Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-05
A COMPOSITE SUBSTITUTE
JUDGE MERRICk'S DEATH.
Arrangements Made for the Funeral To.
morrow Afternoon.

The death Of Judge VIM. NJ. Merrick. which
was hourly expected when The STAR went to
press yesterday. occurred about O'Clock last
evening. He died peacefully and painlessly,
surrounded by the members of his household
Rev. DIR. Chappelle, his spiritual adviser, Wis
tied him about o'clock and admin
istered the last sacraments. The de ath
was announced last evening to the ella sses
OF the law school of the Georgetown university
The news Of the death, which was generally
expected after the announcement made in
HE STAR was quietly circulated through the
city, and the expressions of regret were general
and sincere. especially among members of the
bar, who regard the loss to the District bench
as great. A sketch of Judge Merrick's useful
life and his distinguished services to the
state OF Maryland as a lawyer and a
| member of Congress, and to the District
as judge. was printed in last evenings STAR.
Judge Merrck was graduate of Georgetown
college, and was TO have delivered the Grafton
before the society of alumni at the appro ach-
ing centennial celebration of the college. He
took much interest in the preparations for the
celebration. About ten days ago. however, he
wrote declining, on account of his failing
health the honor rendered him. Mr.. Martin F.
| Morris was chosen in his place. The general
| arrangements for the funeral are in the hands
| OF Mr.. Vivian Brent, a brother-in-law of the
dead jurist, and Messrs. Martin +. Morris and
Geo. Z. Hamilton, who had close personal re-
| lations with him and his family. The
| funeral will take place at st. Matthew
church at 3 O'Clock tomorrow afternoon.
There will be short preliminary service at the
house, 1716 n street. Father Chappelle will
officlate, and the remains will be inferred at
Mt. Olivet cemetery. Whether the remains
will be taken subsequently to the old family
burial place in Charles county is matter for
future consideration. The honorary pail
bearers chosen are as follows: Judges
Cox and James, of the District
bench; Judge Hagner, now retired. who was
Judge Merrick's predecessor on the bench; Mr..
John II. Thomas, of Baltimore; DIR. Owing, of
Maryland, who was one Of Judge Merrick's
physicians, and Col. James G.. Berret. of this
city. The active pall-bearers will be Col. Jas.
G. Payne, J. j. Darlington. Geo. E. Hamilton,
Blair Lee, Linden Kent and Henry E. Dazen.
The Bar association will hold meeting at
l0 O'Clock tomorrow, when it is expected q
committee will be appointed to frame a suita-
BILE expression of the sentiments of the asso-
cation. The association will attend the
funeral in body, and special committee will
accompany the remains to the cemetery.
JUDGE MERBIcK's LOSS FELT.
The death of Judge Merrick is severely felt
in and around the courthouse not only on ac-
count of his standing, but because at the pres
ent time the loss of judge is severely felt in
consequence OF the large amount of business
before the courts, especially on the civil side.
That he was one of the most industrious MEM
bers of the bar is well known, and probably no
one of his fellow judges surpassed him in the
promptness he displayed in prosecuting his
work on the bench. The courts have for some
months been disabled, Judge Merrick and
Judge Hagner both having broken down while
on the bench, and other judges having fire.
quently been forced to take short rest. In
view of the fact that the business is behind
hand, the sentiment of the bar seems to be that
the President should as speedily as possible fill
the vacancy.
THE DEATH ANNOUNCED AT THE CITY HALL.
There was a large attendance Of the mem
bers of the bar this morning in the room of
the General Term at the court house. and
when the court convened Chief Justice Bing-
ham and Justices Cox and Montgomery were
on the bench. The chief justice said that
they had all heard of the death of Justice Mer-
rick, and that hereafter proceedings would
doubtless be taken in reference to the death
by the court and bar. In respect to his men,
ory the court would adjourn till Thursday
morning, understanding they did that the
funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon.
In the Circuit Court Chief Justice Bingham
made an announcement similar to that in the
General Term.
In the Criminal Court. sitting as division No.
of the Circuit Court, Judge Montgomery re-
ferred to the affection of the Supreme Court of
the District in the death of their associate, and
adjourned the court to Thursday morning
In the Equity Court, Judge Cox, the an
nouncement of Judge Merricks death was
briefly made by Mr.. w. d. Davidge and on his
motion the Judge directed an adjournment till
Thursday morning.