The record-union., 1897-07-17

ROBERT T. DEVLIN,
Committee.
For few minutes silence settled
down over the scene, and then Harry
G. Soule stepped forward and said that
while elder members of the bar might
with more propriety speak of the acts
of the late Judge N. Greene Curtis, yet
for him to remain silent would seem
like ingratitude. Judge Curtis, he said,
had been nearly a parent to him, and
he had known him all his life. While
the deceased had long been in i'll health,
none knew that death was SO near.
In life he had been kind and consid-
crate to young members of the bar,
and never an opportunity came when
he might render assistance when it was
not done, and the phrase, He was a
good man." often spoken during his
| lifetime, holds good now that he is
dead. The success of Judge Curtis, as
a criminal lawyer Mr.. Soue said had
been phenomenal, and the words of ad-
vice uttered by him to his friends
marked him as a friend, the truest of
the true.
JUDGE McKUNE.
Judge McKune was the next speaker
and having been very close to the de-
ceased jlIrist, was affected to tears as
he attempted to recall days and Incl
dents long past. He had known Judge
Curtis as early as 1850, at which
time the latter occupied a 12x12 office
at the corner of Fifth and streets.
a dry goods box answered the pur-
pose of chair in that Office, and an
other answered as a bookcase for the
law library, which consisted chiefly Of
Patent Office Reports, Agricultural Re-
ports and a copy of the city charter
The speaker had known Judge Curtis
from that time until his death, and
had ever admired him as man and
lawyer. He had knokn him well
While he was Recorder, and recalled the
fact that his decisions We're righteous.
just and seldom reversed.
Judge McKune recalled the noted
case of the people against Downs,
charged with the murder of DuvaI. who
was political boss, and who had been
shot and killed by Dr. Downs. Downs
had said something which Duval did
not like and the latter challenged him
to mortal combat. Downs consulted
with his friends, among whom were
and decided to teach Duval and his
set lesson. The challenge was ac-
cordingly accepted, and Downs chose as
weapons globe rifles, distance 200
yards. AS the latter was a sure shot
Duval declined and published DR..
Downs as an arrant coward. Downs
procured a pistol which had in it but
one load and while walking on the
street encountered Duval, who opened
nre. Instead of retreating to the wall.
Dr. Downs dropped on his knee. took
deliberate aim and killed the ward
politician and gambler.
The case came on before Judge Cur
tbs, and he held that when pistols
were being used the rule of law that a
man assaulted should retreat until
barred by wall did not hold good. and
thereby established a precedent which
was shortly afterward recognized by
the courts of Kentucky, and only re-
Gently by the Supreme Court of the
United States
Everybody, said Judge McKune. who
knew n. Greene Curtis loved him. His
days were not short. He was widely
known, had few enemies and as many
friends as any one man. Death was
not unexpected, and those who knew
him best knew it, yet all were shocked
when it came.
w. A. ANDERSON SPEAKS.
Major w. A Anderson was next to
pay his tribute to the departed jurist.
Each day and each hour, he said, ad-
monished the living of the uncertainty
of human affairs. There is no armor
against fate, the icy hand of death
falling upon all, high or low. rich or
poor. N. Greene Curtis, the speaker
said, was born in February, 1926, and
came hither with the tide Of gold-seek-
ers in May, 1850. Even in those days
he held place among the foremost men
of the State. He was Assistant Post
master in 1851, and was afterward
Postmaster He was elected Recorder
in 1888. Though an old-school. chival-
rous southern gentleman, he took a
strong stand for the Union in 1861, and
was the same year elected to the Leg
islature. He was elected to the SEN
ate in 1867. In 1877 he was again
elected to the Senate, after which he
retired from active politics. He was
member Of the old school who held
dignity and honor above price.