The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-12-20
JUDGE GHEUIAN

JODGE tIILFlLLAN.
The legal profession, not of the state
OF Minnesota only, but of the nation,
has lost a pillar OF strength in the death
OF Chef Justice James Gilfillan, which
occurred at his home in ST. Paul on Sun
day last. Judge Giltilan has occupied a
seat on the supreme bench OF Minnesota
Tor nearly twenty years, and during that
time he has contributed not a little to
making the decisions OF Minnesota re-
spected as law wherever the English
lang uage is used in courts of Justice. 1t
was not that he conspicuouslv repre-
eented the central ideal qualifications OF
aJndge perfect integrity and fearless
ness, but with them he combined that
judicial bent OF mind, that ANALYTICAL
faculty. which characterize his decisio ms
as are those OF lew men i'll like position.
He was great lawyer and greater
Judge. The history of the jurisprudence
In Minnesota will ever be completely in
terwoven with the spirit of her recent
chief justice.
The death of Judge Gilfllan seems to
strike little harder blow to our citizens
than to most like communities in the
state by reason of the fact that his
brother-in-law, DR.. McMasters, is a resi-
dent here, and further, during the past
year his son, James GiIfiilan, made his
home With us. His wife and seyen chill
dren SURVIVE him.
The following tribute paid by Judge
Mitchell, one OF the associate judges OF
the supreme court will be read with in
trerest, as coming from one peculiarly
qualified to express it:
"Althongh have known Judge Gilil-
Ian for some thirtv-fye years, yet my IN
tlmnte personal acquaintance with him
only began about fourteen years ago,
when l became member OF the supreme
court OF this state. Since that time |
have been IN constant association with
him, officially and socially.
In my opinion, he was one of the
ablest Judges who have sat on any
bench III this country during the past
quarter OF a century. He was q man of
unusually vigorous and analytical mind,
and OF the most fearless courage and in
dependence. In the discharge OF his Off
clal duties he knew neither persons nor
classes among litIgants or counsel, his
sole aim being to decide cause accord
ing to legal principles as he understood
them.
1T never once entered into his mind to
consider what effect any particular de-
clsiOn might have upon himself. He
meyer did or said thing tor mere effect.
There cannot be found in any OF his j1-
dicial utterances word or syllable de-
signed to make a show OF learning or to
cater to popular taste. Had he been
ambitious of tame, in the ordinary sense
of the word, a man OF his ability might
have achieved much greater degree of
success in that direction than he did,
But in writing his opinions his sole aim
was to do his duty, to decide a cause
correctly and to state clearly the grounds
upon which the decision rested; and he
said nothing that was not necessary for
the purpose. In his numerous decisions
to be found III over thirty-6ve volumes
OF our reports, he has lett an enduring
monument to his eminent ability as a
jurist.
ITO appreciate him as man, it was
necessary to know him Intimately. To
those who were not personally well ac-
quaInted with him his manner some
times seemed rather cola and reserved,
and, at times, even brusque. Bnt those
who knew him xxi! soon found that
this Was mere matter vi external man