The Indianapolis journal., 1889-03-23
RECOkIECTIONS OF JUSTICE MATTHEW'S.
An Attorney Who Knew Him in College and at
the Bar, Where His Influence Was Marked.

The news of the death of Justice
Matthews, coming at the time it did, after
the impression that he was in a less pre-
carious condition than at first reported,
was shock to a number of the older men,
bers of the indianapolis bar. Il knew
Stanley Matthews WELL" said one of these
gentlemen, yesterday. General Harrison
and myself were his college mates at Miami
University. He was nominated by Presi-
dent Hayes to be justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States. The appoint
ment was referred to the Senate committee
on judiciary. For some reason two or three
of the committee were opposed to his con-
firmatiOn, refused to report favOrably, and
the appointment died in committee when
President Hayes's term expired.
President Garfield renominated him
and the committee reported the
nomination back without recommended
tion. Meanwhile General Harrison had
taken Mr.. McDonald's place in the Senate
of the United States. Mr.. Mcdonald was
known to be friendly to the confirmation
OF Judge Matthews, and that would have
confirmed him by a majority of one. JUS
tice Matthews was very anxious to know
what Senator Harrison thought about it.
was requested to find ont. and an inter
view took place between Senator Harrison,
Judge Swing and myself Senator Harri-
son said he thought highly of Justice
Matthew's ability and character, but was
opposed on geographical reasons. saying
that Ohio and Illinois had Supreme Judges,
and it was time for Indiana to have rep
resentative on that bench; but having
been nominated he would cheerfully vote
for his confirmation
1.-The father of Stanley Mathews was pro-
fessOr of mathematics at Mama University,
student under him, and for many years
was intimate with the family. Matthews
was one of the strong men on the bench,
and was the leader of the Cincinnati bar
for years before he took his place on the
bench of the United States Supreme Court.
He was a man with a firm face, a heavy
jaw and powerful head, and an eye as hard
as steel. He showed a stronger grasp of a
case than any man L ever met at the bar,
though Judge Hoadly was considered
longed to family of good lawers; his
brothers were able lawyers in Cincinnati.
He has occasionally practiced in the federal
court here, but has, l believe, never
Supreme Bench: One case l remember him
in very well. The Indiana Central railway,
that part of the present Panhandle system
west of Columbus, o., to this city had been
leased TO the Pennsylvania interest and it
was claimed that under the stipulatiOns Of
the lease the Pennsylvania line was in ar
rears for rent to the amount of $1,000, 900.
The case came up in Chicago in the spring
1880, for argument before Justice Harlan
and Judge Drummond. Stanley Matthews,
Governor Hendricks and John Scott now
general solicitor of the Pennsylvania road,
were on one side. with Mr.. Southmayd,
Judge HOadly and Senator Mcdonald on
the other. 1t was great case and large
fees were in it. understood that Judge
HOadly got over $4,000, Southmayd over
100000 and Butler and Mcdonald, with
other interests growing out of this, about
100000. The fees on the other side were of
like magnitude.n