Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-03-24

he was comfortable and no particular alarm was felt, but at o'clock yesterday failure of the hearts action was observed, and at 6:10 o'clock he passed away.
 Miss Waite was the only member of the family at home when her father was taken sick, her mother being on the Pacific coast and her brother and sister-in-law in Cincin- nati. The chief justices son was telegraphed for, and he and his wife reached Washington on Thursday.
 To say that the chief justice's death was surprise to nearly every one in Washington, his own family included, is not exaggera- tion. He did not think he was going to die, and his last words were that he felt easier. The justice was hale man to look at, but he had stroke of paralysis some years ago, and his friends have been solicitous about him on that account, fearing recurrence of the old symptoms.
 Out of respect for the memory of the late chief justice both houses of congress and the supreme court adjourned immediately upon convening, and the flags upon the Capitol and public buildings throughout the city have been placed at half mast.
 At 8 o'clock the president was informed ot the sad event. He at once sent dispatch ot sympathy to Mrs. Waite, and soon after di. rected the issue by the secretary of state of the following proclamation to the people of the Un1C00 states:
 The painful duty devolves upon the presi dent to announce the death, at early hour this morning. at his residence in this city, of Morrison R. Waite, chief justice of the United States, which exalted office he had held since March 6: 1874, with honor to himself and high usefulness to his country. In testimony of respect to the memory of the honored dead it is ordered that the executive offices in Washington be closed on the day of the funeral and be draped in mourn ing for thirty days, and that the national flag, l,11E and on all national vessels on the day of the flu. neral.
 The late justice was the youngest of eight children and was born at Lyme, Conn, Nov. 29, 1916. He graduated from Yale in the class of 1887 with Senator Wm. M. Evarts, Edwards Pierrepont, Professor Benjamin Silliman and others, and then commenced the study of law in the office of his father He afterward went west and completed his studies with Samuel M. Young. prominent citizen of Maumee, O., with whom he after ward formed a partnership. In 1850 the firm established an office at Toledo. Mr. Waite took charge of this office. Subsequently he entered into partnership with his brother Richard and continued with him until he was elevated to the chief justiceship.
 In 1S49 he was elected member of the legislature of Ohio and in 1862 was Republi- can candidate for congress against Edwin Phelp, but was defeated, at the same time re- ceiving within 500 of all the votes cast at Toledo Governor Brough rendered him a seat on the supreme bench of the state, but this he declined. His national reputation dated from his unexpected and unsolicited appointment counsel for the United States in the arbitration at Geneva, involving the | settlement of the Alabama claims against l Great Britain. He was a member and presi- | dent of the constitutional convention of Ohio | called in 1873.
 Upon the death of Chief Justice Chase, | after the Hon. George H. Williams and the | Hon. Caleb Gushing had been successively nominated and withdrawn, MT. Waites name was sent by President Grant, and he was confirmed by the United States senate by an almost unanimous vote, the Hon. Charles Sumner making one of his greatest speeches in behalf of MT. Waite. The appointment had not been solicited, and only year pre- vious Mr. Waite had been admitted to prac- tice in the court of which he was destined to become chief justice. In March, 1874, he took the oath of his high office and entered upon his duties.
 Justice Waite was not an imposing man in | appearance. He was of medium stature, his 1 figure straight and his head was large, we'll poised and covered with hair almost as white as snow. His face was thoughtful and kindly. 1 His nose decidedly large, his eyes dark, | keen and piercing, while his heavy chin was I covered with thick, well kept whiskers | His family consisted of his wife, an un- married daughter and the widow of his eldest
 son. His second son, c. c. Waite, is now I treasurer of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and l Dayton railroad at Cincinnati. He is mar | ried, and the late iurist frequently visited