The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-10-26

our legal battles, on that one point we
ought to be OF one mind.
Whatever may be said in praise of other
professions or callings, | venture to assert
that there is no body of men on the face of
the globe more distinguished for learning,
| for honesty aHd for devotion to the public
| good, than the members of the legal pro-
fession.
| Whether as Judges upon the Bench, or
as Advocates at the Bar, they have the
same high duty and purpose.
1t was well said by most distinguished
lawyer that advocates are as ancient as
magistrates, as noble as virtue, as neces-
sary as justice"
| Mr.. Justice Sergeant said: "The Advo-
cate has his share of influence in every
government where properly and rights are
secured by laws" but that sit is in per-
fectly free system like ours that the law
yer attains the highest standing, because
he is The ddninistr ator of that which de-
mands from every class, implicit obedi-
ence."
| We are ass sembled here tonight for the
purpose of paying our respects to and ac-
| knowedging our admiration tor an admin
isfrator Of The ta,o, who for lore than half a
century has been an ornament of our pro-
fession, and for more than a quarter of
century has occupied the Bench, and
adorned his court with dignity and ur-
baniiy which never failed, and a learning
and integrity which have made his name
honored and quoted throughout the Com
monwealth.
William Elwell was admitted to the Bar
of the county of Bradford, in February
1888, and came upon the bench in Colum-
bia County for the Goth Judicial District
comprising the counties Of Columbia,
Wyoming and Sullivan, on the first Monday
of Dec 1869. He was three times elected
in the District without opposition, and
very early in his judicial career his distin-
guished abilities and sound legal learning
and judgment made him 50 conspicuous
that his services, in important and intri-
cate cases, were In demand in all the
neighboring countless and not only that,
but in many instances, causes were certi-
fed to Columbia County in order that they
might be tried before him.
have seen as advocates before HIM in
our Court, the most distinguished lawyers
in the state. may be allowed to name on
this occasion: Judge jeremiah s. Black,
Judge George w. Woodward, Judge John
w. Maynard, Hon. Franklin B. Gowen,
Gov. Henry NJ. Hoyt, Judge Edward Owen
Parry, Judge F. Carroll Brewster, Hon.
Francis w. Hughes, Mr.. Atty. Genl Pal
mer, with many other gifted and able men.
If were to attempt sketch of the Of
ficial life of the Honorable William Elwell
should go back almost fifty years, and say
that as a legislator, he is the author of the
statute abolishing Imprisonment for debt
as a lawyer, that more than hundred
cases 10 the books attest to his forensic
contests before the Supreme Court-as a
Judge, that ne presided at the trial of the
most important criminal and civil causes,
which, during his incumbency, have been
before the courts of this state.
But l need not attempt it-all these
things are written in the books of the laws,
and there they will remain forever; and
beg leave therefore to offer as the first
toast of the evening the following:
OUR GUEST. Closing a Judicial life
fruitful with judicial learning, adorned
with virtue, a true citizen, steadfast
!, friend, benevolent man, we tender our
/ retiring Presiding Judge this tribute to his
character and worth.
} When the applause with which these
8 remarks were greeted had died away,
Judge Elwell arose and said:
s Mr.. CHAIRNAN.-I scarcely know how
: to reply to that toast and the kiud words
: which you have employed in regard to my
t self on its introduction. 1t is not of itself
8 an honor that one has been given long life
Y professionally and officially. 1t is not the
0 length Of time that one has held public
a office, but the manner in which he has per-
i formed its duties that entities him to credit
= or otherwise. | thank the members of the
c bar for the opportunity to meet them all,
t together with the distinguished gentlemen
l. whom they have invited from other dis
tricts to join them In this act OF courtesy
l. rendered to me on the occasion of my re-
/ firing from the bench
c | began practice as the chairman has
stated at an early day in the northern coun
f ties of the commonwealth. The country
!: was comparatively new. The facilities fol
travel by public conveyances were of thu
most meagre kind. Elliptic springs to car
riages were not invented. The judge anC
members of the bar usually travelled OF
horseback. frequently rode in that way
fifty miles in day in order to reach
county seat in the western part of the dis
trict. The accommodations then were o
the most primitive character. The cour
was convened by the sound of the dinner
;. horn blown by the crier, The small room
was warmed by a wood stove and the worl
at evening was done by the light of tallov
candles. But there were shining lights a
the bar in the northern counties at tha
time, Ellis Lewis subsequently chief jus
tice of the state, Anson V. Parsons, II.
White, John w. Maynard and Horace VII
liston, my preceptor whose name Away
:, mention with reverence, all subsequent
!, judges of eminence, were among the for'
most at the bar at that day.
The difficulties which we at that tim
labored under for want of better facilitit
I'd for travel cannot better illustrate than b
ne stating an experience of my own. In lsS
sheriff sale took place in Tioga count
en- on a writ issued from the district court
Y, York county. The sale was alleged
I'd have been fraudulent. was then ST
cir dent. 1t was necessary that some OF
Int should go at once to prevent the acknow
all eogement of the deed. was sent by n