New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-20
NEW.JERSEY NEWS.
JUSTICE BEASLEY DEAD.
THE VENERABLE HEAD OF THE oo-
PREME COURT SUCCUMBS TO
PNEUMONIA

rxn or LONG AND HONORABLE CAREER on
THE BENCH OF NEw-JERsEY "A
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Trenton. Feb 19-Chief Justice Mercer Beasley
of the Supreme Court Of New-Jersey died from
.,rorcbial pneumonia shortly after o'clock this
morning. All the members Of his family except
his son, ex-Judge Chauncey Beasey, who Is ILL.,
were at his bedside when he expired.
The funeral will be held at II a. m on Mo ION, h
at the house. No 1i3 East State-st. burial VIII DC
in Riverview Cemetery.
Chief Justice Beasey born in Philadelphia
IN 1876 His father was the Rev. FREDERICK beas-
lev who was for many years president OF 'he
University Of Pennsylvania, and who was at one
time the rector OF st. Mchaels Church In trenton.
He entered Princeton College. but at the close OF
his freshman year he withdrew and pursued Ms
studies under his fathers tutelage AL the Same
time he read law in the office Of Samuel l.. South
ard and later In the Office Of ex-Chancellor isaac
II Williamson. In 1888 he was admitted to the
bar and the first place he ever held was that OF
civ Solicitor OF Trenton. a berth that yielded In
those days SIS a year. In 1850 he was elected a
member of the Trenton Common Council and was
made president of that body, From that time oates
his public life In New-Jersey.
The Wing party nominated Mr.. Beasley for May
or OF Trenton in 1851 but he was defeated by
small majority and for the next few years he de-
profession, in which he gained wide reputation
as a special pleader of exceptional brliancy. Such
was his standing at the bar that In 1864. when
Governor Joel Parker was casting about Tor sue
cessor to Chief Justice Edward w. Whelpley. ne
was led by the popular demand to offer the APP
pointment Mr.. Beasley. Since then Judge Beas-
ley was reappointed by Governors Randolph, Nc
Clellan and Abbett-twce by the latter. His term
would have expired March s. 1899. His circuit
comprised the counties of Monmouth and Middle
sex.
Judge Beasey's first wife was Miss Frances
Higbee, a daughter of Charles Higbee of Trenton
OF their children two daughters Mrs. Edward T.
Green. of East Orange, and Mrs. William Gum
mere Of Trenton are living. His second wife was
Miss Haven of Trenton. Ex-Judge Chauncey ii.
Beasley a son of Judge Beasley by his second wife.
also survives him.
In politics Judge Beasley was a Democrat. but he
was able to distinguish clearly between his duty 10
the people and his duty TO his party. This faculty
made him unpopular with the more rabid poiit-
clans who had at times made efforts to induce
him to retire a pension. Popular sentiment In
varably manifested itself in favor OF retaining
Justice Beasley on the bench as long as he was
able to remain. and those in authority deferred to
the peoples demand.
Justice Beasley was called upon to decide many
"a & ous none than az tbe one arising out
Of the effort steal the State Senate IN 1894 FROM
"A
tos case that the court ever called TO consider
The Democratic leaders who had organized the
conspiracy were confident that the Chef Justice
was in sympathy with them. They actually had
the audacity to circulate In their own select circle
the statement that Judge Beasley dared not invite
their wrath by spelling their scheme Not only did
they upon his support. but also on his infu-
ence In swaying other members OF the court.
Judge Bcasey probably not ignorant OF the
rumors and stories afoat. but he said nothing Day
after day he sat listening to the arguments. with
his head leaning forward on his left hand In which
he held the gavel He showed no sign OF fatigue or
th. l.
Gated that not a single point was lost upon him
When the case finished no man knew where
he or the other judges stood. Betting on the result
was about even although many Republicans were
n trihe nervous because Of the confident assertions
made by the conspirators and their associates.
The decision of the court covered some -FOUR OF
five thousand words. and Chief Justice Beasley
wrote II all with his own hand. He let no one see
n until the morning which the public announce
ment was to be made. Then he read IT over to his
associates and all signed IT, with the single excep-
ton of Justice Albeit. The decision was practi-
calIy a death blow to the Democratic ring In New
Jersey and while the machine leaders were deeply
chagrined, they could not help admiring the DTain
which, at eighty years of age, had evolved such
thoroughly homes; and convincing document.