Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-22

pIsTINGUisHED CAREER.
Associate Justice Joseph 2. Bradley OF the
Supreme Court OF the United States died at his
residence, POI street northwest. at s O'Clock
this morning. His death WAS not unexpected;
in fact, no one acquainted with his condition
has hoped for his recovery since Wednesday.
Justice Bradiey's health has not been good
since he had n severe attack Of grip last
winter. but there did not seem TO be any one
ailmcnt TO which could be attributed
his disease. A complication Of disorders
hae afflicted him for some time past.
and it was this combination of pertinacious
troubles-many of them attributable TO ad-
vanced age-that finally produced death. Ever
since the justice returned to the city in
October last he has been constantly
under medical treatment. Occasionally
he would be well enough to attend to Judicial
matters, but his physical condition forbade
sustained effort His more serious illness dates
from about the beginning Of this month, since
when he has been confined TO his bed. Last
Monday was a bad day for the sick man: il was
not expected that he would live through the
night lie rallied though, and seemed to be
much better, but on Tuesday afternoon he
commenced to sink. From that time there was
|
yesterday morning the watchers have simply
awaited the coming of the end.
CONSCIOUS THAT DEArH WAS NEAR
The justice conscious that death was
near. Throughout all his illness his mind has
been wonderfully clear; up TO within a couple
of hours of has departure he exhibited that
great mental strength which has always char
acterized him.
Late last night il became evident that life
could not be prolonged for any considerable
period, so the wife and children remained near
the dying husband and father through the
hours OF darkness and were at his bedside when
his spirit vanished. With them were DIR. W.
W. Johnston, the family physician. and a nurse.
Everything that medical skill could suggest
was applied so long there was life. Dr.John-
ston has been in constant attendance; Dr. Busey
was called into consultation, while DIR. Deale
remained in the house for several days. Two
trained nurses were in attendance.
For some time past Justice Bradley had ex-
pressed himself as satisfied that he would not
| recover, although there were times when the
physicians felt quite hopeful
FUNERAL SERVICES.
Funeral services of a simple nature will b
held at the house Sunday at 2 o'clock. These
will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. BARTLETT of
the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Justice Bradley has worshiped at that church
ever since he came to the city.
After the conclusion of the services the re-
mains will be taken to Newark, n. j.. where
| the interment will take place. Services there
VIII be at2 O'Clock on Monday at the North
Dutch Church. For many years the justice
was an elder in that organization.
Mrs. Bradley two daughters and a son sur
vive the justice. One OF the daughters Is mar
4
ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE COURT.
The Supreme Court adjourned Immediately
after assembling until Tuesday next, tie chief
justice announcing the loss which had been sus-
tained by the court and the country.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
Though in his seventy-ninth year Justice
Bradley was almost up to the hour of hi, death
one of the most active and capable members of
the Supreme Court. He was the smallest man
| on the bench, and by the side of Justices Gray
| and HaTiand the contrast was most striking.
| Locking to be the most frail of all the
Justices he was man OF tenacious fiber
and capable of very hard work and steady ap-
plication to a task. He possessed the power Of
concentration TO a remarkable degree. During
| an argument before the court he usually sat
low IN his chair, occupying apparently as small
| space as possible and listening with an
attentiveness that indicated that his mind was
strongly focused upon the problem being pre-
sented and he separated and examined the
several points in a case with analytical accu-
| racy.
He was a skilled mathmatician, o Latin
| scholar, and Possessed the gift of memory to
| an extraordinary degree, being able TO cite
| with accuracy cases that have been decided
during many years ana uncommon enough 70
be unknown to most lawyers
He was man entirely predominated by his
intellectual qualities.
HIS EARLY LIFE.
In his early youth be a country boy, nos
unacquainted with labor on a farm. lie was
born at Berne, n. Y, in 1913. His earliest an
cestor in this country Francis Bradley,
who was a member of Gov. Eaton's family IN
New Haven, Conn.,, in 1850. HIS father was
Philo bradley "a farmer, whose library contained
historical and mathematical works, from which
the embryo jurist got his hrst broad instruc-
tions. He was the eldest of eleven children,
and worked or the farm until he was sixteen,
aud spent most of his spare time in study. and
in the winter time attended a country school.
His love of study resulted in his being sent to
Rutgers College. from which he graduated in
1886. But before he had secured the advan-
tages of a collegiate education he had acquired
such attainments as to attract attention, and
he taught school from the time he was sixteen
years old until he came of age He won high
distinction as a student of mathematics.
He studied law in Newark. n. j., was admitted
to the bar in 1888, and continued in practice in
Newark for thirty years, leaving there finally 10
go upon the Supreme bench. During these
years he had charge of many important cases
and occupied q distinguished position in his
profession
APPOINTED TO THE SUPREME BENCH.
He was appointed to the Supreme bench By
President Grant in 1870. He took an i'm
portant part in the work Of that court since
then. During the time he was upon the
bench there have been many very important
questions before the court growing out
of the war, the reconstruction and the constitu-
tional amendments, in the discussion Of which
he has taken an important part
His penetration, concentration Of mind and
occult reasoning made his work novel,
intricate and difficult questions Of very great
value to the court He showed ability in
nearly every branch of the Law and WAS re-
garded as a great authority or railroad, patent
and maritime cases.
In 1877 he was q member Of the electoral
commission and did much by the power Of his
argument TO sustain the conciuslon reached BY
the majority Of the commission In the Hsyssr
Tilden contest
He has never took much part in politicA
but at one time was n republican candidate fog
Congress in q district strongly democratic.
The Atlxntic Building Company.