Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-05-31
JUDGE DANPOR1H.
Strong Words In 1snsRy Of Him BY
Former Associates Al The Bar.
An Able Review OF His Character and
Work by Chief Justice Peters

An Able Review OF His Character and
Work by Chief Justice Psssss-
At the coming in Of the Law Court,
Thursday p. NJ, Hon. James w. Bradbury
he senior member Of the Bar. said;
May II Please Your Honor:
Since your last Assemblage at this place,
YOUR ranks have been invaded, and your
reyered associate, Judge Danfofth has
been removed by death
The bar, in sympathy with you on this
sole nm occasion. and mingiing its sorrow
sish yours, has adopted q memorial and
resolutions expressive of its sense Of the
loss il has sustained, which will be present
ed to YOU.
To yonr honors who we're 80 long asso-
81 sted With the deceased, and held him so
warmly IN your affections, words of con-
rsendation from others seem almost super
hu)ns. They can add nothing to your
kno ~ledge Of his worth. or your apprecia-
ton Of his character Sill, the bar desires
the privilege of recording its tribute Of
affection and esteem for him Who va,
formerly one Of it, members, who has
reflected upon it so much honor by his life
and character, and it prsys your honor that
the memorial and resolutions may be
received and entered upon the records of
the court.
The death of such man 10 public loss
a loss to the court-a loss to the bar-a
loss TO the community. But all is no, lost.
lie leaves . priceless legacy in his charsc-
ter and his life, from which lessons may be
drawn for the instruction and inspiration Of
the young, aud especially for those who are
preparing to enter or have entered the
profession in which he attained his distinc-
ton and usefulness.
After obtaining such education As was
afforded in the commol school and acade-
my. Judge 3anforth commenced and
! Bafsue his professional studies in the
flee of the late Chief Justice Tenney, and
was admitted to the bar in Somerset county
ia 1888 He then entered upon the pra ctice
Of his profession at Gorham, and remained
there until 1871, when he removed to
Gardiner and became q member OF the
kennebec Bar This bar was then, and
had long been q strong one, containing
many members of marked ability. | recall
amongst them George Evans, Frederick
Allen, Samuel Wills. Timothy Boutelle.
Henry w. Paine. Williams Emmons DAME
Williams, John Potter, Richard II. Vose,
Is. A. G. Fuller, Joseph Baker, SewSll Ian
caster, John Otis, S. W. Robinson, Hiram
Belcher and others. Peleg Sprsgue, one
Of the most eloquent lawyers in New Eng
land, and Ruel Williams, confessedly at the
head of the bar in the State, in the impor
tant branch Of the law relating to real
- tha hor
years previous. About this time. and soon
afterwards, important additions were made
{, its numbers ard strength, some of whom
are still living to grace the court and the
bar, and some have deceased. Amongst
the latter, Richard s. Rice, Lot NJ. Morrill,
and Wy man B. Moore will be remembered
By many members of the present bar.
During his practice at the bar Judge
Danforth always felt and maintained its dig
nifty and honor. He could do that only for
a client bich could be done consistent with
honor and right. He ever kept . good con-
science While true to his clients he was
true also to his own convictions.
He appreciated the true vocation Of the
lawyer He realized that civilization 10 the
offspring of law. 1t 10 the law that pro
tects our persons and possessions. and
secures to us the inestlmable blessings OF
intelligent social life and religious freedom
but the law must be rightly admins
tered to accomplish its mission.
To secure this Just administration WI
need not only learned but upright judges
but an able and honorable bar. The causel
of the feeble and ignorant a. well as those
of the influential and intelligent need to bt
prepared, and the principles of law in
| volved, considered and discussed in oriel
to a Just decision. Here is the Geld fo
the bar, to aid the court, in reaching jus
de cision in administering justice between
man and man, and between the State ant
those charged with violating it's laws.
| Judge Dsnforth continued loyal to hi
chosen profession, with only occasiona
brief Interruptions until he went upon ths
bench. He served as the Repress ntativs
of his torn during four sessions of the
Legislature. filed sundry municipal officers
was a memb,r Of the Executive Council
and filled the office of County Attorney
from 1858 until his appointment A. judge
| In 1863 he received the appointment t.
the office of Justice Of the Supreme Judi
cial Court, which by three re appointments
u9on the expiration Of the te rms he contin.
ne to hold until the day of his death
II is upon the able and faithful discharge
Of the duties of this high Office for an IN
Interrupted period of a quarter of q century
constituting the pri cipal part of his life
work, that his reputation and fame are &c
rest.
It is certain that with limited advantage,
Of early education, and Intellectual powers
we'll balanced and strong rather than bril-.
liant. by psrseveripg application and fdel
itv he earned the character of a good apd
able Judge in our highest court OF judics
tnrr and secured the sfectionate regard OF
the bar and the un.tinted confidence of the
public.
He had character. 1t was said BY Emer
son. l think. Character is higher than in.
teiect" His integrity, honor and fairness
we're undoubted, and when he entered upor
the trial of a cause it was felt that it was
his desire and purpose to have justice done
without Partially or prejudice.
The bar will bear witness to his unifoHn
courtesy. hi. patience, his calm demeanDr,
| n, yer for moment losing his self-ccrsrol
amidst the anueysnces that will someimes
occur at aisi prius trials from the pefversi
ty of a witness. or the undue pertinacity of
My personal knoSledge of Judge Dan
forth was more intimate while he WAS .
member of the bar and during the earlier
portion of his judicial career, before had
retired from active practice. having been
| eleven years his predecessor At the bar in
this county. ans leave 1t for other mem.
bers who had better opportunity to witness
his hi Oh Qualities in the maturity Of their
power. to DO more ample justice to him
| who wa. so rarmly loved and revered.
Hon. II NJ. Heath in an eloquent speech
presented the memorial and resolutions:
For quarter Of = century Judge Dan
forth live before men, an uprish; Judge.
He e,emplfied Gods noblest work. an
honest man. Endowed with remarkable
purity of character, his na ure = harmony
Of gentleuess and frmness. kind to the
sesk. sympsthetic to the unfortunate, he
Was ever just to the wrons-doer and merci-
full when justice tempered with mercy
sss consistent with pubic duty.
He loved justice for its own sake. Am
oiiiou never warped his judgment, nor
could the fear of man swerve him from
the path where duty called. He feared
God and kept bic commandments. He be
leved tina, the Law had lite birth in the pre-
cepts of Holy Writ, ard so believing he
administered justice with the dignity. the
rectitude, the impartiality Of the judges Of
Israel. Patient. industrious, painstaking
his sole ambition vas to dc right, II he
erred. no litigAns ever hal a momentary
thought that in his decisions injustice
could be Intentionally or carelessly COM
Gitted. When the hour came for him to
Continued on fourth pase.)