Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-03-23
A Member of the Supreme
Court Bench Dead.
AN ABLE JURIST AND JUDGE
Testimony of his Ability and Worth
By Some of the Most Eminent
Men of the Day.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD

Justice Matthews occurred yesterday
afternoon at 8 O'Clock. In the morning
he had been feeling comfortable and
cheerful. At that hour, however, the in
tense pain which marked the periods Of
his decline recurred and never left him
until death brought relief. DR.. William
w. Johnston was summoned, and find
ing the patient suffering so intensely,
opiates, which, toward
induced state of semi-con-
in which he remained until
the end. Occasionally he would par
TALLY revive and recognize the loved ones
near him by a glonce or pressure Of the
hand, but a relapse soon followed. For
a number of hours previous to his death
he was practically unconscious.
In his last hours the dying Justice was
surrounded by the nembers of his
family.
The remains will be inferred in the
family lot at Spring Grove Cemetery,
Cincinnati, but the details are not to be
perfected until the arrival Of the dead
Justices oldest son, Mortimer Matthews,
of Cincinnati, and his youngest daugh-
ter, Grace, wife of Horace Cleveland,
Assistant United States District Attorney
at Cincinnati, and nephew of Justice
Harlan.
The engagement of Miss Matthews and
Justice Gray was announced this week
and the marriage was expected to occur
shortly.
In the United States Supreme Court
Immediately upon assem- bling, the Chief
Justice announced the death of Justice
Matthews, and as mark of respect to
his memory the court adjourned until
Tuesday. The immediate cause OF death
was exhaustion of the heart and conges-
ton of the kidneys.
In the Senate, the Chaplain in his
opening PRAYER, made feeling reference
to the death of Justice Matthews. The
Vice.President laid before the Senate
note from the Chief Justice, announcing
funeral would probably occur Monday.
Adjourned out of respect to the dead
jurist.
Shortly after 10 O'Clock this morning,
intelligence of the death of Associate
Justice Matthews reached the Supreme
Courtroom. The proper officers i'm
mediately authorized the draping in
black of the sest lately occupied by the
Associate Justice. When the hour of II
arrived, the Court assembled as usual.
Upon taking his seat, the Chief Justice
made the following announcement:
"This Court has received the melancholy
intelligence OF the death of its beloved
member, Justice Matthews, in this city
at 10 O'Clock this morning. No business,
therefore, will be transacted, and the
Court will adjourn until Tuesday,"
Justice Matthews has been an invalid
for year or more. During the winter of
1SS7-SS he frequently complained of in
digestion and muscular rheumatism, and
as the spring wore on he began to suffer
from obstinate diarrhoea, from which he
loet great deal of strength and flesh.
At this time it was thought that his
great devotion to work was to large de-
gree responsible for his illness, as no
doubt it was, and, acting upon the ad-
vice of his physicians and friends, who
had great hopes that change of air might
prove lasting benefit, he went to Mas.
sachusetts, stopping some time at Lenox,
then at Nantucket, but he continued to
lose ground. During the su INNER he had
several attacks of muscular rheumatism,
associated with high fever, which would
confine him to bed several days at
time. On his return home he began to
improve somewhat, but continued to suf-
fer from intermittent attacks, which al
ways greatly reduced his strength and
flesh. These came on at intervals of
three or four weeks. Between them he
would have periods of marked improve
johnson was confidently hoping to be
able to get him out, another attack
would prostrate him and leave him
weaker than ever.
Justice Field, who knew Justice
Matthews intimately, more so perhaps
than any other member OF the court,
expressed to representative OF the As.
sociated Press, after the court ad-
journed, the sentiments of himself and
his associates upon the death of their
brother Justice. Said he: "The men,
bers of the Supreme Court deeply de-
plore the death of Justice Matthews.
They had became attached to him in an
unusual degree. They recognized his great
legal ability; but even more they appre-
ciated the warmth of his affectionate
nature. He was an industrious Judge,
and his decisions exhibited wide re-
search and thorough culture. He was
an able lawyer, a wise Judge and O
Christian gentleman"
The death of Justice Matthews was
the subject of conversation among the
Senators to-day, many of whom had
served with him during his term in the
Senate, and, on every hand, words of re-
gret and eulogy were paid.
Senator Sherman said: ''The death
of Justice Matthews comes with shock
TO me. He was man thoroughly fitted
for the position he occupied-a trained
lawyer, with judicial mind of the high
est order. 1t is no disparagement to his
associates to say that he was their equal
in point of equity. His love of Justice
was intuitive, and his decisions were
mathematical demonstrations. He main
tanned the position for which his mind
was best fitted. Most of his friends con.
cede that he was not wise politician,
but no one doubted his being a great
Judge. His death will be sincerely
mourned by multitude of friends, and
his place will be hard to FILL"
Senator Teller said: "Justice Mat.
thews' appointment was an excellent
one, and he did not disappoint his
friends. He was a man of commanding
talent. 1 served with him in the Senate
and became quite intimate with him, and
had a high regard for him."
Senator Harris: 81 had known Justice