Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-04-14

come to expect that they might hear
of his death suddenly. The last reports
of him, however, We're that he was show
ing some signs of Improvement and his
death therefore. while not entirely unex-
pected, came with the suddenness of
shock.
The ex-senator's son. Reese n. Veor-
hees, had remained in the room with his
father during the night and was awak-
ened about O'Clock this morning by his
father. who was then suffering great
pain in the region of the heart. He re-
fused. however, TO allow a physician to
be called. saying the pain would pass
away. Half an hour later he appeared
much better and got out of bed to walk
to the bathroom, his son being with
him.
When they entered the hallway the
ex-senator was attacked by more Sc
we're spasm than he had yet experienced
and fell in a semi-unconscious condition
into his sons arms. The latter car
ried the now dying man back to his bed
and summoned DR.. Shoup, a neighbor
ing physician. 1t was too late, how
ever. for any aid TO be Of avail, and the
ex-senator soon passed away without re-
gaining full consciousness. Only his
son, Reese, his daughter. Miss Halle
Voorhees,, and the physician were pres
emf when he died.
The remains Will be taken to Terre
Haute, Ind, the senator's home for SO
many years, for lnterment, but just when
is not yet determined. The senator is
survived by three sons-Charles, who re-
sides III the state Of Washington; Reese
y. and James PaNton-and one daugh-
ter. Miss Halle. al of whom except the
first named reside in this city.
At the time of his retirement from the
Senate, the Tall Sycamore of the Wa
BASH as he WAS affectionately called by
dpvntpH in no or fp
was the ranking Democrat on the finance
committee and by virtue of this position
the nominal leader at least of his party on
the floor of the Senate on tariff and finan-
cial questions.
He was not very active, however, ow-
ing TO his ill-health, in the work on the
Wilson bill, most of the numerous Senate
amendments TO this bill and its final pas
sage after a stormy career, in which it
was in serious danger several times, being
due to Senator Jones Of Arkansas.
In the repeal of the Sherman silver law
the Hoosier senator, however. took very
prominent part. 1t was his last impor-
tant work in the Senate and the final
accomplishment of the repeal was due
largely to the effective support he rendered
to the Cleveland administration, which
had made the repeal one of its chief pur-
poses. The finance committee at this time
was almost evenly divided on the financial
question and the balance of power in the
committee lay practically with Mr.. Voor-
hees.
Mr.. Voorhees, was 76 years of age
last September and prior to his retire
ment from public life on March 4 last
had been for many years one of the
most picturesque figures in the Senate.
He was born in Liberty township, Buf-
falo county. o., and III his early infancy
was carried by his parents to their piO-
neer home in the Wabash valley, Ind. In
1S49 he graduated from the Indiana As
bury (now DepauW) university and after
studying law began its practice in 1851.
When the news Of Senator Voorhees,
death became known at the capitol today
expressions of deep sorrow were heard.
The senator had been SO long in public
life that he was known to every en-
ploye about the building and all felt an
affectionate regard for him because of
his uniformly kind treatment of them.
It was generally remarked as fitting
that Senator Voorhees, should have died.
as he did, within q scone's throw of the
beautiful new Congressional library build
ing, and as particularly sad that he
should not have lived to witness the
opening of this institution, which is soon
to take place. He had introduced the
first resolution looking to the erection Of
this building and had watched it rise
from the foundation S stones with ali the
pride of a creator. 1t will stand in large
part monument to the Indiana sena-
tor.
Senator Voorhees, figured in one Of the
most sensational murder trials in the his
tory of Wisconsin, that of Willis Hasel-
tine at Stevens Point, for the killing of
Banker Morse. In making the closing
argument for the defense, VOORHEES,
made a memorable plea for Haseltine.
The fact of the shooting was undis-
puted, but Senator Voorhees, told the
Jurors that for 200 years no jury Of
Anglo-Saxons had convicted q man of
murder when he had slain the Wrecker of
his home. He said that the jury might
avoid a conviction by finding that Hasel-
tine was temporarily insane at the time
of the shooting, and this the jurors
promptly did. With Mr. Voorhees, in
the defense of Haseitine was associated
Judge Cate. who afterwards defended
John and Henry Curran when they were
tried for the killing Of Haseltine, whom
John Curran shot-in self-defense, as a
jury decided.
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