Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-05-29
STOPPED BY DEATH
Tragic interruption in the
Briggs Case at Detroit.
JUDGE BRECKENRIDGE EXPIRES.
Stricken Down by Heart Disease at the
Close of a Speech.

Tho General Assembly Greatly Excited.
The Session Mt Once AdJourned-The
Dead Jurist's Remains sent to Sc. Louis
In General Alger's Private Car-Dr. Pat
toms Remarks Create Sensation.
DETROIT, May 29.-Judge S. NJ. Brecken-
ridge fell dead while addressing the
Presbyterian General Assembly here dur
ing the afternoon.
Anything moro terribly dramatic it
would be difficult to imagine. The
great body of intellectual churchmen
was at fever heat over the Briggs mat
Ser. Friends and opponents had alike
been under great excitement discussing
the famous case.
Sarcasm Made a Sensation.
DR.. Patton had stirred up the delegates
by a brilliant and sarcastic address
against the transfer business. He first
hit the committee, then he castigated the
Cody brethren who could condemn a
brother without the most minute inves-
tigation. Every word he uttered seemed
like a bullet fired into the Assembly.
"Think of it" he exclaimed, "by your
very resolve you infer that Dr. Briggs is
guilty of offence. You cast reproach upon
his good name and cripple great school,
already sufficiently afflicted.
off Dr. Briggs can historically justify
his views he has right to hold them.
do not know what he could do in that line.
Then is it not true that the Bibleswas
sometimes put at the threshold of houses
to keep out spooksf"
Here the doctor was interrupted for
several seconds by his auditors, who did
not care to hear his harangue. Excite
ment increased every moment. But the
doctor went right on and made his
sledge-hammer blows right and left.
Judge Breckenridge's Speech.
Judge Breckenridge followed and his
about to meet his God. 1t was calm,
dispassionate, evidently sincere, and its
closing words were a tribute to the sense
of duty of the assembly. He stated
the legal points in the Briggs case.
Years ago, he said, Union Seminary was
Under endent, but in 1871 became Presby.
terrain, and, of course, the assembly from
that time controlled the appointments.
'tIf we don't vote now," he said, eve
never can. DIR. Logan's amendment for
deferring action is impracticable. We
view transfer from one chair to another
the same as an appointment. We can dc
nothing wisely except disapprove. think
| 1t is wise not to assign reasons. A judge
| sometimes cannot give all the reasons
for his decisions on the bench. But,
without assigning other reasons, it doe:
seem to me that the mind of the Church
for some months has been anxious an6
| that we should relieve it."
His closing words were: "Now, gen
tlemen, feel that have discharged my
duty. and wish to be excused from fur
ther speaking"
Just as Judge Breckenridge finished
his remarks, he turned partly toward thu
temporary clerks desk, gasped and fell
to the floor insensible. He was carried
to the ante-room and DIR. Yemans at
tended him, but in few minutes he wa
dead. The cause of death was pronounced
| to be heart disease.
The shock to the assembly when Judg
4 Breckenridge's death was announced
was perceptible one. The debate wa
Il discontinued at once.
A committee was appointed to TAX
charge of the remains and prepare
minute to be presented to the assembly
The funeral committee accepted Gen. AL
gers tender of his private car to take tn
body home, and the remains were shippet
| TO ST 1ouiS