The Red Cloud chief., 1888-03-30
CHIEF JUSTICE DEAD
Chief Justice Waite, Of the Uni
ted States Supreme Court
Dead.
His Death Due to q Complication q
Tr0ubles-The Telephone Case His
Last Decision.

Biography of the Distinguished Jurist-
His Ancestor Signs the Death Warrant
Of King Charles.
WASHINGTON, March 23-Chief Justice
W attic died at 6:lO O'Clock this morning.
The Chief Justice dined on Saturday
evening with Senator Hearst and on his
return home he became SO i'll that his fami-
ly physician. DIR. Winslow, was sent for.
He was confined to his bed on Sunday and
on Monday he insisted upon going to the
Supreme Court to be present when the de-
cision in the telephone suits were rendered.
The weather was mild and the doctor
yielded to his request every precaution
being taken to prevent any i'll effects from
the journey.
The telephone decision had been written
by the Chief Justice, but he vas too Ill to
read it from the bench, and that duty was
therefore performed by Justice Batch
ford. Special care wa taken that no evil
dence Of the Chief Justices illness should
appear, and none Of the throng that heard
the decision read SUSPECTED the real reason
why it was announced by Justice Blatch-
ford.
As soon rs possible after the reading,
Justice Waite left the bench and was hur.
riedly driven home. It Is admitted that the
trip to the capitol was far from prudent for
one in Justice Wa1te's condition, but it is
asserted that no serious consequences can
be ascribed to it. The Chief Justice was
determined to go and the doctors had to
yield. He went back to bed and since then
had been u very sick man.
On Tuesday morning symptoms Of acute
bronchitis appeared, accompanied by in
sOmnia u great rest essness. His cOndi-
ton Tuesday was not alarming. but on
Wednesday circumscribed pneumonia
showed itself. On Thursday night he vas
comfortable. and no particular alarm was
felt. but at six o'clock this morning failure
OF the hearts action was observed. Death
cnsued in a few minutes.
His daughter, Miss Marie F. Waite, and
his Son, Mr.. c. c. Waite, vicc-prcsidept Of
the Cincinnati, Hamilton 4 Dayton rail-
road. were with him when he died. Drs.
Caroline B. Winslow and Frank A. Gard
ner were in attendance. Mrs. Waite left
Washington for California about q week
ago and is supposed now to be in Los
Angeles.
Arrangements for the funeral have not
as yet been made. The Chief Justice will
be buried at Toledo, O.
In the afternoon q consultation OF physi-
Clans was held in the sick chamber. None
of the Supreme Court Justices had
any information to give to inGu.rers, and
extraord nary efforts were made by all
having knowledge of the facts to keep
tho ('hi.f -I1Sf;ea,s ilIuoSS n cp.rot
Justice Waite's illness was due to trouble
with his liver and spleen. complicated with
very painful stomach disorders. Justice
Waite had a very serious iii of sickness
just at the close OF the administration of
President Arthur. He was confined to his
house for several weeks with an attack of
erysipelas, that threatened at one time to
have IA fatal termination. The serious
character OF his Illness at that time was
not generally known until after the crisis
had been passed, and 1t was not until he
was well enough 10 be up and about his
house and on the street hat newspaper
paragraphs appeared reporting him to be
in danger.
The Justice was a hale man to look at,
but he had a stroke Of paralysis some years
agn, and his friends had been solicitous
about him on that account, feeling q recur-
renee of the old symptoms. After his re-
covery from this illness, he travelled and
sought recreation by prolonged ~abstention
from the duties Of the Supreme Court.
The President is preparing an order clos
ing all executive departments Of the Gov
eminent on the day Of Judge Waite's
funeral.
The Supreme Court and both houses of
Congress have adjourned as a mark Of re- |
spect to the deceased Chief Justice.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Chief Justice Waite was born in Lynn, Conn,
in 1916. In this State his youth was passed.
His education was completed at Ysle College,
from which institution he graduate6 in 1881.
His inclinations were for the legal profession.
After studying law in his native State he
moved to Maumee City, O., where he actively
entered into the business Of his profession. He
never manifested any taste for party porticA
but never shrank from fuldll his duty As
citizen. In 1879 he vas eeSS to the Ohio
Legislature in which body his good sense Was
manifested on all measures of public policy.
In 1850 he removed to Toledo, which city he
made his home until he moved to Washington |
City in 1874. He was devoted to the Law, and
while at Toledo he declined repeated n0mlna-
lions to Congress-. He also refused to accept IN |
appointment to the Supreme bench ofhis State. |
In 1871 he was one Of the counsel Of the United
before the tribunal Of arbitration at
Geneva. In this instance he distinguished him
self by his solid judgment and his comprehen- |
views Of international affairs. When the !
constitutional convention Of Ohio met In 1879
Judge Waite was chosen to preside over IL.
There was perhaps no lawyer in the State bet
ter fitted for the position.
In 1874 President Grant appointed him Chief
Justice OF the United States. This position he
has oiled with honor 70 himself and to his
country. His rulings have been in the main
and entirely free from party bias. This
appointment was fortunate In that ii placed .
solid and conservative lawyer 1t the head OF the
court OF highest resort in the country.
The dead Chief Justices full name was Nor
risOn Remich Waite. He was the son Of Henry
Nasson Waite. who was Chief Justice OF the !
Supreme Court Of Connecticut.
The coat OF arms used by the Waite family In
both Europe and America WAS granted In ISL.
In the time Of Cromwell, Thomas Waite Was :
OF Parliament and one Of the judges
Who signed the death warrant OF Charles ]
Shortly after the Restoration the family 10
moved to this country.
Chief Justice Waite married his seconG
cousin, Amelia r. Waite. Of Lyme. the great
daughter Of the distinguished Colonel
Selden, OF Revolutionary memory. She wass