Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-04-01
JUDGE ROBERT S. cLyMEA.


In the legislature of 1891 Gloucester
county was, for the first time in many
years, represented in both houses by Demo-
Gratis Geo. H. Barker in the Senate and
JAS J. Davidson in the house. Among
the laws enacted, applicable especially to
this county, was that creating the Office of
Law Judge of the County Courts, and on
the first OF December of that year Gov.
Abbott appointed Robert s ClYmer, Esq.,
the first Judge Hereunder, to serve to the
first of April, 1892. At the session of the
legislature of 1892, Judge Clymer was re-
appointed for the full term of five years,
and confirmation by the Senate followed
promptly and was unanimous.
The scheme met with immediate and
universal favor, and the new Judge at
once took high rank for his prompt and
painstsking methods and uniform courtesy
TO all, and the soundness of his Judicial
decisions. During his term he has
presided at many important criminal
trials, and adjusted many complicated
cases in the Orphans Court. Prominent
among the criminal cases was the Saml
E. Warwick forgery case and the Kirwin
manslaughter case.
Gloucester County, under his ruling, es-
tablished the precedent and gave force to
the laws in matters of naturalization, re-
quiriBg general knowledge of the Consti-
tuition and primary knowledge of the prin-
ciples of the government which they
profess to love and pledge themselves to up
hold, b.fo citizenship papere were
granted. His ruling and reasons fully
stated have been widely quoted and since
enforced in many States.
Judge Clymer performed his last judicial
acts yesterday, and VII henceforth give
full attention to his legal business which
his judicial duties have materially inter
rupted
To Judge John S. Jessup we extend con-
gratulations, and best wishes for the future
Yesterday morning after the above was
put in type, and after Judge Clymer had
cleared up business in hand preparatory to
passing the Office over to his successor, a
pleasant event occurred
City Solicitor Moore made few remarks,
expressing his personal appreciation for the
marked courtesy and fairness of the Judge
10 and hare of he Po
ally, and paid glowing tribute to the legal
ability displayed, and his keen apprecia-
ton of right and wrong throughout his en-
tire judicial career, and concluded with
saying that the Judge had presided with
out fear or favor and with dignity and
honor to the courts of Gloucester county.
Joseph j. Summerill, Esq after making
several motions IN Orphans Court matters,
said: At this time, as these are the last
motions l shall make before your Honor, at
least during your present term of service, l
desire to thank your Honor for the marked
courtesy and kindness, fairness and impair
TALLY which you have uniformly shown
and extended to me, and through me to my
clients, while upon the bench and in the
discharge of your duties. In so doing l
think / voice the sentiment of the whole
fitting that this acknowledgement should be
publicly made"
10 reply Judge Clymer said
This tribute of respect, expressed in this
manner, while to me wholly unexpected,
is not the less gratifying. I had expected
to surrender all official authority in an in
formal unostentious way, as is befitting in
government like ours where all, from the
highest to the lowest, in official station, are
but the conservators of the peoples in
terests.
Next to the inward consciousness of al
desire to honestly discharge ones duties,
which is or should be the supremest salts
faction, is the qualification of knowing that
such efforts, such desires, are understood
and appreciated.
The duties of such position as | haye
been hOnored with for more than five years
past are at times unpleasant, and are al
ways exacting, and to have it recognized
that the incumbent has brought to the dis
charge of his duties commendable degree
of knowledge and skill, and, more than all,
an honest purpose, so evident as to receive
commentator, is most gratifying.
Without affectation l say that this I'M
expected and, as feel, spontaneous ex-
preston of good opinion. touches me
deeply. In no State are the high preroga-
tives and privileges of the Bar more
earnestly asserted and persistently main
tanned than in the State of New Jersey.
There is a mutual respect and profound
regard existing between the Bench and the
Bar which feel safe In saying does not
obtain in any other State Knowing this,
and knowing that / am now laying aside
all power and authority, appreciate what
has been said. because / know it is an
honest expression of learned Bar of an
important county in a great State.
The mutual esteem growing out of this
official and professional relation / am
happy to believe has always been main
tanned in the Courts over which have had
the honor to preside, and if / have achieved
a measure of success, part of it at least
has been owing to the ability shown by the
Bar in the presentation of cases. their fair
ness in their dealings WITH the Court and
the uniform courtesy and assistance of the
County officials.
| bespeak for my successor in Office all
the assistance the Bar has go generously
rendered me, and trust that at the end of
his official career he may lay down the
authority in him reposed with the same
pleasant recollections of official life that l
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