The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-10
JUSTICE DOE DEAD.
An Eminent JuriSt, Deep Thinker
and Profound Student.

DovEn " H., March 10 Chief Justice
Doe OF the supreme court New Hamp-
shire died in the Rollinsford railroad sta
tion yesterday of npoplexy. He was on
his way 10 Concord TO hold court. Charles
Doe was born in Derry, April 4, $780, and
resided In Rollinsford many years. He
graduated at Dartmouth in lsi9, and was
admitted 10 the bar i'm 1852. In 1859 he
was appointed associate justice of the SUI
preme judicial court, continuing until the
court was abolished In 1874. Two years
later he was appointed chief justice OF the
supreme court, and continued in that posi-
tion until his death. Judge Doc presided
at nearly all tho murder trials held in
New Hampshire for several years, having
been the senior justice at the celebrated
Sawtell and Almy murder trials. He had
been upon the bench since 1859.
Judge Doe was q wonderfully good law
yer, and his opinions rank with those of
the best known jurists in this country.
For some years he presided at trial terms
only in capital cases, or when some other
member of the court had been incapac-
itated from sitting'by sickness.
But Judge Doe was quite ~ well known
on account of his unique and eccentric
characteristics rs through his legal ability.
His constant demand for more air. at
the recent famous murder trials when the
thermometer registered near the zero
point, the story that the judge never read
an American newspaper and his habit OF
wearing shabby clothes, even while on the
bench, were some Of the things that
brought notoriety.
No Stfeisfer For FormatftieE
Probably.no judge on the bench in this
part OF the country, certainly no chief
justice, ever cared less for form and cere-
mony in holding court or in opening or
closing it's session. The transaction OF
business was the uppermost thing in the
judges mind, and he went straigh. at it
without reference To precedent or tradi-
tion.
In Judge Does courtroom there was no
formality in opening or closing. Tho
judge was no stickler for the dignity of
his position, nor did he care for manifes-
tations OF respect for 1t. Pure air in the
courtroom was of much greater moment
TO him than uncovered heads in the pres
ence of the highest judicial power in tho
state and so the sight of counsel wit
nesses and spectators sitting In the court
room with hats and outer clothing on TO
protect them from the drafts of widely
opened windows was not an uncommon
one.
Judge Doe himself sat out many OF
such sessions with his overcoat on, though
never with his hat ON. In one instance,
however, the draft was too much, even
for him. He would not yield by dimin-
ishing its supply OF fresh air so he COM
promised by placing his handkerchief over
his head, and the trial went on with the
chief justice arrayed in what would CON-
monty be considered most pndignifled
way.
His attitude toward tho papers seemed
TO be one of courteous toleratlon TO some
thing OF which he did not approve per-
sonally, but which he was bound TO rec
ognizo in Difference to the opinions of
others. He was apparently perfectly in
different 20 what opinions they might ex-
press on his actions or to what they might
Aof his personal characteristics, thus
giving force to the commonly accepted
idea that he did not read them, but he
always had pleasant word for the
papers representatives when he met them,
and certainly won their respect aHei Ii Ii
But Judge Does peculiarities were not
confined to carelcssness about dignity in
his courtroom. His personal appearance
was apparently one of the last things to
which he gave consideration, and from
his dress he might much more readily
have been taken for an up-country farmer
In moderate circumstances than for an
able and learned chief justice OF great
state.
Wealthy and Charitable.