The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-27
TEE APPOINTMENT sATls'AtT1s !.
While the Appointment Was Ex-
pected, it Came Suddenly
The Life of Mr.. Brad
lord - Everybody
is Satisfied.


eide the Judgeship for week. In an in
terview he said: Il certainly appreciate
the honor of the appointment very much
but / hope will be able to conclude my
labors as a member of the Constitutional
Convention before it will be necessary tc
assume this position on the bench
However the Senate must confirm the
appointment, and in ten days the work
of the convention will probably be over
| There is vast amount Of business await.
ing attention in the United States Court
and 1t will be necessary for the new Judge
to devote considerable time to the duties
of the Office. l shall try and be a faithful
| official and devote all my energies in pre-
| pairing myself for the position with which
the President has seen fit to honor me-"
| Edward q. Bradford Is forty.nine years
OF age, having been born in Wilmington,
Del, on March II, 1s43. His father, the
late Hon: Edward g. Bradford, was tho
| Federal Judge for the district of Delaware,
and was succeeded by Hen. Lsonard f..
\ Wales, lately deceased. Mr.. Bradford 8
| family is an ancient American one on
| his fathers side he Is "A direct descendant
| III the eighth degree from William Brad
| ford, who came over In the May Flower,
and was after wards Governor of Plymouth
| Colony. while on his mothers side among
his ancestors were Thomas Hayward, Jr.,
ono of the signers of the Declaration of
| Independence, from South Carolina, and
| Thomas Shubrck, from the same State,
| aid to Gen. Green during the Revolution
| ary War
Mr.. Bradford received his preliminary
education at Hyatt's Military School and
| afterwards entered Yale in 1864 gradual.
ing with the degree Of Bachelor of Arts in
1868. After studying lawunder his father,
Mr.. Bradford was admitted to practice on
May 8, 1870.
He ut once acquired leading position
in his profession and enjoyed an extensive
and lucrative practice in the State and
Federal Courts.
His clientage was largo and induen.
tial and he has been for many years re-
tained as annual counsel by majority of
| the manufacturers conducting business
in and about Wilmington. His skill as
an advocate recognized alike by lawyers
I and laymen was united to broad, liberal
and equitable conception of his cases win.
ming for blm distinguished position at
| the bar and commanding tho confidence
Of the community. To wide aud accur-
ate knowledge of legal principles and a
convincing style of legal argument he add.
ed In marked degree the qualities of a
popular pleader before juries. Whether
before the court or the jury his cases were
presented with distinguished ability and
consumlnate tact.
His manner cordial, his language choice
his sincerity apparent, he convinced tho
jurymen Of his ability and integrity of
aim and purpose. The Bar has with
singular unanimity esteemed him as the
best equipped lawyer practioing before
the courts of Delaware, and bis appoint.
nent as Judge is hailed as a fitting recog.
milton of his signal abilities Ono of the
most important cases in which he appear
ed was Anthony Reybold against tho New
York and Baltimore Transportation
Company, tried in the Delaware Courts
IN 1882,
The plaintiff was represented by Levi C.
Bird ESD, and Mr.. Bradford while the
defendant was represented by the Hon.
Thomas +. Bayard and Senator Gray Of
tho Delaware Bar, and Alexander Evans,
Esq, and Robers Glendenning, Esq, Of
the Maryland Bar aud John Cadwaiader,
Esq, Of this Philadelphia Bar
Against this array Of counsel Mr.. Bird
and Mr.. Bradford waged a vigorous fight
and came of victorious for the plaintiff in
sum upwards Of $4,000
Among the most important admiralty
cases tried by him in the Federal Courts
was that of the English Steamer tho
Golden Grove, in which Mr.. Bradford
was pitted against the celebrated law firm
of Coudert Brothers, Of New York, and
i'll which he obtained for his client decree
in sum upwards of $780, 900.
Besides practicing his profession with
exceptional success, Mr.. Bradford has al
ways been prominently identified with the
social and public life Of Delaware. Elected
n member Of tho House of Representatives
of the General Assembly of the State Of
Delaware, he served in that capacity dur.
ing the session of 1881 and received the
complimentary vote of his party for
Speaker of the House. The Republican
delegates from Delaware TO tho National
Convention at Chicago in 1888 chose him
tor their chairman, and they were among
the first to cast their vote for President
Harrison.
MI Bradford is a momber of the Constl.
tutonal Convention now in session at
Dover and was the candidate Of the Re.
publiCans for Pie d. OF tho ConvuntiGnI
He is public speaker Of grace and attraC-
tveness and has done excellent work on
the stump in various campaigns. His or
atory is Of a popular and pleasing kind
combined with power OF convincing arg
ument rendering him much IN demand US
q speaker throughout the state His fair.
ness and reotitude IN political methods
have won him the admiration Of Republi.
cans of all factions and tho respect of
Democrats Of all classes.
Many of his friends In tie Republican
troll in the Legislature Of Delaware 10 1886
urged him to become candidate for
United States Senator. Al that time cx.
Senator Higgins was the choice of many
Republicans for that distinguished honor. !
Senator Higgins had been the warm
friend and law partner OF Mr.. Bradford's
father, the late Judge Bradford and Mr.. |
Bradford positively refused to be consider.
cd q candidate in opposition to Mr. liig. |
gins, threw his influence to him and Mr., |
Higgins was elected United States SenH.
tor from Delaware,
When it became the duty of President |
Mckinley to appoint successor to the late |
Judge Wales, Mr.. Bradfords friends |
his eminent fitness for judct.
al honors again urged him to acCepc their |
support for this position Hon. William
q. Spruancs distinguished alike In pub.
lie, professional and private lie IN Della
ware and the senior membor OF the Dsi.
aware bar was urged for the judgeship by
u majority OF the lawyers In Delaware and
a large number of iniusntia! citizens
MIR. Bradford refused TO oppose Mr.
Spruance and worked for Mr.. Spruance's
appointment IL being ascertainod that |
Mir, SpruauCe's age would be a vital oh.
lection to his appointment, Mr.. Spruanse
and the bar who hai supported him turn.
cd to the cordial support OF Mr.. Bradford
and his appointment will be popular With
the bar and the people.
He is related by marriage to the Du Poat
family of Delaware, having married tho
daughter OF the late Alexis J. DUPONT and
lis family consists OF three daughters and
one son, Edward G Bradford, Jr, now io
attendance at Yale University,
He is member Of the American AcA. |
deny of Political and Social SCi4nco, Of
the Historical Soc.e,y Of Delawar, and is
nn incorp Of the Society \. CCloulal
Wars
In religion Mr. Bradford Is an Epis3o.
Dalian and Is president o. he Church
Club Of thu Diocese oi D3la"ar"
To Improve Rs.
O. D,lri,lyIa Thprph raN.nrv will |