Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-06-07
A VENEEABLE CAREER ENDED.


A VENEEABLE CAREER ENDED.
Ex-C0ngressnan and eN.Judge Broomall
Passes Away from Pneumonia and
Heart Failure.
Hon. John NJ. Broomall of Media,
died at the residence of his daughter
DIR. Anna NJ. Broomall, about noon last
Sunday, from pneumonia and heart
failure, aged IS years. He had been in
i'll health for many months and death
was not unexpected.
Ex-Judgc Broomall was born In
Upper Chichester township, Delaware
county, January 10Th, 1916. He was
educated in the Friends Academy in
this city where he afterwards taught
school. In Philadelphia he entered upon
the study of law under the preceptor-
ship Of Judge Bowler He was ad-
mitted TO practice August gath, 1910, in
the Delaware county court.
The death OF Mr.. Broomall removes
man who has been prominent in the
political history of Delaware county for
nearly 40 years. He has served in the
capacity of Representative in the State
Legislature, became u member of the
State Revenue Board in 1854, and was
sent to Congress from the Sixth Con-
gressional district Delaware and Chester
counties) in 1862, and served in tho
Thirty-eighth, Thirty and Forteth
Congress. He was member of the
committee which investigated the Mem
phis riots. Among his notable efforts
in Congress was his eulogy upon Thad.
deus Stevens, in the lower house Of
Congress, December 18th, 1868.
When, in 1859, the invasion of the
State by General Lee seemed imminent
and the State militia were preparing to
take the field, the deceased joined the
Sixteenth Regiment rs captain Of Com
pany @. Again, in 1868, when the
militia were called into service before
the battle of Gettysburg, Mr.. Broomall
raised a company aud was attached to
the Twenty-ninth Regiment, emergency
men, and was in the field until the
militia were mustered out.
Judge Broomall was one of the Presi-
dental electors from Pennsylvania in
1860, and voted for Abram Lincoln, and
again in 1879, casting his vote on this
occasion for General Grant for second
term. In the following year he was
elected delegate to the Pennsylvania
constitutional convention, and his coun-
sci was exceedingly valuable in franz
ing the new constitution. He was q
ready debater, fertile in argument, and
was among those whose address re-
ceived respectful attention by this body
of representative Pennsylvanians.
In 1874, after Delaware and Chester
counties were made separate judicial
districts, Mr.. Broomall was appointed
judge in Delaware county by Governor
Hartranft. At the expiration of his
term he became the nominee of his
party again, but was defeated by
Thomas j. Clayton at the election. At
this period the feeling of bitterness pre-
vailing between the Broomall and Clay
ton families had its inception, and CON
tinued for more than 20 years in Della
ware county.
In 1884, William b. Broomall, ex.
Judge Broomull's son, was a candidate
for the judgeship, but was also defeated
by Clayton. The feeling between Mr..
Broomall and Judge Clayton eliminated
in the Media Court House during the
famous Boatwright poisoning case, In
1887 ex-Judge Broomall was defending
Mrs. cartwright, charged with poison.
ing her husband. A tilt arose during
the examination of witness, and Mr..
Broomall started to leave the court
room when arrested by bailifl at the
instance Of Judge Clayton and brought
before the bar of the court. After few
admonitory words from Judge Clayton,
who was his junior by twenty years,
Mr.. Broomall resumed the case. At It's
conclusion, however, he inserted acard
in the Media papers signifying his un.
willingness to practice before Judge
Clayton any longer.
He was induced to change his decis-
ion several years afterwards when called
upon by friends of his adversary, judge
Clayton, and it was thought theNAhad
buried the Ratchet until ex-Judge
Broomall turned up as counsel for Miss
COOLEY in the suit for breach OF promise
against Samuel Clayton, Judge Claytons
son, and secured for her verdict. Since
that celebrated trial Mr.. Broomall has
refrained from practcing at the Media
bar, and has been suffering from illness
which ended in his death. Judge
Broomall has several times been yisi.
W. W W. v HAii5ioll bdi ouu uppedTSQ
as counsel in the superior court here
over a year ago, his client being resi-.
dent of Delaware county Interested in
the division of Delaware property. He
is we'll known here among the members
of the bar. =
His Grafton at the Bi-Centenary Of
the Landing of William Penn, at Ches.
ter, October 23d, 1889, is recalled as an
important contribution to the literature
devoted to the early settlement of the
commonwealth. lie also wrote in 1877.
History of Delaware County for the
Past Century" for the Delaware County
Institute of Science, of which he was q
member, and At one time its president
Judge Broomall leaves a widow
three sons, William, Henry and Carroll
and one. daughter, DR.. Anna Broomall
all of whom were with him when h,
died.
Mr.. Henry S. Stiles, cashier of thu
Public Ledger, who has completed 81
| years. service in the office wss oiv,n ,