The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-01-31
BENCH AND BAR.
The New York Recorder Compli-
ments Ex-Justice Sanford.
His Career Here Review ed-His Ideas o
Observation-Disclosures the Legal
Fratetnity-General Notes.

During his residence in this city, Judge
Sanford made many warm friends, and
when he retired from the bench and re-
turned to New York city, he took with him
the best wishes of wide circle of friends,
who honored him for his learning and re-
spected him for his sterling in tegrity. They
will be pleased to read the following, which
appeared in recent issue of the New York
Recorder:
Ex-Justice Elliott F. Sanford, who
was Justice Lawrence's managing clerk,
succeeded TO his practice, which consist ted
chiefly OF municipal cases. Mir. Sanford
Is as popular in his profession as he is
among his personal acquaintance. He is a
1avorlte with lawyers as a referee, and
many important references are assigned to
MIN. He is Democrat, but very tolerant
In his political faith. President Cleveland
appointed him chief justice of the supreme
court of Utah in 1883. In that capacity he
signed the famous decree disincorporating
the Mormon church. The case was taken
to the court OF appeals, Of course, and alter
fifteen months elaboration that tribunal
affirmed the Judgment of the supreme court
OF Utah. Very knotty points were in
volved, and Chief Justice Field was one of
two members of the court of appeals that
dlssented from the opinion of the majority.
Chief Justice Sanford gained praise
from both Gentiles and Mormons during
his term in Salt Lake city. OF course,
large proportion OF the causes tried in the
supreme court involved some phase or
other of the Mormon question" The
judiciary had to steer clear and impartial
course through very ugly channel in such
cases. Very bitter feeling, very arrogant
Digotry, was certain to exist on either side.
Chief Justice Sanford won the hearts of
the Gentiles one day by taking the natural
lzation question in hand Crowds of Nor
mon immigrants apply for the privilege of
American citizenship and, in so doing
swear that they are attached to the consti-
tuition OF the United States. Judge sand
ford inaugurated a system Of examination
In such cases which barred out good many
of these applicants. tIhese did not know
what the constitution was, he said. Some
OF them would inform me that Brigham
Young was president Of the United States
In such cases Judge Sanford would
recommend the would be citizen to CRAM
for awhile on the subject The would-be
one, after studying the constitution on
sage-brush IN the adjacent desert would re-
turn better informed as rule.
Al look upon citizenship as high
honor, SAID Judge Sanford apropos of this
matter. | did not feel inclined to lei
down the bars at ALL They are low enough
ton laws were passed when there were
very few people here. They should be
changed now"
Judge Sanford is well qualified to
speak on this subject. His family con-
tributed several distinguished members 10
the army of the Colouists in the war of the
revolution. His grandfather fought under
Washington. His father was man of
peace-a Congregationalist clergyman, the
Rev. Enoch S. Sanford, S. I. D., who
died few weeks ago aged 90 years.
1t is said that Judge Sanford sent a
quarter of the whole number of the Mormon
apostles to prison while he was in Utah
Nevertheless he was very careful of their
rights. Upon one occasion the district
attorney urged that a convicted prisoner
was member in high standing OF the Nor
mon church. His tone and manner In
ferred that the prisoner was therefore
worthy of many stripes. His standing in
the Mormon church has nothing to do with
me- said the chief justice. The man is
here simply as an individual. The ques-
ton for me to consider is to what amount
of punishment shall impose to reform him
and to deter others from committing
similar crime.n
There are 5000 lawyers in New York
city.
The coming week will be quiet one in
legal circles.
John M. Zane, the Republican aristocrat