The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-10-22
JUDGE BEDLE DEAD
Shock of the Operation He
Underwent Caused
Heart Failure.
WAS CENTENNIAL GOVERNOR
Sketch of His Eyentful Career
Action Of the Courts
and Bar.

IN ST. Luke's Hospital, on West FIFTY
fourth street, New York.
For some time past the Ex-Governor
has suffered from ealculi formations and
was recently told by his physicians that
he could only find permanent relief from
an operation. After consulting with his
physicians and friends he decided to un-
dergo the operation at the hands of
D. L. Bolton Bangs. the specialist who
SO successfully operated upon Mayor
Wanser. He accordingly made his prepara-
tions and on October u he entered st.
Luke's.
1t was decided not to perform the opera
tion at once, and during the week the
Ex-Governor was patient in the hospi-
tai and was daily visited by members OF
his family. On Friday night additional
nourishment was given him and prepar-
tions were made which led Mr.. Bedle to
conclude that the operation was at hand.
He was perfectly conscious of the gravity
of the situation and perfectly resigned
On Saturday he called in DIR. Parker, the
chaplain of the hospital, and together
they held a short religious service.
OPERATION SUCCESSFUL.
Saturday afternoon everything was
ready, and taking leave of his family,
who were all present at the time, he
calmly went to the operating room with
that courage that has always character
lied his conduct. He was placed under
the influence of anaesthetics and the
operation was successfully performed. He
stood the ordeal we'll and rallied from the
anaesthetics and there was every indi-
cation of his rapid and complete recovery.
About noon yesterday his condition took
turn for the worse, but it was four
o'clock before it became apparent that
he could not live. He was conscious at
intervals during the day and recognized
the members of his family and Mr.. and
Mrs Flavel MCGEE, who were at his bed
side. It soon became evident that there
was trouble with the heart. DR.. Bangs
was in constant attendance and every
thing known TO modern science was done
for the patient. The shock of the opera
tion. however, had been too much for
the weakened heart. AT four O'Clock the
Ex-Governor relapsed into unconscious
ness and the beating of his heart rapid
ly increased. Finally at five o'clock, with
oitt regaining consciousness, his breath
ing, which had grown fainter and fainter,
finally ceased altogether. Death was due
TO heart failure, superinduced by the
shock of the operation.
The body was brought to the Bedle
residence, at Jersey avenue and Mont
gonery streets, this morning.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday
in the First Presbyterian Church on
Emory street. The Rev. Dr. Herr, Pastor,
will officiate and preach the sermon.
The burial will be at Freehold.
JOSEPH DORSETT BEDLE.
Joseph Dorsett Bedle was born in
Mattawan, Monmouth County, January
s. 1881 He comes from an old American
family on both sides, his maternal an
cestors having enligrated to this country
from Bermuda more than century and
half ago. His father, Thomas ]. Bedle,
whose immediate ancestors were Jersey
men, was merchant. a justice of the
peace for upwards of twenty-five years,
and a judge of the Court Of Common
Pleas for the County of Monmouth.
His mother, Hannah Dorsett, was des-
cended from family that was among
the early settlers of Monmouth.
Joseph obtained his early education in
the academy at Mattawan, then known
as Middletown Point. AT early age
he manifested a preference for the law,
and began it's study in 1S4S in the office
Of William L. Drayton at Trenton. Dur
ing the period of four years study re-
CURED in this State, he attended the
regular course of lectures at the law
school in Ballston Spa, NY. and he
passed one winter in the office of Thomp-
son & Weeks at Poughkeepsie. In the
spring of 1852 he was admitted to the
bar of New York as an attorney and
7 counsellor. He then returned to New
Jersey and was short time in the office
of Henry S. Little, ex-Clerk in Chan
Gerry. at Mattawan, and was admitted
to the bar of this State as an attorney
in January, 1853
PRACTISING LAW.
Mr.. Bedle began the practice of his
profession at Mattawan. and in the
where he soon made his presence felt
and won place among the leaders of
the bar. He was in the enjoyment of a
large and valuable practice when, in
March, 1865. he was appointed a Justice
of the Supreme Court. He was assigned
to the circuit comprising Hudson, Ber-
gen and Passaic Counties, and took up
his residence in Jersey City.
lie was SOOu TGcOSulZSQ dS one Ol The
ablest jurists of the State, and his de-
cisions were highly respected. His course
on the bench, together with his genial
manner, made him exceedingly popular,
and towards the end of his first term as
Judge, in 1871, he was prominently men
toned in connection with the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor but he
took no steps to secure the nomination,
rather discouraging the movement in his
favor. He was reappointed Justice of
the Supreme Court In 1872, and in 1874
there was such popular demand for
him for Governor that the Democratic
Convention of that year unanimously
. nominated him. He accepted the nomi-
nation only at the earnest request of
his party, and although he took no
part whatever in the campaign himself,
but attended strictly to his judicial
Suties, he was elected by over 1900
plurality.
He was the centennial Governor, and
his administration from the first was
marked by ability, prudence and a
patriotism inspired by a desire for the
public welfare BY his statesman-like
Tie,ys and noble aims he firmly intrench-
I'd himself in the respect and esteem