The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-29
CHIEF JUSTICE WAITE DEAD.
Unexpected Death of the Chief Justice or
the Supreme Court of the United States

AuO OAiCA Justice OlneU on SATURDAY
evening with Senator Hearst, and on his.
return nome he became so Ill that his fami-
~ physician, DR.. Winslow, was sent for.
de 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 ill effects from
the journey.
The telephone decision had been written
by the Chief Justice, but he was too i'll to
read it from the bench, and that duty was
therefore performed by Justice Batch
ford. Special care was 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 as possible after the reading,
Justice Waite left the bench and was hur-,
riedly driven home. 1t Is admitted that the
trip to the capitol was far from prudent for
one in Justice Waite's condition, but 1t IS
asserted that no serious consequences can
be ascrlbed to it. The Chief Justice was,
determined to so and the doctors had to.
yield. He went back to bed AMI since then
had been very sick man.
On Tuesday morning symptoms of acute
bronchitis appeared, accompanied by in
somnla and great rest iessness. His cOndi--
ton Tuesday was not alarming, but on
Wednesday circumscribed pneumonia
showed itself. On Thursday night ne was
comfortable. and no particular alarm was
felt. but at six o'clock this morning failure
of the hearts action was observed. Death
eusued in few minutes.
His daughter, Miss Marie F. Waite, and
his son, Mr.. c. C. Waite, vice-president of
the Cincinnati, Hamilton 4 Dayton ra,l-
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 a week
ago and is supposed now to be in Los.
Angeles.
Justice Waite's illness was due to trouble,
with his liver and spleen, complicated with
very painful stomach disorders. Justice
Waite had Il very serious tit 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 20
have a fatal termination. The ser Gus
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 that newspaper
paragraphs appeared reporting HIM to be-
in danger.
The Justice was q hale man TO look at,
but he had a stroke OF Paralysis some years
ago, and his friends hal been solicitous
about him on that account, feeling a recur-
So r., =
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.
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 Yale College,
from which institution he graduated in 1891.
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 politics..
but never shrank from fulfilling his duty a.
citizen. In 1919 he was elected to the Ohio
Legislature in which body his good sense was
manifested on all measures of pubic policy.
In 1850 he removed to Toledo, which city he
made his home until he moved to Washington
City in 1874 He was devoted 70 the law, and,
while at Toledo he declined repeated nomlna-
tions to CONGRESS. He also refused to accept an
appointment to the Supreme bench ofhis State.
In 1871 he was one of the counsel Of the United
fr,t,, - rfNsf rafin OF
Geneva. In this instance he distinguished him
self by his solid judgment and his cOmprehen-
Sive views OF international affairs. When the
constitutional convention Of Ohio met in 1879
Judge Waite was chosen to preside over it,
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 filed with honor to himself and to his
country His rulings have been in the main
wise and entirely free from party bias. This
appointment was fortunate in that it placed
solid and conservative lawyer at 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
MatsOn 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 1872.
In the time OF Cromwell, Thomas Waite was a
member OF Parliament and one or the judges
who signed the death warrant of Charles L
Shortly after the Restoration the family re-
moved to this country.
Chief Justice Waite married his second
cousin, Amelia r. Waite. Of Lyme, the great
grand daughter OF the distinguished Colonel
Selden, OF Revolutionary memory. She was a
beauty and 4 belle, the leader in fashion and
society.
PREVIOUS CHIEF JUSTICES.
The Chief Judges OF the highest tribunal in
America have been:
John Jay OF New York. September, 1889, tc
June, 1926.
John Rutledge, OF South Carolina, July, IDS,
TO December, 1875.
Oliver Ellsworth, Of Connecticut, March, 1895,
to October. 1890.
John Marshall of Virginia January, 1901, to
July. 1895.
Roger B. fancy, of Maryland. March, 1886. &c,
October. 1864
Salmon P. Chase, Of Ohio, December 1864, to-
May, 1873.
Morrison R. Waite, of Ohio, January, 1874, to-
March 1eS3
The shortest term was that OF the second in
inc, John Rutledge. He was appointed by
President Washington during the recess OF the
Senate; he presided at the August term OF the
court, but was rejected by the Senate when it
John Marshall, the Virginian, was Chief JUS
ice for the longest perlod-more than thirty
our years.
The longest time in which the office was va
ant was between Marshall and Taney-aboye
inc months.
President Washington appointed Jay, Rut-
edge and Ellsworth: President John Adams.
farshali; President Jackson, Taney; President
lincoln Chase; President Grant, Waite.
Chief Justice fancy inaugurated more Presi-
ents than any other Chief Justice. He ad-
mustered the oath OF office TO Van Buren,,
harrison Tyler, Polk. Taylor Fillmore, Pierce,
and Lincoln. Marshall inaugurated