The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-10-18

Edward Elwell, Of Beaver Dam, Wis, j
and many others.
Col. Freeze, acting as toast master,
proposed the following toast:
OUR GUEsT.-Closing a judicial
life fruitful with judicial learning,|
adorned with virtue, true citizen, al
|steadfast friend, a benevolent man,
we tender our retiring Presiding Judge|
this tribute to his character and|
worth"
In his opening remarks the Col.
said, among other things
"I have seen as advocates beforeI
him in our Court, the most distinguish
ed lawyers Of the state. l may be al
lowed to name on this occa sion j
Judge Jeremiah S. Black, Judge|
George w. Woodward, Judge John|
w. Maynard, Hon. Franklin b.
Gowen, Gov. Henry M. Hoyt, Judge
Edward Owen Parry, Judge F. Car.
roll Brewster, Hon. Francis w.
Hughes, Mr.. Atty. Genl. Palmer,
with many other gifted and able men.
If were to attempt sketch of the
Honorable William EIwell l should goj
back almost fifty years, and say that
as legislator, he is the author of the |
statute abolishipg Imprisonment for |
debt-as lawyer. that more than al
hundred cases in the books attest toI
his forensic contests before the Su.
preme Court-as a Judge, that heI
presided at the trial of the most i'm
portant criminal and civil causes,
which, during his incumbency, haves
been before the Courts of this State. u
In closing his response to "TheI !
Judiciary" Judge c. L. PershingI
paid this beautiful tribute to Judgej
|Elwell
awe have met in honor of theI
guest Of the evening, and the occasionl
has suggested to me a grand historical
scene which transpired many Centuries,
|ago, when a great judge was about toI
Hay aside his robes OF Office. We areI
told that Samuel gathered the people,
lat Gilgal, and standing in their pres.
|ence said, {" l am old and gray headed.|
Behold, here am witness against
me before the Lord. Whose OK have|
l taken2 or whose ass have l taken n
whom have 1 defrauded1 or whom|
have 1 oppressed1 OF whose hands
have 1 received any bribe to blind
| mine eyes Herewith ?" And no mani
in all that vast assembly stood up to-
accuse him. do not believe that
the line of able and incorruptible|
Judges ended with Samuel. We ALL
know that could the people of this,
judicial district be gathered in one
great assemblage, that Judge Elwell i
could proudly stand before them and
say, Il am now o'd and gray-head,
sed," and then challenge them as
Samuel challenged the people in his
8day, and that every voice would res
pond as was responded to Samuel,
i" Thou hast not defrauded us, nor
oppressed us, neither hast thou taken
Taught of any mans hand"
Judge Elwel's reputation as iurist
ais known throughout the State, and
beyond its borders. He has not wait
S led for posterity to build him a monu-
Hment. 1t is one of John Ruskin's
thoughts, that we should so act our
parts on the stage Of life, that care
less OF what monuments may be erect
Sed by Others over our graves, each
should build his own as he passes
Through the world; monuments by
(which men may be taught to remem
2ber, not where we died but where we
lived. Judge Elwell has obeyed this
Sinjunction. He has built his own
monument. In my county of Schuyl
Sklll, where he has in times past tried
Important cases In her Courts, he
commands universal love and respect.
1t will ever be spoken to his honor,
land to the honor of his children, and
sof the people to whom he was SO long
athe minister of Justice, that after more
athan twenty-five years of able and
1conspicuous service, he voluntarily
laid aside the Judicial ermine as pure
Hand unspotted as it was the day on
(which he put it on"
n Lieut.. Governor Davies said
81 first knew Judge Elwell when he
swas In the prime and vigor of life, in
Rfull practice at the Bar of Bradford
acounty, in the year 1886. He was as
sociated then with men who were con
asidered giants in their day and time /:
sWilmot, Mercur, Overton, Adams,
Watkins, Patrick, Pierce and others,
Sall Of them distinguished members of
! the Bar. Some of them acquired
Estate and National fame. All of them
ahave crossed the silent river. Not
Sone of Judge Elwell's contemporaries
! 3of an early date are now living.
Ientered his law Office in the vear|
arS50 for the study of law. He was at
that period King of our Bar. AS he
appeared then before the bench in adj
vocacy of his clients claims, he was al