The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-21

The news OF the appointments OF
George shiras, ir., to the supreme
bench was received with satisfaction in
Pittsburgh last evening on the part of
tho public and members Of tho bar.
The friends OF tho newIy-made Justice
telegraphed him to Creason. Pa, where
he is sojourning With his family. lie
teleGraphed reply tl!At he would be in
Pittsburgh to-day.
George Shirasy IT., is sixty years old.
He was born in Pittsburgh in 1882, and
descendS from well.known pioneer
family. His father WAS brewer, aud
ownod brewery at the Point. It 10 n
landmark and still stands. In 1870 the
elder Shira8 retired from business, hay
ing anaSscd comfortable fortune. lie
turned his attention to the education OF
his children. Early ia lie the future
Supreme Court Justice showed that he
was possessed of an unusual order OF
intellect. His m0.hcr was a daughter
OF DT, FTauciS Z HERON, the first pas
tor OF tho First Presbyterian Church.
Young George was sent 10 Yale. He
graduated with honors in the class OF
1853, taking the Greek prise. he was
exceedingly proficient in tho ancient
languages and classics. He returned to
Pittsburgh and began 20 read law with
Judge Hopeweli Hepburn, Of tho dis
trict court. Judge Hepburn was con-
sidered one OF tho legal lights OF his
time. Alter becoming member OF the
at nRfVN l,i ~
with Judge Hepburn for Jew years.
About 1850 Mr.. S:iTaS who had nc
quircd considerable prestige as a lawyer
by that time, started out for himself.
HIS career since has been an almost un-
broken series of legal triumphs. He
has figured in dozens of cases tina: have
been recorded as precedents His prac-
tice has been along many lines, and he
has frequently argued In the courts to
which he has been called. Many promi.
neEt Pittsburgh lawyers are indebted to
Mr.. Shiras for their training. G. G.
Dickey, Thomas S. Bigelow, I. II. Baird
Patterson, J. X. ?. Duff, W. S. Pier,
William K. Blair and many others read
law with him. His two SONS, George
Shiras III and W. X. Shiras, have
studied under him andSare practlcing
With him. G. c. Dickey. who went into
ar. Shiras's Office In 1871, has been as
Hociated with him ever since. Mr..
Shiras is u cousin OF James &. Blaine.
OF LITERARY TASTE.
Tho newly appointed justice is con-
sidered by his friends man OF broad
intellect and even balance. In former
years, before his time was so completely
taken up as, it has been recently, he
made practice Of reading Greek and
Latin authors ls n source OF entertain
ment. Addison is his fayorite English
author. He is hard worker HO is
accustomed to appear at his office before
0 o'clock every morning and work nm
til 8 o'clock in the evening. After din
ner Mr.. Shiras often 10 ut work at home
and burns the midnight oil frequently.
Like his father afr. Hhfras is fond OF
fishing. For years no has been going
to Marquette Tor elk weeks every sum.
mer to indulge this taste.
As wit and humorist Mr.. ShiTas is
strong. In court he is powerful, especi.
ally in addressing judges. It has been
his rule never to take case into court
unless he is satisfied that he has the law
on his side. He has followed this rule
closely and tho judges know il!
With young members Of tho bar Mr..
shiras is particularly popular, because
heis ever ready to advise them In his
courteous, aiIable way. His popularity
has been so general that he has often
been urged to accept judgeships. At
one time he received an offer to 20 on
the state supreme bench. All these
ofiers no refused, but he said that he
will accept his presen: appointment.
Tho salary OF supreme Justice is
$4,000 a year. The supreme bench will
convene in Washington in October.
HIS BIG CASES.
One OF the first OF Mr.. Shiras'e big
cases was that OF Davidson vs.. Tho Har-
mony Society. Davidson brought suis
to have the tho society render an nc.
count OF its financial condition. David.
son had been n member thirty years be-
fore aud wanted part OF the cash Of the
Economics. The case was fought for
the society by NJ Shiras. who was sns,
tanned in his argument by the supreme
court
Mr.. Shiras represented the oil and tor.
pedo mon sued some years ago by w b.
Robert for infringement OF patcn: on
a torpedo. About 1000 quits were
brought by Mr.. Roberts. Tho question
was whethor patent could DO granted
for the uso Of what seemed to DO prin-
ciple OF nature. Tho Roberts torpedo is
made to explode by striking the wator
at tho bottom OF q we'll. Tho case was
carried to the supreme court and Mr..
Roberts was sustained.
In tho case OF Hartupee against tho
city OF Pittsburgh, Mr.. Shiras appeared
for tho city. Eartupee claimed Sl50,G00
for extras on tho engines OF tho wator
works. In tho contract between the city
and Mr.. Hartupoo there was a clause
providing that all disputes should be re.
ferrod to tho city's mechanical enSi.
neor, Joseph Lowry. The points in dis.
puto wero referred to him, tho city in
sisting on its contract. Mr.. Lowry
found that instead Of tho city owing
Mr.. Hartupec money, the contractor
owed tho city $4,000. Mr.. lIartupee
alleged that the provision was invalid.
Tho supreme courts, however, confirmed
tho lower courts in deciding IN favor o!
the city.
A late case in which Mr.. shiras was
engaged was that OF the junction rail.
road, IN which the supreme court affirm
Id that railroads right to cross tho
tracks Of tho Allegheng Valley railroad
nj Forty.third street. Mr.. Shiras acted
as counsel for the Monongahola nHviga-
ton company In its case against the
government, which asked for tho con-
domination OF lock No. Z. Judge Ache
4 IL N,0nI