The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-03-28


Gardner was the medical man chosen to con
fer with the physician in charge, and bot
agreed in stating to the family that there wa
/ little danger.
II was about $50 a. m to-day when tn
nurse was attracted by gasp to the be,lsid
/ of the patient. A few moments watchin
convinced the attendant that the Chief Jus
tice was not suffering and no further symp
/ tons were noted until just moment befor
/ the death occurred. Then came anothe
| gasp, and all was over The Chief Juslie
I died in the presence of only one person, AM
/ that one was his nurse. AIr. c. c. Wait
and Miss Mary Waite were called at once
but it was too late.
I News of the death of the Chief Justice wa
at once sent to the White House, TO tn,
I Supreme Court Chambers and 10 boil
Houses of Congress. Colonel Lamon
brought the dispatch to the President Will,
the latter was in the library opening hi
morning mail. The latter was much shock
cd by the intelligence lie had come int,
contact Siih the Chief Justic in many ways
and something like personal friendship ia,
grown mp between the two.
The President at once issued the followin;
in connection with the death of Chief Jus
tice Waite
10 he People of The United States
The painful dHiy devolves upon the Prcsi
dent to announce the death AT am early hour
this morning at his residence in this city. o
Morrison 4. Waite, Chief Justice of th,
United States, which exalted office he had
filled since March 4, 1873, with honor to him
self and high usefulness to his country. In
testimony of respect 10 the memory of thu
honOred dead, it is ordered that the executive
offices in Washington be closed on the day
of the funeral, and be drapped in mourning
for thirty days, and that the national flag b,
displayed at half mast on public buildings
and on all national vessels on the day o
the funeral.
Signed by the President
T. F. BAYARp, Secretary of State.
The members of the Supreme Court had
each received individual notice of the death
and one by one Lad called at the Waite resi-
pence TO express coincidence with bcrcavcd
family. At II m. they met in the Court
Room at the Capitol. Attorney General
Garland, Benjamin f. Butler, Solicitor Gen.
eral jerks and many of the most prominent
practitioners before The court were already
convened there.
Justice Miller broke silence first, his voice
broken by emotion, and announced the
death of the Chief Justice in well chosen
terms. He said there was no opportunity at
that time TO pay any due tribute to the
character of the deceased He announced
that the court would stand adjourned until
one week from next Monday
In the Senate the death was announced by
Senator Edmunds. =" Fourteen years ago,
said he, the Chief Justice assumed the du-
ties OF that high office Since thas time he
has administered its functions in such a
manner as TO create the deepest impression
on the Jurisprudence of the United States
and to win for himself the highest respect
both of this country and of the world. He
has conducted himself ever as an able, learn
ed, upright and even minded Judge move
that committee of five Senators be appoint
ed to represent this body at the funeral and
if the resolution Is adopted, ! move as a
further mark of respect that the Senate
stand adjourned until next Monday" There
was no descent, and it was 50 ordered.
The House of Representatives listened to
the announcement Of the death in profound
silence. Then Representative f. b. Taylor
of Ohio, from the district in which ChiefJus-
tice Waite formerly lived moved as a mark
of respect that the House attend the funeral
in body. He also moved resolutions o!
sympathy with the family of the deceased
Both motions prevailed unanimously, and
the House adjourned till tomorrow
The remains of the Chief Justice are to be
embalmed and removed to his old home at
Toledo, Ohio. The arrangements for the
funeral are not yet completed.
No man in public life in late years has so
much Of the respect and confidence of prom
inent men ip both parties as the late Chief
Justice, and the expressions OF every man
who talked of him to-day bore testimony 10
that fact. There was no scanty praise among
either Democrats or Republicans, but gen
eral regret that he had been taken away.
Nearly every member Of both Houses OF
Congress knew him, and all regarded the ac-
qgaiBtance as both agreeable and valuable.
Senator EyaFts, who vas probably bis oldest
friend, was unwilling 10 trust himself to
speak SO soon after his death, He had been
with him in college, with him in the Gene
va meetiHg. which first brought him fame,
and he said that anysfew words he would
speak this evening about him would not dc
his character or his attainments justice. lie
preferred TO wait until he could say some
thing worthy OF the man.
Ex-Associate Justice Strong. who had sat
a long time with him on the Bench, said :
f" have lost a warm and dear friend. first
met him when he came to Washington to go
on the Supreme Bench. He was beloved
by all his brethern Of the court and all our
intercourse with him was Of the most pleas
ant character. Socially lac was charming
During my term of service have sat with
three Chief Justices. Roger D. Taney, Sal
mon z. Chase and Morrison T. Waite In
history the latter will take high rank He
was one Of the most conscientious. hard
working and able judges that ever occupied
the bench
lie was, without qeustion, the best ad-
ministrator who ever presided over the Su-
preme Court. While he could be firm and
unyielding, yet he was always pleasant. lie
was, think, better read man than Chase,
though not. perhaps, his equal as jurist
The reverse is true when you compare him
with Taney. presume he has prepared
more decisions that any other Chief Justice.
certainly more than his two immediate pre-
decessors To tell all know of him would
be too long a story. His caraer as Chief
Justice can be summed mp in the sentence
He was an upright. honest, hard working
judge. true friend and charming social
gentleman.
Judge Kelley, who had known him init
natsly for many years, added his tribute to
his worth, his honor and his undisputed
stances said the judge, summing up his
personal character, " and cannot rccollect
{ moment when he was not the same court
cons, obIiging, even, tempered gentleman
Inevsr saw him otherwise than good humor-
ed
Justice Miller, Attorney General Garland,