Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-01-27
DIED ON THE BENCH
A New Jersey Supreme Justice
Suddenly Called.
HIS LAST WORDS A Plea FOR LAW.

An Earnest and InpassiOned Address to
Grand jury just Concluded as the Grim
Terror Clutches Him and He Is No
More-A Startling and Sudden End to a
Jurist's Career - Closing Words of a
Speech spoken on the Edge of the
Grave.
NEW YORK, Jan 27-Justice Manning
Knapp, of thd New Jersey supreme court,
was stricken by death at 2:j5 o'clock yes
terday afternoon in the circuit court of
Jersey City. He was engaged in the trial
OF case, when Assistant District Attor-
ney Joseph NJ. Noonan stepped up to the
bench and announced that the grand jury
had presentment To make. The judge
said that he was ready to receive 1t, and n
few moments later the jury filed in, led
by the foreman, Joseph Warren Mr.. War
rem handed some papers to the judge and
the jurymcn We're about to retire when
Justice Knapp requested them to wait a
moment, as he desired to say something
10 them.
FersistentIy Defied the Courts.
Without any preliminaries the justice
broke in OH the subject he had in mind. 1t
was the case OF Sigfried Cronheim, the
Hoboken theatre manager who has been
persistcntly defying the courts in his vio-
lations of the Sunday law. He has been
repeatedly arrested on bench warrants.
Judge Lippincott had him locked up three
or four days awaiting habeas corpus pro-
ceedings. His bail was finally fixed ut
$1,000 and yet the grand jury failed to
find an indictment. In addressing the
jury Justice Knapp showed evidence of be-
ing deeply moved. At first his tones were
low and his manner calm and deliberate,
but a. he proceeded he became very earn
est. He delivered an imprisoned adj
dress.
The Justices Last Address.
He concluded a. follows: They say that
here in this county a grand jury under
takes to discriminate and to say that one
class of oiienses against the law we will
punish and another class of offenses
against the law we Will not punish. Time
after time the courts have spoken to the
grand juries upon these matters, and there
was time when the word of the court was
respected and such matters were given in
charge to grand jEries and the instructions
of the court were received with respect
and consideration. l hope, gentlemen,
that time has not passed. You will find
there the testimony taken before Judge
Lippincott."
In the Shadow of Death.
As he concluded Justice Knapp leaned
forward to hand the papers to Foreman
Warren. Then with a gasp he fell back i'll
his chair Court Stenographer Nugent
| and two or three court officers ran to his
assistance. There was great excitement
in the courtroom, which was crowded.
Some OF the court officers carried JUS
| tice Knapp into his private Office,
and messengers were dispatched
in every direction to bring physicians. In
| few minutes Drs. Noble and Rhardes ar
| rived and did what they could, but their
services We're of no avail. Justice Knapp
died within ten minutes after he was car
ried down from the bench. The doctors
said death was caused by the bursting Of
u blood vessel in his BRAIN.
short sketch of His Career.
Justice Knapp was born in Bergen coun-
ty, \. j.. in 1923. He studied law in a law
| yer's office in Hackensack, and was adj
| mitted to the bar in 1916. Four years later
| he received his degree as counsellor at law.
Justice Bedle, whose circuit embraced
Hudson, Bergen, and Passaic counties,
was elected governor in 1879, and
he appointed Knapp to ill the va
cancy caused by his resignation.
Justice Knapp was reappointcd in 1882 by
| Governor Ludlow and in 1889 by Governor
Green. His present term would have eN-
| pired in 1896. He was married and had
two children, a son and daughter. His
| wife is the daughter of Commodore Mat
Of ,l,r..N