The Banner-Democrat., 1893-11-18
DEATH oFJuDGEo c. A. DeFRANcE
St. Louis Republic, Nov. 9Th.

81. Louis hepuuuc, NOV. OH.
Judge Charles A. De France, we'll
known attorney aud highly respected
resident of Kirkwood, died suddenly
in the County Courthouse at Clyton
Yesterday. lie left Kirkwood on a
Missouri Pacific train at o'clock
yesterday morning in company with
Colonel Zach j. Mitchell, and went to
the Uniol Depot, ST. Louis, where
they took train to Clayton. He was
attorney for DR.. Eugene Van Ness and
Others OF KirKwood, and went to
Claytonto defend them in suits in the
Circuit Court, instituted by the Kirk
wood Armory Hall Association. While
on the way from Kirkw ood to Clayton
he complaiued of weakness and chilly
SENSATIONS. He arrived in Clayton
about 10 O'Clock, and few minutes
later started up to the Circuit Court
room, which is on the second floor Of
the Courthouse. When about half
up the stairway he appeared TO be
stricken with parlysis, aud he avoided
falling by holding 10 the side-railing
on the steps Colonel Mitchell, who
was with him assisted him into Prose-
cutting Attorney Mudd's office and
QUITO sofa. DIR. Van Ness of Kirk
wood aud Dr. Z. S. Rouse of Clayton
were near and were promptly called
10 attend hin, and they did all in their
power to give him relief, but to no
avail He was In great agony until
1880. when death relieved him. The
attending physicians assigned cerebral
hemorrhage as the cause of death.
DIR. j. w. Evans, his son-in-law with
whom he lived in Kirkwood, WAS sum-
moned to Clayton from his place of
business with the Evaus Bros, To-
bacco aud Warehouse Company in ST.
Louis, aud he arrived about IL o'clock.
The old gentleman spoke only one
sentence after he was stricken on The
stairway, aud this was about one hour
before he died when he looked al DIR.
Evans, his son-in-lsw, and said: "My
daughterr In the afternoon the re-
mains were taken by a wagon from
CLAYTON to the home of his only
daughter, wife of Dir. J. w. Evans, in
Northwest Kirkwood.
Judge Charles A. De France was
born at Por; Gibson, Miss, in 1926.
In 1867 he came to ST. Louis, and re-
sided here until 1879, when he
moved to Kirkwood, where he resided
until his death. lie served time in
the Confederate Army and in the zoos
WAS District Judge in Mississippi. He
filed the position of Town Recorder
in Kirkwood several years and was
prominently identified with all move
ments for the welfare of the town.
About three years ago he was enrolled
in the Circuit Court at Clayton as a
member of the bar and since that time
has spent much of his time in the
courts OF St. Louis County. He was
an uncompromising Democrat and a
faithful aud indefaiigable worker in
his party. serving as member of the
County Central Committee.
He leaves one daughter, Mrs. How
ard De France Evans of Kirkwood,
and one son, Wm H. De France, who
is an engineer on the Cotton Belt
Railway and resides at Jonesboro,
Ark.
We can add to the above-that
Judge De France resided in this parish
for many years before aud after the
war. He was one of the foremost
citizens both in The old parish of Car
roll, and in the parish of East Carroll.
He was good lawyer; and, in all
the relations Of life, kind and genial
gentleman. Iu his general demeanor,
he was exceptionally courteous and
polite. and had heart as tender as a
woman's. lie never was Judge in Mis-
sissippi, but was Judge of lbe parish OF
East Carroll. La, for several years
aud filed the position creditably to
himself, and with satisfaction TO the
people.
He left many friends here. Those
of them who survive will be sadly
grieved 10 hear of his death.