New-York tribune., 1888-03-24
THE CHIEF JUSTICE DEAD.
A QUIET END TO THE LIFE OF MORRISON h
WAITE

OAY-ADJOUHNMENIO
OF CoNGRRss--rHE ANNOUNCEMENT
RECEIVED WITH UNIVERSAL
MARKS OF RESPECT
AND REGRET.
r4sY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNkJ
WASHINGTON, March 23.-Morrison r. Waite
Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court Of the United
States died this morning suddenly at 6:l5 o'clock
after brief illness Of few days only. Only
professional nurse was present at the time OF his
death. About fifteen minutes before he passed
away, he awoke from what seemed to have been
refreshing slumbcr.
:" How do you feel ?" the nurse asked
IL feel much better" replied the Chief Justice
those were the last words which he spoke. Shortly
afterward the end came, painless, calm, and peace
full. The immediate cause Of death was pneu-
monia. Last month Miss Brownell, AN old
friend of the family, was buried from Chief
Justice Waite's house in Oak Hill Cemetery, The
body being placed in q vault. On Friday last the
body taken from the vault and placed IN the
grave, the Chief Justice being present. and 1t IL
supposed that he then contracted the cold that
resulted so fatally. He returned from the cero-
mony slightly chilled, but paid no attention to IT.
not even mentioning 1t to members OF his family.
On Saturday he dined with Senator Hearst, who
had invited q large company Of people to meet
the authors who were then in Washington giving
readings in aid Of the Copyright League: Llis
to Senator Hearsts house on Massachusetsaye.,
two or three blocks distant, and back again after
dinner. Upon reaching home he took warm
bath, and Immediately afterward was seized with a
chill, complained Of severe pains in the abdomen,
and remarked that something he had eaten had
disagreed with him. He went to bed and remained
there all day Sunday.
The family physician, who was called in, de-
clared after an examination that 1t was only a
slight cold. The Chief Justice himself thought
90, and repeatedly cautioned members of his fam
ily to keep the fact Of his illness from reaching
Nh off hio ffv IN arfV oft far
the psdens G Of ths Civil Service
Sunday s VG dinner eu at @ Yates house.
regularly ever since he became resident Of Wash
ington He was there as usual last Sunday, but
table. Judge Edgerton, however saw him in
his room and in bed The Chief. Justice =, begged
Judge Edgerton to keep the fact Of his illness
wife would see It, and II would destroy, the pleas
SEs Of her trip He also remarked S that unless
the court the next day. Judge .Edgerton endeay-
ored to dssusde him from doing this, but tho
Chief Justice lauShingly replied that he was not
the Court when tho Telephone opinion was deliv-
cred, his absence would at once be considered to
mean that he was i'll.
having passed restless night. He was deter
mined. however, to 60. to the Supreme Court
Nothing would alter his determnaton in osa on that
rage, accompanied by. his daughter, Miss Mary
Waite. It had been his intention to read the
s He q had + it himself and really
anxious to read it. but upon reaching the retIr
ing,room Of the Justices felt not eq9a,i to the
TO read the opinion. which the latter did. Dur
ing the honr and three ~ which the reading
Of the e.. opOn 0Sasd the e oo
q trihe PALE but except to those who knew HIM
Intimately, he did not appear to D., he SUFFERING ing
finished he rose and hastily made his way to hi.
carriage. IIc Immediately, drove home. and il
at cnee sS tne and M
air had seriously aggravated his cold. Immedi-
ately upon reaching his home he went to bed
On Wednesday es Miss Mary Nary " Waite though still
not particularly alarmed at his condition, tele-
graphed to Cincinnati for her elder brother c, G.
Waite. This was customary whenever the Chief
Justice was SICK as he was inpatient OF the re-
straint and enforced idleness, and his eldest son
could more easily influence him than any one else
advice Of Surgeon Ruth, Of the United States
Navy, an old friend Of the family. who had been
in attendance with DR.: Caroline B; Winslew. the
consultation. The decision of the doctors at mid
night last night was that Justice Waie's condition
was not serious and that there was no danger
E. T. Waite, well-xnown lawyer Of Toledo.
Shortly afterward, the Chief Justice dropped into
sleep from which he awakened shortly before
his death. He was c nscious up to the last mo-
ment. Apparently he had not the slightest inti-
nation Of his approaching death. He certainly
gave no hint that he thought So His sudden
death under the circumstances is ascrbed to heart
disease. Mrs. Winslow, his physician. says that
death was not the result Of pneumonia: 1t was
rather heart failure. The Chef,Just had been
lying on his side, and this morning. when he was
assisted to turn over on his back. he remarked to
the nurse that he felt more comfortable; and bad
hardly ceased speaking when he died Mrs;
even surprised the trained nurse who was with
him. Dr. Gardner who was called in as con-
splting =, physician last evening c.ss said
the previous days, but even then not serious,
t ns as Of man Of his strong pyss
disease frequently assumed with startling sud-
dpnness serious phase The form Of the disease
The Chief Justice firm believer in home
opathy, and his family physician belonged to that
school.
A dispatch was sent to Mrs Waite. at Los
Angeles Cal, this morning, informing her OF her
husbands death 1t is believed that she will be
able to reach Washington by next Thursday and
It is believed that the funeral will he DELAYED until
then. Grave fears are entertained OF the effect
Of the news upon her. She is sixty-seven years
of age and not in the best Of health. 1t is said
that the Chief Justice died n connartively poor
man. He owned the house in which he lived,
and for which he paid some years ago soi. 600.
When he bought the house. he had to borrow the
selling some other property in this city. which
had appreciated in value. Besides the house, It is
stated he leaves very small estate
TRIBUTES OF RESPECT IN CONGRESS.
BOTH HOUSES ADJOURN As MARK or RgsPgc
TO THE MEMORY OF THE cHTEp JUSTICE
WASHINGTON, March 23.-The Chaplain tho
Rev. Mr.. Butler, in his opening prayer referred
to the death Of the Chief Justice in appropriate
words.
The clerk proceeded to read the journal Of yes
terday when Mr.. Edmunds moved that its further
reading be dispensed WITH after which the presid-
ing officer laid before the Senate a communi-
cation from Mr.. Justice Miller, informing the Sem
ate by the direction Of the Supreme Court of the
United States, of the death of the Chief Justice
Mr.. Edmunds then rose and said (the Senate
Chamber being unusually hushed):
MI Preadent On the 21st Of January 1874 Chief JUS