The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-01-08
MR. DOOLI IrTLE'S RESIGNATION,


 MR. DOOLI rTLE'S RESIGN4TION,
 Although it has been for the last few weeks generally thought that States Attorney Doolittle would soon lay down the burden of his office, the an- nouncement of his resignation came as | a surprise. for he had apparently made preparations to go through the work of the term of court which opened yester- l day. But he kept his own counsel, as he has long been in the habit of doing, and resigned when he got ready, in characteristic fashion.
 MT. Doolittle was seventy years old | on the 31st of last July. He has been in the practice of law for almost fifty years, having been admitted to the bar at Middletown in this State in August, 1S46. His law office has been in New Haven all of that time except few years which he spent in Meriden in the early part of his legal career. He has been a very successful lawyer, and though not an office-seeker his fellow citizens have shown their appreciation of his quality by making him mem- Der of the legislature several times, and the last time his fellow members show ed their appreciation of his quality by making him Speaker of the House. His fitness for the work in which he afterwards became so conspicuous and so useful was recognized as far back as 1859, when he was appointed United States District Attorney for the Dis triet Of Connecticut, and when, twenty years later, he was appointed States Attorney of New Haven to succeed the Hon. o. H. Platt, the appointment was most heartily and generally commend ed. Since that time MT. Doolittle has filled large place in the legal affairs of the State, and always with fidelity and honor, And during his long term of office as States Attorney he has im- pressed himself upon the courts, the lawyers, the criminals and the com munity in general in powerful and
 unusual way.
 1 MT. Doolittle has been in many ways
 an ideal prosecuting officer. He has 1 had a thorough and ever-increasing ! knowledge of the law. He has had skill
 and readiness enough in the applica- | tion of the law to be able to cope with
 the best of the lawyers constantly ar rayed against him, and he has had l to meet many good ones. He has had
 great natural force, persistency and
 shrewdness And he has had a won- l derful knowledge of human nature and
 a keen perception of human motives. He inspired criminals with terror and
 not infrequently inspired their defend
 CTS with a like emotion, for he could
 make both the criminals and their de- | to defeat him. But while he was re-
 lentless in the pursuit and punishment l of the dangerous foes of society, he | did not regard himself solely as an
 avenger of the law. Under his usually
 severe and sometimes awe-inspiripg manner he concealed great considerate- ness and true kindness of heart. Many
 a criminal who was more weak and
 unfortunate than vicious has been treated with judicious leniency by him. 1 and he has given many a man and
 many a woman a. chance to do better
 when he thought he could do so with
 out failing in his duty to society. He
 has inspired gratitude in many hearts
 as well as fear, and in the quiet of
 his retirement we have no doubt that
 he will take as much real satisfaction
 in the kind and helpful acts he has
 been able and willing to do as in the
 good he has done by fearIessly and ! successfully upholding the law.
 He leaves his important office full
 Of years and honors. He has the re- spect and the admiration of the people whom he has served So long and so
 well. and for whose peace and safety
 he has fought so valiantly and per | sistently. His ability and his worth are
 known and appreciated by the mem
 bers of his profession throughout Con-
 necticut and in ether States. He has lived longer, done more and done it
 better than most men do. He has well
 earned the rest he is going to take and
 all who know him and his work will
 heartily wish that his remaining days ! may be pleasant and peaceful.