Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-02-09
WORDS OF SINCERE PRAISE
Lawyers Pay Tribute to tho
Late Chief Justice.
ACTION OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION
Fitting Expressions of Sorrow
and Respect.
The Bar Association of New Castle
County Takes Action with Respect to
the Death of Hon. j. T.. Cuinegys..
Eulogistic Addresses and Appropriate
Resolutions.

A largely attended meeting of the
Bar Association of New Castle county
was held at the court house, Saturday
afternoon to take action in relation to
the death OF eN-Chief Justice Comegys
which occurred at his home in Dover,
Wednesday night. The meeting was at.
tended by nearly all the members Of the
bar, including many of the older law
yers, with whom the venerable Chief
Justice was closely associated in late
years.
Among those present were; Judge L.
L. Wales of the United States circuit
court; William g. Spruance, Hon.
Grubb, Levi O. Bird, Colonel Benjamin
Nields, Il. G.. Bradford, Lewis C.,
Nandegrift, George u. Bates, John H.
Rodney, Willard salisbury, Jr., ex-At-
torney-gencral John Biggs, William S.
Hilles, ex.Deputy Encouragement
Thomas Davis, Judge j. Frank Ball,
City Solicitor Charles NJ. Curtis, United
States Commissioner S. II. Smith,
Willard Hall Porter, II. G. Conrad, ex-
Mayor Austin Harrington, Thomas
Holcomb, Tilshman Johnston, r. G.
Fraim, Colonel S. A. Macallister, J.
Frank Biggs, George Lodge, Frank d,
Carpenter, Deputy Attorney-general
Branch II. Giles, II. II. Ward, Lilburn
Chandler, Francis NJ. Walker, Charles
w. Smith, Victor b. Woolley, George
L. Brown, George A. Elliott, Andrew
L. Sahborn, Nathaniel DAVIS, Speaker
of the House J. Harvey Whiteman,
Harry Emmons, Philip @. Churchman,
Peter L. Cooper, Charles B. Evans,
Henry G. Turner, Students-at-law
Thomas G. Fraim, Jr., c. I. X. Bates
and Howell S. England.
On motion of John Biggs, Judge
Wales was chosen chairman Of the meet
ing, while II. II. Ward was selected to
act Us secretary. Judge Wales APP
pointed the following committee on
resolutions: William G. Spruance, Levi
G. Bird, Colonel Benjamin Nields, Hon.
Charles b. Lore and L. G.. Bradford.
The committee retired to the lawyers
parlor and in a few minutes returned
with the following resolutions:
ReSolyed, That the members of the bar OF
this county are deeply sensible of the loss
which they, i'll common with all the
people of this State, have sustained in the
death of the late Chief Justice Joseph Z.
Comegys.
Called to the bench after long active
and successful career at the bar, during
which he was Justly recognized as an able
advocate, and a learned, wise and safe
counsel, his appointment was received
with universal approval.
During the whole period of his service
as Chief Justice, until weakened by age
and strickcned by disease he performed
all the duties of his high office, conscicnt-
iously, faithfully and ably and fully real
ize the anticipation Of his most sanguine
friends
His practical knowledge of his business,
general information; wide and varied ex-
perience at the bar; great knowledge and
love of the law; familiarity with the prac-
tice of the courts; sound and matured judg-
ment; love Of even handed Justice; honor
able character, and great courage and in
dustry, have left a deep and abiding i'm
preston upon the judicial history of this
State.
Presiding in the courts with marked
dignity he was none the less patient
listener and courteous, Considerate and I'M
partial i'll his bearing toward the bar.
He has left behind him the example of
pure, useful and honorable life, and
memory which will long lie cherished with
respect and affection by his associates upon
the bench and the profession of which he
was distinguished member.
HtSolged That copy of these resolutions
be transmitted to the family of the de-
ceased, with the assurance of our sincere
sympathy and that committees be ap-
pointed by the chair to present the same to
the courts of this state and of the United
States for this district, with the request
that they be entered upon the records.
William G. Spruance read the above
resolutions which were listened to with
marked attention by everyone present.
Mr.. Spruance traced the early history
of the late Chief Justice, mentioning his
early associations with Hon. John NJ.
Clayton, in whose office his mind was
moulded into that of the distinguished
lawyer and the able jurist he afterwards
became. His distinguished preceptor
exercised a powerful influence in
moulding the character of his young
student, who during his whole life
entertained profound respect and
veneration for his master in the law. 1t
was to the study and practice of the
law that he devoted his best energies
and as lawyer was generally known
to the people of the State until he be-
came Chief Justice. How ably, faith
fully and accoptably Judge Comegys
performed all of his responsible duties
as the chief judge Of the superior court
of the State, until the iniirmities of age
and disease came upon him are well
known to Judge Wales, who for 10
years was associated with him on the
bench, and to the members of the bar
who practiced in the courts. In the
language of the resolutions he brought
to the bench practical knowledge of
business"