The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-08-09
THE LATE JUSTICE JACKSON.


rehearing in the income tax cases last
May. He had been absent from the city
and from the bench since the preceding
fall, when, soon after the convening of the
October term Of court, he had been COM
PEELED to come south on account of his
rapidly declining health. During his alb
-scnce there had been contradictory reports
as to his physical condition, but the pre-
vailing opinion among his colleagues on
tho bench was that he would never again
be able to resume his seat.
Mr.. jackson had the reputation in
Washington, and especially about the
supreme court, of being very sensitive
concerning any discussion OF his health
in the public press, and he referred to
the subject very sparingly in his own
conversation. The other members of tho
| court were, therefore, poorly advised as to
his condition. This state OF affairs is said
to have been the reason for the equiyocal
character of the announcement of the de-
| cision to grant rehearing In the income
tax cases, which of necessity depended
upon Jaoksons presence.
Ho was In Washington on the occasion
| of the rehearing Tor several days, and gave
his attention assiduously to the income
tax cases. He sat through the argument,
part in the consultation of the court, and
when the day arrived for the announce
ment Of tire decision not only listened pa
| tiently to the opinions of most OF the other
members of tho court, but delivered a Wig
orous opinion of his own in support of the
validity of the law. This occurred on May
20, and was his last public appearance He
returned TO his home in Tennessee late In
May.
When Judge jackson was In Washing
| ton on this occasion 1t was evident to nlI
| who came in contact with him that life
was slowly but surely ebbing away, and
that the effort he made was at the expense
of his vitality.
As senator and Justice of the supreme
court Mr. Jackson had resided In Wash
ington about eight years His associates
here were confined to his colleagues on
the bench and In the senate chamber. BY
them he was universally esteemed as a
man of high moral worth and rich intel
lectual attainments, as was evlnced in
nothing SO much as in his appointment to
/ the supreme bench by President Harrison
and his confirmation by n Republican sem
ate, Notwithstanding he was Democrat
| Howell Edmunds jackson was born in
Paris, Tenn, April 8, 1882. Justice Jack.
|
from the West Tennessee college in 1878.
He studied law two years at the Uni
versity and in jackson, under his kins.
men, Judges Y. w. o. Totten and Milton
Brown; graduated from the Lebanon Law
school in 1856, in which year he located in
Jackson and engaged in the practice of
his profession; removed to Memphis in
| 1859 whore he continued the practice of
| law; served on the supreme bench by ap-
pointment on two occasions, and was
once prominent candidate for supreme
| judge before the nominating convention.
He relocated in jackson In 1875; was cleo
ted to the state house of representatives
in 1880 on the state credit platform; was
elected to the United States senate as
! Democrat in 1881, and served in that ca
/ pacity till April 12, 1886. He was ap-
pointed United States circuit Judge by
President Cleveland, and nominated for
associate Justice Of the supreme court by
President Harrison, being confirmed by
the senate Feb. Is, 1898, and entering upon
the duties of the office March 4, 1898.