Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-01-23
AN EMINENT JUR|ST.
Supreme Court Loses
a Member.
JOSEPH P. BRADLEY
Succunbs to Illness from Which He
Had Suffered Since Last Spring


oF the United States supreme court Is
dead. His death was not unexpected, as
II has been known for some months past
that the distinguished jurist was far from
being a we'll man, an attack Of the grip
last spring having left him In very debil-
itated condition, from which he seemed
to rally during the summer months.
His trouble began again in November,
| when he Saught slight cold, which,
coupled with his enfeebled condition. made
great inroads into his strength, and during
greater part Of the present term Of the
supreme court he was unable to be present
at its daily sessions II was only about
week ago, however, that his health be.
came such as To seriously alarm his fam
lily and frinds, though IL was not expected
that any fatal results would follow.
In accordance with the wish of Justice
Bradley, the funeral will be private and
devoid Of any ostentatious display. Pri.
vatc services will be held at his late resi-
dence tomorrow afternoon at o'clock, af-
ter which the remains will be taken to his
home at Newark y. J., and inferred In
the family burying ground Monday after.
noon.
Justice Bradley was perhaps the richest
member Of the bench. He was supposed
had the largest private law and miscel-
laneous library in Washington. his house
being packed from basement TO garret with
rare and valuable books.
About His Successor.
When the death of Judge Bradley be-
came known, speculations rs TO his sue
cessor were INDUCED in by politicians
around the hotels and at the Capitol. An
| NN.aa II. IA
Attorney General Miller will he selected
by the president to fill the vacancy. But
to others il is accepted for sure that the
appointment will go TO someone within
the circuit represented by Justice Brad
ley, which comprises Pennsylvania, Della
ware and New Jersey Chief Justice Pax
ton or Judge Mitchell of the supreme
couri Of Pennsylvania are prominently
ment oned. II the selection should be
made from New Jersey the appointment
will probably go to Judge Green. district
| judga uf New Jersey. whom Mr.. Harrison
would have appointed to the circuit bench
had he not decided TO appoint Democrat
from that circuit.
Ills Career.
Joseph T.. Bradley. associate justice OF the
United States supreme court, was born In
Bernc. y. Y, March II, 1919 lie was of En-
| glish descent. Ills earliest ancestor in tho
United States WAS Francis Bradley. who was
| member of Governor Eaton's family IN New
Haven in 1870. From Francis Bradley the
| judge vas the sixth In line. His father was
| PhilO Bradley, and his mother WAS Mercy
Gardiner Of Newport or. ID family. Tho
| father was a farmer, aud Joseph, the eldest OF
eleven children, worked on the farm until the
| ago uf l6.
His opportunities for obtaining an education
consisted principally in his attendance three
| or iour months in each YEAR at u country
| school when he was between thc ages Of and
| IA, but he made constant use OF his fathers
! library, and his attainments must have been
very considerable. H taught a winter school
every winter from his 10th year 10 his 2lst.
During this period he also practced surveying
occasionally for tho neigblOring farmers.
His Love of study
attracted the attention Of the cergyInen Of
the village who offered to prepare him for
/ college. Iio accepted this invitation and at
| the ave of ~ entered Rutgers college, where
he was graduated with honor in the class of
1879, unusually dist nguished as "A mathcmati-
clan After dcvoting six month. e. teaching.
| he bs-an the study Of law with Hon. Arthur
| Clifford at Newark, y. j., and was admitted
| TO the bar in November 1870. la May, ls40, he
opened an Office in Newark, where he con-
| tinued in practice fur thirty years, until his
| appointment 20 DO "A Justice OF the supreme
| important and difficult cases that arose In the
New Jersey courts, and In the courts OF the
| United States for that district.
His Professional Career
was attended through with great success.
In 1879 IL fayette college conferred upon him
the degree of LID. In March. 1870, he was
appointed by President GRAFT a justice OF tho
supreme court OF the United States. and was
designated circ ait justice for the large south
| er r. m ho ae,.t ti.,
| of Justice Strong, lie was assigned 10 the third
| circuit. embracing the states OF pcnnsylvania,
New Jersey and Delaware. lie had contrib
uted valuable articles TO several encyclo-
1 pedios.
| IL lsis lac accepted the Republican nomina-
tion for Congress in the Sixth congregational
| district OF New Jersey, but he was defeated
| In ls.S he headed the Now Jersey Republican
electoral ticket Judge Bradley was an ac-
| comv,i,hed mathematician, familiar with the
higher and more obtruse processes of mathe-
| matical investigation. In 1874 ho married
Mary, daughter ~ Chief Justice Hornblower
| OF New Jersey, by whom he had two sons and
two daughters.
His Personal characteristics.
Justice Bradley Wa. maa Of strong force OF
| character, great crudition and industry and
| beloved by hi. associates on the bench lie
| was quiet In his tastes and not much given to
the social gaieties IT Washington. In appear
"
! franc. n small but well-shaped head. crowned
| with silvery hair. His eyes were the most
| striking feature of his countcnance and shone
1 lumiLous, clear aud with y sparkle indicative
| Of the bright, cheerful aud humorous side of
the man. He frcquenied the congre Ssionsi
| library. and was an authority on many things
relating to old English poetry. intricate and
| almost forgotten religious disputes and other
1 subjects Of an unusual character. lie was
kindly in manner and treated those who
/ sought him for Information on any matter
with great courtesy and consideration.
In his long years on the bench of the su-
preme court he mad acquired an immense fund
i Of legal knowledge. and perhaps was the most
| erudiio lawyer en- IL In recent years. In his
l later years he was not 20 active a. formerly
| but WAS invaluable a. o counselor. Being ia
miliar with all the questions which had
| ever como up before him. he was able fro
auently TO guide the younger mem her. n the
court and prevent errors.
Cesl Barges sunk.
NEW HAVEN, Jan. e3.--Whilc OF Nor.
Il walk two bar0e< In tow OF the steamer