Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-10-16
MILLER DEAD.
The Eminent Jurist Ends His
Earthly Career.
HIS PARALYSIS PROVES FATAL.
The Remains to Go to His Old Home at
Keokuk, Iowa. BiOgrsp' .ical Sketch
Ills Sterling Repu-
tation.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14-Justice Miller
died last night at eight minutes of
eleYeno'clock without a struggle and ap-
A few minutes before the famous jurist
parently without pain.
passed away the phlegm in his throat
gradually accumulated and his frame
quivered. 1t was evident that the end
was fast approaching, and the members
of his household who were not in the
sick room were hastily summoned to
his bedside. Besides Mrs. Miller and
her son Irvine, there were present DIR.
Cook, j. W. Woolworth, an old friend
of the Justice, who had just arrived from
Omaha, the family servant and Chief
Clerk McKenny of the Supreme Court
Soon after death the face of the JUS
tice, which had become somewhat drawn
during the last day of his illness,
changed to q perfectly natural condi-
ton and he looked as if in a quiet sleep.
The remains will be removed to the
old home at Keokuk, Iowa, where they
will be inferred in the family burying
ground.
Justice Miller was stricken with pa
ralysis about 2:3O o'clock Friday after
noon as he was returning home from
the Capitol He felt the first at
tack in his left side when he was about
100 yards from his house and struggled
hard to reach home, but was unable to
do so and fell PROSTATE in the street,
cutting his face badly. He rallied later
and for short time became conscious.
Saturday morning, however, he again
became unconscious and remained in
state of coma until death came. Ever
since Saturday his death was expected
at any moment, and his physicians have
marveled that he lived as long as he did,
hearty and robust though his cOnstitu-
ton was
BIOGRAPHICAL
The late Justice Samuel +. Miller was born
at Richmon /, Ky, April Is, 1916. He was
graduated with honor at The University of
Transylvanla and at first elected to adopt
the profession of medicine. After practic-
ing as physician a few years, however, he
decided to study law, in which profession
he soon rose to eminence His sympathy
with the Northern side of the slavery ques-
tiOn determined him to leave Kentucky,
and in 1870 he went to Iowa and
soon became one of the Republican
leaders in that then froatier State. Not
withstanding repeated and urgent solicita-
tions, he declined to be nominated for anys
political office and confined himself to the
practice of his profes ion. In 1867 Pr ident
Lincoln appointed him an Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court, aud for many years
he has been the Senior Justice. Justice
Field, appointed N 1868 by Lincoln, Standing
next in order of seniority.
Justice Miller, by common consent, has
been egarded as the strongest man on the
Supreme Bench ever since he took his seat
thereon. On two occasions he was Sc ected
for Chief Justice by the appointing power
President Grant decided to n m mate him
for that office, but 1t was ary u that ii would
be an affront t. Justice Noah III. Swayne,
who had served longer than Ju tee Miller,
and as a compr mise Morrison r. Waite was
chosen. During Mr.. Cleveland's admin istra-
tion thu ques: ion of promoting Justice Mil
Ter was seriously considered by the Presi-
dent when Chief Justice Waite died, but he
was dissuaded by his party associates, who
deemed such course unwise, and Melville
W. Fuller was appointed Chief Justice in
stead.
Justice Miller was always a strong suthor-
ity on constitutional law, in which line he
earned a reputation second only to that of
Chief Justice Marshall. Among the best
known opinions delivered were the slaugh-
ter house cases Cf Lou siana, in which he
defined very clear.y the line of demarca-
tlOn between Lne rights 81 Ine Government
and those of the States and in the celebrated
HalFet kilbourn case. in which he held that
Congress as a legis alive body, hal no
right to take tudicI-l proceedings against
any citizen, but that such atSion must be
left to the courts as having exclusive juris-
dicton in such cases. He WAS the legal ad-
v.ser of the President of the United States
on many intricate questions, and it is prob
ably true that n American jurist ever stood
so high in the estimation of the leading men
of both political parties.
Since his return from the West the other
day Justcs Miller had teen b4sily engaged
in the preparatory work for the approach.
ing session. He passed the time limit OF
seventy years in 1886, but never gave any |
indication of a desire to take advantage OF
Ii, nor, indeed, was there any reason why
he should. Until the present time he had |
been as vigorous physically and mentally as
most men at fifty an I he had constantly
done his full share OF work on the bench.
Personally Justice Miller was ALWAYS one
OF the most popular men in Washington, |
He was a thorough democrat and treated |
every man, however humble, as an equal |
and with delightful courtesy. In socia; |
life he was always jolly soul, brimmine /
over with fun and good nature and YET |
never deficient in dignity and self control 1
He married twice and a son and daughter |
by his second wife are both married and i
have families. daughter by his first wife |
married the late District Attorney CorkhiII. |
Of Washington.