphia He was educated at
Princeton, where he was graduated IN
1884 Having studied law under the di-
recti0n OF Eli X. Price. he was admitted
10 the bar Of Philadelphia la 1898. and
was soon afterwards appointed by Presi-
dent Polk 10 pass upon The claims OF the
Cherokee Indians against the United
States. Beginning thus fayOrably, he
RAPIDLY acquired large pra tice and re-
putalion a. one OF the oe,t advocates az
the Philadelphia bar. His fame as an
orator soon became national lie was
appointed AttOrney-General OF Icnnsyl
vania hy Governor Geary in 1867, and
continued in that Office for TWO years.
While his name was frequently men
toned in the following years for many
other high offices, not being inclined TO
take part in practical political life, he did
not obtain anv OF them, although his
friends believed he could have had them
if he had been willing 10 enter tue field.
In 1877. when he vas the working mems
nominee for district attorney OF Philadel-
phis, ne came within one vote OF obtain
ing the nomination in the Republican
convention, although the "b0sscs" were
opposed to him. tie hal the reputation
Of being profound scholar and was
writer If much force and elegance on
literary and historical subjects. He was
married in 1857 to Miss Elizabeth Won
Myerbach DE- Keinfelds, Prussian lady.
who died in 1853 In 1870 he was married
to Mary, daughter Of The Hon. Robert
J. c. Walker of Pennsylvania, by whom
he had one child, a son, bearing his own
nhIllt. IllS StNDliN wiz AAiNh " NV
months ago.
1t Is said that for years Mr.. Brewster
had an ambition 10 become Attorney
General Of the United States. His friends
claim that when Genernl Grant was
elected he was offered place in the
Cabinet, but for some reason failed 10 Oh.
tain it. This is said To have greatly en-
bitlered him, ami caused his withdrawal
from political life altogether for some
years. In the Garfield camDaign he again
appeared on the platform for the Repub-
lican ticket. When Mr. Arthur succeeded
to the Presidency, on the death OF Gar
field. Mr.. Brewster was made Attorney
General and retained the place until the
close of the administration. The pccu-
llaraties of his personal appearance are
well remembered in Washington.
THE WESTERN sTRIKE.