The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-10
w. 8. RELFE DEAD.
The Weli-Known Lawyer and Ex.
Police Commissioner.


W. 8. Relse, the weil-knowr lawyer AMI
ex-poisee commissioner. died q, his resi-
dence. siz Ninth avenue. yesterday after
noon a. SD o'clock. surrounded b. the
members Of his family.
Mr.. Relfe had been in poor health for
several years. suffering from an afTliction
OF the lungs About three weeks ago he
was stricken with the grip and compelled
TO remain IN doors. His lungs being weak
the disease fastened itself more firmly
On its victim than II otherwise would
have done, and after q short battle the
sufferer had 20 seek his bed. from which
hs never arose. DR.. Dawson was called
IN and did all that he could do. but to no
AVIAN. On Sunday the patient began to
sink rapidly and grew bad that 70 vas
thought necessary 20 telegraph 10 Ross
land for his son Linn On Monday the
sufferer showed 10 change for the better.
and II was the opinion Of DR.. Dawson that
only a miracle could save his PATIENT
This condition continued Monday night.
With no signs OF improvement During
ell this tine Mr.. Re!fs was conscious,
suffering great pain IN his lungs. AZ
o'clock yesterday afternoon he asked for
a newspaper and read for several min
utes. he was not apprised Of his low con-
ditton, as Il was thought that this would
hasten his death and cause him 20 pass
away before the arrival OF his only son, 20
whom he was greatly attached. Notwfth-
standing this his wife and daughters and
sor-tn-law. Tracy II. Robertson, were
constantly near his bed during the entire
day. About o'clock ne was suffering
great pain, and a few minutes afterwards
passed away peacefully, death seeming to
corne as happy relief 70 his great suffer-
ing. The wife and daughters although
they expected death at almost any min
ute. were Frustrated with grief The fac,
49, Y f~r n
death caused an additional sorrow.
w. 8. Rsise was born at Caledonia Mo-,
on July ., 1870 His early days were spent
IN that town. where he completed his high
school course with honor. He was sent 10
Arcadia. Mo. from which he graduated az
the exceedingly young age Of 18 From
college he returned 90 his home but in a
short time went 10 Potosf. No. where he
studied law. and afterwards oracticed- As
a young man he showed much sptitua. for
this profession. which developed in him IN
q he was considered in after years 70 be
one OF the best brief coruoiIers in Nilsson
II. and without a superior as an insurance
lawyer. While practicing law in Potosi
he married his present wife. who was
Mis-. wallace. Soon after admission TO the
bar he opened up partnership with
George p. Reynolds. who was afterward
United States district attorney fer the
Eastern district OF Missouri.
Born OF a Democratic family ard raised
In that atmosphere. Mr.. R>lfe naturally
took part in politics. and was elected 20
the Missouri legislature for the session OF
1851 and was one OF the most conspfcu-
Gus figures I'm the election OF United States
Senator F. N. Cockreii. who still retains
his seat. He made quite record for him
seis in the capacity % a legislator, and
came cut at the next election as a candl-
Gate FOR attorney general OF the state b.
fore the convention that nominated John
s Phelps for governor. and after hard
s-ght was defeated by only a few votes.
Gov Phelps after his election remembered
the services performed in his behalf By
MIR ReIfs. and appointed him to the posi-
ton OF superintendent OF the state insur-
ance department. which position he filed
with honor Tor the fun term % four years.