Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-03-09


Wednesday morning AID read that A, T.
Robinson the Chief Justice is dead my |
mind could not grasp the truth that the
man whose face and voice. with its genial
tone and sympathy was here the day be-
fore is now dead. OF all men in the state
lie was the last whom ] would suspect to
bein the shadow Of DEATH that that shadow
was resting npon hlEl.
10 me lie had grown marvelOusly. Only |
q month ago he came here and sat on that |
bench. He came to u kindly, courteous
bar. We naturally criticised the man;
Need say that in every way he measured |
up far above every member Of this bar,
As we watched his decisions we were more
than satisfied. The admirable ciearness
and singleness with which he presented
his points to the jury, gave promise of q
large and abundant legal future
As Chief Justice we felt we had the
man we wanted With signal unanimity
the people Of the state fixed upon hun 70
succeed tlG( Justice toniegys. But this
was not the most attractive side of his
character. As man who made no pre-
! tensions | Was struck with his personal
| qualities.
| The speaker then illustrated the remark
able kindly domestic character of Mr..
| Robinson. The mind without tho heart
4 makes but half Il man. In the charmed
| circle of home am told he was model
man, For his short term he exceeded our
| greatest jurists, He desired 10 be q Judge
for he told me so. lie aimed to meet
the appreciation Of the bar. It seems sad
that he should be cut off at this time.
Samuel A. Macallister was the next
speaker lie was profoundly moved at
| the Chief Justices sudden death. had
| learned, continued Colonel Macallistcr, to
| respect and admire Chief Justice Robin
son, because | thought | saw that III his
character that was worthy Of imitation. |
believe he MAS incapable Of an rnnaily
act or of harboring IN unclean or impure
thought for an instant was very much
impressed with his honesty and sincerity
of purpose.
In his political life Lam surethat henever
subscribed to the modern doctrine that the
end justified the means, but that whatever
is right is always eNlelient. He was man
of advanced thought. This was shown IN
his advocacy Of a constitutional con-
vention. He was OF sweet disposition and
yet with the mpetuosty Of II knightly
character. | believe he would have died
for the right. | respected him and had
learned to look on him as d friend. Tncs-
day last ! went down State. In the train
the Chief Justice was passing along the
aisle He sat down and III the course of a
chat inquired how he liked the position
Of Chief Justice. II like it very we'll, he
replied, but it is very hard work" ex.
pressed my opinion Of the feelings of the
members Of the bar. He replied III terms
Of the sincerest qualification. suppose |
was the last member Of the bar who spoke
to him.
The next speaker was Austin ITarrinG-
ton. He desired simply TO attest his per
sonal sorrow in the great loss that has
come upon the State Mr. Harrington
closed his remarks with u warm-heartc'i
tribute to the Chief Justices genuine
earnestness and fair minded action.
a. f,,ilt tt, al n
, quent panegyric on the deceased jtlrist.
He closed in the following terms rom
one end Of the State to the other Il is
personal feeling of regret and sorrow, anu
among his friends deep grief for per
sonal loss. | knew him well. He wa
filled with wholesome ambition. Earnes
I and fearless. What man will not ap
I proach the seat he has left vacant without
: hesitation as To his abilities to perform
I those duties while performing which n
was called away? a great name woule
:. have been added to the roll of our judi
4 ciary; and in his death our State has lost ;
i son of whom She was already justly proud
: His gentleness, bis Kindness, his grea
$ knowledge Of the law had already assuret
to the people Of the State the administra
n ton Of eyen-handcd Justice. The bar o
II nv native county has lost its old leader
@ an eloquent and able man; the bench ha
r lost one whom | fear cannot be replaced
= HIS family nave losI loNiIibt ahtIS'oh"'
IL and devoted husband and father, an
y many of us have lost a kind, gentle an
= considerable friend tor whom we long vii
y grieve."
e His tribute to Chief Justice Robinson va
g an expression of earnest admiration. ii
g said, IN part:
e AS lawyer he came among lis follow
h ing q reputation that extended to and bt
rs yond the limits Of our State-thc result q
ic patient energetic successful love OF n
profession. As Judge he rendered bt
Or two or three opinions, but these Viii l
ir read with pleasure and cited so long as
al live under the rulings of the common la
a. opinions which for cearnesS OF EXPIRE
% sion and soundncss of doctrine are Will
jf out stiperiors in the decisions of our court
is His industry was immense. His acquain
is ance with the Delaware reports was ma
10 Vicious in its extent; his legal knuwledt
lc was profound and accurate; his charges
ll the Jury were models.
Judge GFubh who was the next speak,
er closed the addresses. He said in effect:
IL NV brethren of the bar: since was r
us uueSted to preside over your meeting
Id lave had no opportunity to prepare an
ly formal remarks appropriate to the occ
us sion. And therefore what | say mu
necessarily he the uttcrance of the emotion
I'll Of my heart inspired by the conditions
this sad OCCASION Indeed after all til
Ell has been so suitably expressed not alo
re in the resolutions but in the words OF 4
Is. speakers, there is little more that can
ell added.
N, Thespeaker thought the restricted numb
he that comprise the membership or I
cy bench feel tho loss of the Chief Justi
Of more than the members o. the bar
iii large. have seen stricken down at n
Ja side, continued Judge Grubb, from I'll
Ct tribunal live Of my associates. First cal
the venerable Wootten, merethan sOyea
h Of age. Next came tile lamented Paynt
ng Then the venerable chancellor died. II
led lowing him came our still more aged Oh
Justice. lie had fulfilled his three-scC
nd wears and ten But now comes the lie;
cal expected, our latest Chief Justice, a
an after month Of service, lie passes by !
fer gate OF death, never 10 return. feel
lse power of life and death are truly beyo
u.s.. During yesterday and to-day I
,ali stricken BY the loss OF this personal trie
IUt Of mine as well as official assucl'l
Stricken down in the prime OF manhut
tile there is no heart or mind in this preset
ad, but wishes and longs that he might be ST
so with US.
vi, Comegys, Gilpin, Harrington, Bays
i'm, and the two Claytons have gone. N
ion Chief Justice Robinson has also gone
Tho yond the power Of just or unjust critics
the with the erinine about him. thank u
Uw unspotted, untArnished, as 1t would III
'gal been 10 the end of his life.
No man who loves trne manhood, y
lCi- esty, justice and fidelity, can but hclii
are love and honor our departed ChleI Jusl
hat 1t was after came upon the behCh Una
aud came to love his moral manhood. IN
the lie seven years that have been on
/ of bench must say never saw d finer mo
iple If tho true lawyer. He recognized