Evening journal., 1893-02-28
IMPRESSIVE MEMORIALS.
MEssRs. BATES AND BRADFORD
SUBMIT RESOLUTIONS

luton.
The entire session Of the Superior
Court this morning was taken up by the
presentation Of the New Castle County
Bars resolutions on the death of Chief
Justice Joseph p Comegys. There was
a full bench and a large attendance Of
members of the bar. The heavy drapery
In the court room and the darkened
room seemed TO make more impressive
the remarks Of the attorneys.
Hon. George Il. Bates presented the
resolutions and made the motion for
their adoption. He said, in part:
"In presenting these resolutions and
asking that they be placed upon the
records of the court, your honors may
rest assured that my colleague and per
form no mere formal duty. While ask
the indulgence of the court that may
add brief expression of my respect for
the chief justice living, and my sorrow
for him dead, have no intention Of en-
tering upon any extended eulogy,
much less of attempting such bio
graphical "reminiscences as / trust
may be hereafter prepared to
the end that his memory may be kept
green in the state which he loved so
well. / shall better follow my mood II
avail myself Of the indulgence of your
honors rather to recall some of the
salient features Of his character. Judge
Comegys was a familiar figure 10 me
from my earliest recollection. He was
in all respects a manly man. He took
pleasure in outdoor exercise Of every
kind, which were available to him long
before the interest in athletics of recent
years had been developed.
During the Kent County Courts.
remember that many of as when first
going out of doors met him returning
from a long walk which gave him vigor
for the labor and confinement Of the
court room during the day. Chief JUS
tice Comegys was a many sided man
above and beyond all he was a thorough
Delawarean. He was proud Of her his
tory, sensitive to her honor, solicitous
for her welfare. jealous of her reputa.
ton and even mindful of the honorable
achievements of her sons both living and
dead. He was also thoroughly an Ameri-
can, and his visit TO Europe, as / know
from letters written to me at the time
intensified his love for his country and
his faith in the stability Of her institu-
tions.
THE Chief Justice was a man Of broad
sympathies aud always took a deep inter
est in what was going on in the world.
| When he went abroad late in life, so
well informed was he, that in his then
impaired health he found, that he suffered
physically from the intensity and variety
of the impressions produced by contact
with the material evidence of the greai
facts of our Anglo-SaXon legal histor,
which, though familiar to him had neve
seemed so real
considering him as a lawyer, / an
not qualified to speak of him in tn
earlier years of his professional career
but ] am warranted in saying upon th
testimony Of those who knew hia init
mately that he possessed a natural apii
tude for his profession, aud was studi
Gus, painstaking and Industrious.
Mr.. Bradford's EuIogistic Words.
Edward G. Bradford, in seconding tn
motion to adopt the resolutions said II
part:
1T was my fortune to take part in tn
argument of one of the earliest, if no
the first case, heard by him while sitting
in the Court of Errors and Appeals; an
from that time, and so long as he con
tinued in the active discharge Of tn
duties Of his high office, had full an
frequent opportunity to form, as believe
a Just estimate of his judicial characte
and department.
"No one who has administered justice i
Delaware ever contributed more to til
dignity of the bench than did he. HI
personality and judicial depoItmen
effectually checked disorder and Levitt
and ensured respect All felt in hi
presence that the tribunal over which
presided merited and compelled conf
dence and obedience. He upheld tn
majesty of the law.
"Chief Justice Comegys was an arden
, lover of his native state He took prid
i in her history. He admired her peopl
He was fond of her territory. He too
a vital interest in her institutions and
, her progress and welfare He was hal
pier here than elsewhere.
e Touching Remarks From the Court.
= Chief Justice Robinson, in adopting
on behalf of the court and ordering u
{ resolutions to be recorded, said:
/ GENTLEMEN The court unite wit
y you most unreservedly in your EXPIRE
Il sion of sorrow for the great loss, u
bench, the bar and the whole state ha'
sustained in the death of our late Chi
Justice. We sorrow with you. with h
family, and with the whole commC
&c wealth.
"On these occasions our own person
}. "reminiscences of the deceased arise spo
y taneOusly in our minds and it cam
s. but be proper for rs TO refer TO thel
n and those Of his many admirable quantiti
It that struck us as being most worthy
Is imitation. Every one recognized |
D. clear and profound knowledge of 4
'e law and his wonderful gift of legal e
ii preston. His strict impartiality cou
ID never be questioned He was great a
of a just judge.
le But what struck me the most was ]
unreluctant readiness TO yield a previo
N opinion when once convinced he "
80 wrong. II seems TO be impossible
lg avoid forming an opinion as soon a.
IT question is spreesnted to you. The mi
~ does not wait upon the will but for,
d. the Judgment to conclude at once, a
IL it was with Judge Comegys as it is vi
all of us. But he had no pride of opini
he in the sense that he would obstinat,
to cling to his first inclinations-his int
rs lectual integrity was such that his r
er son was always open TO deliberation-s
V. when convinced. his judgment yield
\ q. Z