The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-10
NOTED JURIST DEAD.
First Federal Judge on the Pa
cific Coast.
FORTY YEARS OF SERVICE.
Many Important Cases Decided by Him
William r. CroasdaIe, the Single
Tax Advocate, Also Passes Away.

SAN Francisco, Aug. 9.-Judge Ogden
Hoffman died early this morning at st.
Luke's hospital of paralysis of the heart.
He had been i'll with heart trouble since
April 2, but at times was so far recovered
as to be pronounced cured, but Friday
another attack set in and this time it
proved fatal. He was unmarried and has
always lived az his club. He has been
federal judge since March, 1851, term of
over forty years. No other living United
States judge has been on the bench for SO
long time.
ION February q, last, Judge Ogden Hoffman
completed forty years OF active service as United
States district judge for the Northern district Of
California, having received his commission
February q, ISL, from President Willard Fill
more. Judge Hoffman was born In New York
on October Is, 1872 He graduated at Columbia
college, and studied law at Dane law school,
Harvard university. He entered the law Office
of Mark sibley, a. CanGndaigua, y. y, and sub
sequently was engaged with B. ID. silliman.
prominent lawyer OF New YORK city. About 1876
he went 20 Europe and travelled for two years,
perfec,ing himself in the study of modern Ian
guages and literature Shortly after his return
10 New York the discovery of gold in California
was announced, and thousands were attracted
20 the far West. He sailed for California and
arrived in San Francisco Ia May, 1880. The first
intima.Ion Judge Hoffman had of his appoint
ment as United States district judge was from q
newspaper article About the same time, however,
he received letter from his father stating the
fact and suggesting that be decline the honor
In conversation with friends Judge Hoffman
frequently referred TO his hesitency in accept
ing the preferred position. He recognized in
the offer a graceful compliment to his houored
father, who for years had been the friend of
President Fillmore. Moreover, the litigation
oh a. b1Fo he
court WAS of most complicated character and
the duties so responsible that he had some mis-
giyiDgs as 20 his ability 10 properly fill the posi-
ton. His friends, however, urged him to &C.
eept, and finally, upon receiving the consent OF
bis father to take the position for year, he
accepted the appointment. At the end of the
first year Judge Hoffman had become 80 inter.
ested in his duties that hs determined TO remain
FOX time at least. In 1883 his father died, and
IT was then that he concluded TO make Califor-
mia his home During the forty years that
Judge Hoffman occupied the bench some
OF the most important cases ever tried
west of Chicago have been be-
fore him. Among the more notable
cases may be mentioned the New Almsdsn
quicksilver mine suit, the SantiliRn claim, the
Bolton and Barron claims, and, above eli, the
Lmantour claim, which involved large tract
of land in the county, now worth nearly $780,
OO00oO. The Limantour claim was demonstrated
beyond doubt 10 be based upon skiiIfully exc
cuted forgeyies The forgery was detected by q
close examination of the seals to the documents,
there being slight differences in the cutting of
the forged die, yet they were sufficiently marked
10 show that the seals on known genuine docu-
ments and those on the forged papers could
never have been made with the same die In
many of these cases Judge Hoffman worked with
perseverance and care which made his duty
even more laborious than that put forth by the
counsel engaged. Judge Hoffman was the first
United States judge upon the Pacific coast, and
there is no other judge in the nation who has
been on the bench forty years, the Eext longest
judicial term being that of Judge William ]. Al
len, Judge of the Southern Distrie. of Illinois
who was appointed April Is 1851