The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-03
GETS KERR'S PLACE
GOV. CLOUGH APPOINTS GEORGE L..
BUM As DISTRICT JUDGE FOR
RAMSEY.
MANY AFTER THE POSITION.
AF,POTNT,EcE Young, ABLE AND
VERSED IN LAW, AND a DEM
OCRAT.
APPOINTMENT QUITE A SURPRISE.
The Members of the Court Now Said
to Be Evenly Divided az to
Politics.

The bench and bar of Ramsey county
paid tribute yesterday to the memory
of the late Charles d. Kerr. Thu
memorial exercises in honor Of the de-
ceased judge were held in Court Room
No. l, Judge Brill presided. The large
room was filled with members Of the
bar and other prominent citizens.
After the formal opening Of court.
the members Of the bar arose. while
w. D. Cornish. addressing the court
announced the purpose of the gather
ing, which was to do fitting and public
honor to the memory of the late Judge
Kerr.
Harris Richardson. former law
partner of Judge Kerr, then read the
following memorial prepared by the
committee appointed by the court:
1t is customary, when death lays its chilly
fingers upon a member of this bar. for those
OF US who remain to pause in the midst OF
our busy lives and cease. for a time, our
labors, in order fttingly 10 mourn over the
dead, and give expression to our grief.
We are gathered here today for that pur-
pose. AS the mouthpiece of those who have
been selected to perform the sad duty of max
ing the proper announcement and presenting
the proper memorial. I say to you that our
honOred judge, brother and friend, Charles ID.
Kerr. is dead. The last sad rites Of earth,
which. sooner or later, must be performed
for each one of US. have been performed
Thirty-one years ago he became a citizen
Of this commonwealth. Poor and unknown,
worn down by the hardships OF four years
OF active service in the War OF the Rebellion,
he took up mis- life work. Integrity. courage
Gus manhood and a full appreciation OF the
responsibilities OF life speedily brought him
TO the front rank among the citizens of this
state. Industry, intellectually and eloquence
created for him an ell. liable position at the
bar, and finally brought him to the bench
OF this court. where he has administered JUS
Ulce for eight years in such a manner that
each one Of rs can conscientously say he
was an upright judge and brave man.
Not few of US know Of the great purity
OF his character; of the breadth and depth
Of his learning; of his affection for
his country; Of his thoughtful
ness; Of his wisdom. His life stands out as
is open 10 the multitude. From it may be
drawn precedents for the guidance of the
young, Of the old, and Of the middle-aged,
no matter what walk in life they occupy.
As boy, we behold him supporting
widowed mother; as a youth. gaining his edr-
cation through his OWL efforts, snz at the
ufen' as young man, offering his life for
the nation, at the frs call for troops:
throughout his manhood, performing every
puDhc and private duty with fearlessness
and probity. The records of this court al
READY ah2Ghd in sufficient evidence; yet, in
II}5der testimony Of these things; of the
among men and affairs which we accord
nlm, we present this memorial and ask that
Il be spread upon them, that, so far as may
De IN TINS world Of everlasting change our
appreciation Of him and of his life work may
be perpetuated; that his kth and kin too
may know, in some small degree how we
honoFed him, we ask that a copy be trans
mltted to his sorrowing family, with our con-
dOlement
Brief and appropriate addresses by
I. ID. O'Brien, NJ. D. Mum and James
T. fo1I
Judge Willis delivered the following
eulOSy Of his deceased associate:
A lethaI weapon, projected by the hand
OF rate mas stricken down that stalwart
TINS court for many years. In common
phrase, we say Charles D. Kerr is no more
true, his human activities have ceased. No
Inlhtary legion will again follow his daunt-
less leadership. No cause will ever again
claim him as an advocate. No anxious soul
VIII ever by him be advised regarding legal
rights or remedies. Never again will he di-
rect the conduct of trials in court nor pro-
noUnce that judgment which dismays ana
ao ts wfoIg "hlIe vlndlcating justice; The
the conflict have ended. Rest has come. For
him. the sun has shown the splepdor of its
last setting, and he has enwrapped himself
IN the drapery of that couch whereof the
American poet sings and has lain down to
pleasant dreams. To borrow from Shakes
peare. we may say:
He gave his honors to the world again
His blessed part to heaven, and slept in
peace
His memory alone remains with US, and
1t is gladstone memory.
Charles D. Kerr, the gallant soldier, the
chIvalrous gentleman, the able advocate and
the eminent judicial officer will be ever re-
membered with that regard which honesty
or purpose, intellectual force and noble senti-
ments must ever inspire Extending their in
huence beyond the limits of that learned
profession which he dearly loved and IN
which he was brilliant ornament the viz
tues and the varied capacities of our de-
parted friend, made their impress upon ey-
cry community wherein he dwelt and will
be cherished among the choicest treasures of
memory-that faculty Of the human mind
so well described by Cicero as ''Memoria
theSaurus omplum rerum ct cuStos'
We may well congratulate ourselves upon
this occasion that comments upon the life
of Judge Kerr cannot violate the canons of
truth while assuming the language of eulogy
No effort Is required to render obedience r.,
the sage maxim which bids us to say naugbt
save words Of commentator for the dead
His character and deeds, when rightly known
ana understood, constitute a patent to the
robe and coronet of the highest nobility
manly was ne in every trait. His patriotism
was not satisfied with meditating in safe
seclusion upon the glorious annals of his
country and her claim to the service Of her
sons That patriotism rather sought an op-
portunity 70 offer life itself as a valorot1s
testimonial to love Of the Fatherland and
devotion to its cause In the great confjct
which resulted in assured stability for the
union OF American states, Charles D. Kerr
citizen, made a superb record as a soldier
and when he participated in the historic
grand review at the city of Washington had