The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-20
WIN. STRONG DEAD.
A Famous Jurist, ex-Member Of
the Supreme Court.
HIS DECISIONS MUCH QUOTED.
An Athlete In His Youth, and Vigorous
ae 81 Leonard w. yoik, the
Sculptor, Dead.

Lake Mfnrewaska, ~. Y Aug. T.-Ex-
associate Justice Strong. OF the United
States supreme court, died here at 2.lo
this afternoon.
Ex-Justsce Strong was brought TO Lake
MinnewaSka several weeks ago, suffering
from a catarrhal affection of long stand
ing. His system was also greatly weak
ened by fall down a fight OF stairs at
his home in Washington City about two
months ago. Since his arrival here Judge
Strong has lain in a seTni-coTnatose state.
from which he rallied only at intervals
Yesterday he had a stroke Of paralysis
which affected the left side. He also suf-
fered recurrence OF the catarrhal fever
and again became unconscious until death
ensued this afternoon.
William Strong was born at SoEers,
Conn. May 6. 1905. He was graduated at
Yale in is2s. and engaged in the study OF
law, teaching at the same time, ar one
period in Burlington. y. j. He finished
his legal studies by six months course
in Yale law school. Deciding to practice
in Pennsylvania. ne was admitted to the
bar in that state in 1872. and. settling at
Reading, mastered the German language.
then much spoken in that region, and
soon ranked high IS lawyer. In Is46 he
was a candidate for congress. and was
twice elected on the Democratic ticket.
serving from 1s47 till 1851. In his second
term he was appointed chairman of the
committee on elections He declined
third nomination. and retired from ac-
tive politics, bur when the civil war be-
gan, though then occupying high ju-
diciai post, he gave ali his support and
influence IN aid of the government. In
1868. when Chief Justice fancy died, Pres
ident Lincoln thought OF appointing Judge
Strong his successor. In 1851 he was
elected a justice of the supreme court of
SfxraK fa nd Iaac ed ale
attaining a high reputation a jurist.
His opinions. in volume 5000 of the state
reports, exhibit care in preparation, clear
ness OF statement, precision and yigor OF
style and accurate knowledge of law. In
1868 he resigned his seat on the bench
and opened an office in Philadelphia, and
at once obtained a large and lucrative
practice. In February, 1870. he was APP
pointed justice of the supreme court of
the United States by President Grant.
and served until December, 1850, when he
resigned. accepting a pension. His great
knowledge of law, keen Discrimination
and sound judgment made him an invalu-
able associate in consultation, and his
clear and mastery opinions helped large
ly to sustain the dignity and authority of
the court OF his opinions, those in the
legal tender cases, the state freight tax
cases and the civil rights cases, inciud-
ing Tennessee VS.. Davis. exhibit in an
yss and vigorous logic. Justice Strong
was a member of the electoral commits
sion in February. 1877, and in his opinions
contended that congress has no power TO
canvass a state election for presidential
electors (Which was the great question at
issue, and that in the cases he especial
~ reviewed chose of Florida and Ore
gon) the canvass of the state authorities
was clear and decisive. Beside his Of
cial and professional labors, Justice
Strong took an active part in the coun-
ellis of the Presbyterian church, of which
he was a member. He was for years
president of the American Tract Society
and of the American Sunday School
Union, and took part in other benevolent
enterprises. He delivered many public
addresses and lectures, and frequently
contributed TO magazines and reviews lie
delivered in 1875, before the Philadelphia
bar and the American Philosophical So
ciety, OF which he was a member, an adj
dress on the Life and Character of Hor-
ace Binney," and I'm 1879 an address before
the law department of the University Of
PENNSYLVANIA on the Growth and Modi-
flcatons of Private Civil Law" lie also
delivered a course of lectures to the pro-
fessors and students of the Union Theo-
logical Seminary of New York, and for
several years lectured 10 the law depart
ment of Columbia university. Washing
ton City. Lafayette gave him the decree
OF LII D. In 1867, and Yale and Prince
ton in 1870. After his retirement from the
bench he resided in Washington City,
spending his summers at Lake Mime
waska In 1890 Judge Strong visited
friends I'm Portland, Or. He was then
vigorous in body and mind. and contin-
ued so until recently. In his boyhood he
was A lad OF prodigious strength. Once
he swan across New Haven harbor and
back again. and years afterward. by SUI
perhuman exertions. he saved two men
from drowning He was a keen sports
man, fond OF driving. shooting and fish
ing.