Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-01-27
DROPPED DEAD IN COURT
Judge Knapp, of New JERSEYS
Supreme Bench, Stricken.
HIS ENDING WAS A DRAMATIC ONE

BE Had Just Finished an Impassioned
Charge 70 the Grand Jury when He
Turned Pale. sank Back in His Chair
and Expired without word.
jersey Cry, Jan s7.-Associate Justice
Manning NJ Knapp. Of the supreme court
OF New Jersey, died on the bench here while
delivering charge to the grand jury Of
Hudson county. His death was dramatic
he had sent for the grand jury, and had in
strong terms denounced that body for its
failure to do its duty, saying that by such
failure it had permitted the suspicion 10
so abroad that the grand jury protected
criminal violations Of the law, ana that the
courts were involved in the imputation.
just as he finished an imprisoned appeal to
the grand jury to do its duty he gasped for
breath and fen back in his chair uncon-
scious.
The twenty three grand jurors arranged
IN semi-circie looked aghast at the dying
Judge the court officers seemed dazed, and
the dozen lawyers in the room seemed nm
able 70 move. First to recover presence Of
mind was the court stenographer. John
" ~
close friend. He hastily assembled 10 the
bench and placed glass Of water 10 the
dying mans lips. Then he told the court
officers 70 run for o doctor, and twenty
messengers started in as many directions.
Laid Him Down Dead.
Judges Lippincott and Paxton who had
been IN chambers, at this juncture, came 10
Judge Knapp's assistance, and aided bv
District Attorney Winfield they carried the
judge 70 lounge in chambers and laid him
down dead. DIS. Rhodes and Noble soon
Afterward arrived, but their services were |
OF no use. They said a blood vessel had
burst in the brain and caused death Judge |
Lippincott announced to the grand Jury the |
death Of the judge, and the members with !
a@w and adjourned, subject to the cali Of 1
me foreman. Judge Lippincott next dis /
missed the petit jury and court officers and |
adjourned until next Monday.
AS soon as Ex-Governor joseph ID. Bedle /
heard the news he fastened to the court /
house BE appointed Judge Knapp to the
bench in 1875. Flavel MCGEE, ex-Mayor
Gilbert Collins, Charles II. Thompson and
Assistant Prosecutor Joseph NJ Noonan
were soon in attendance and expressed their
grief for the dead judge was a personal
friend to each The body was taken TO
Hackensaek With the body went Judge
Ldppincott Judge Paxton, Prosecutor Win
held, Ex-Governor Bedle, John Nugent and
Z. F. G. Young
Judge Knapp's Career.
Manning Nj Knapp was. born in Bergen
county, n j., in 1923, and he was graduated
from Rutgers college, He was admitted to
the bar In 1876 and four years later was
commissioned q counselor. He rapidly nc
fam ou 1ast a l. "a.
OF criminal law was 80 extensive that he
was in al important capital cases assigned
by the court to assist in the prosecution.
When Judge Bedle was elected governor he
appointed the lawyer his successor on the
bench in 1875 Judge Knapp was reappointed
by Governor Ludlow in 1882, and was for
time appointed in 1889 by Governor Green
On Jan. p he celebrated the seventeenth
Of his appointment as a SUI
preme court Judge
A. The dead man was a Democrat ia politics
but he was never a politician and never
sought or held any elective Office. He was
one Of the most expert judges Of lenses FOR
astronomical instruments in the country
Early in life be developed a love for the ,
study Of astronomy, but so frequently !
found lenses that did not suit him that he /
made them for his own use AT his home /
Ia hackensack is a most complete Workshop
for the manufacture Of lenses. He never
sold any, but he frequently presented them
to scientific societies. He was for wears a
close correspondent Of Alvan Clark q Sons.
the celebrated telescope lens makers, and
his judgment Of the quality Of a lens was
considered almost invaluable
He Was Not Rich.
A widow, who is an invalid, and son.
Joseph N. Knapp, and a daughter survive ,
him. The daughter is married to Walter v.
Clark, OF hackensack, and she and her hus-
band are now on the ocean on their wav 10
Italy for the benefit Of Mrs. Clarks health.
Although Judge Knapp had been large
and for seventeen years had ,
received the large income attached to his
judicial Office, be leaves but small fortune
His charities were great and many His
widow, who is a daughter OF Commodore
Mattison, Of Woodbridge, and has an ample
fortune IN her own right.
The Bar association Of Hudson county
was 70 have given its annual dinner, but as !
soon as the death Of Judge Knapp was made
known the dinner was postponed.