The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-14

at Fort Benton, Montana, where for
several years he held the office of city
attorney
Upon Aug. Is, 1881, he was married at
New Haven, Connecticut, to Miss Mary
E. Jewett, only daughter of DIR. Pliny
Jewett, distinguished physician of
New England
In 1881 he was elected to, and be-
came one of the leading members of the
council, which was the higher branch
of the legislative assembly of the ter
rltory of Montana. In 1887, he removed
10 Helena, Montana, where, until his
elevation to the bench, he continued in
the practice of the law While in the
active practice of his profession he was
for some years the official reporter of the
decisions OF the supreme court, and he
also prepared and published a complete
digest of the first eight volumes of the
Montana Reports.
In 1891 he was appointed a district
judge for the First judicial district of
Montana to fill vacancy on the bench
caused by the creation of an additional
judgeship, and in 1892 was elected to
the office of district judge for "a full
term of four years.
In 1896 he was elected an associate
justice Of the supreme court of the
state. To the discharge of the duties of
this office he brought legal learning,
broad general culture, judicial expert
ence and answering impartiality, exc
cutting his high trust with the same
fidelity which he had previously evinced
in every public station. His perception
was so quick and keen, and his logic
so accurate and severe that he seemed
intuitively to detect a flaw in argu
ment, or the false coloring of q fact or
legal proposition. His hatred of fraud
and chicanery was so intense that any
palliation of them sorely tried his pa
tience and he sought at all proper times
in the interest of justice, to give an
equitable construction to any harsh
precept or statute. A sense of the nobil-
ity of his character was impressed upon
all of his acquaintances, and his ceur-
age was SO great that he never pander-
ed to popular caprice or prejudice, nor
courted popular applause. So long as
he believed he was right he was
perfectly Indifferent to cenSure or ap-
probation.
His opinions We're prepared with an
elegance of diction that added force to
his mastery statements and logical
conclusions.
He was absolutely fearless in seeking
to protect equally with his own, the
life or honor of another.
With the quality of positiveness there
were combined in him a geniality of
disposition. loyalty both to friendship
and principle and kindness of heart
practically shown to a host of benehc-
iaries, so that he had not only many
devoted personal friends, but became
general favorite.
On the sixth day of the present month
of December, at the height of his intel
lectual power, at the time of his great
est usefulness. and while in the active
discharge of his judicial duties, he died,
leaving q SpotleSS ermine to the state,
and to his family a spotless name.
Grief and mourning at his loss shall
not be limited to the bereaved widow
and the three children--sSorrow will be
tempered by fond recollections and his
memory will be cherished with affec-
ton and honor throughout the lives Of
all who knew him.
Resolved. That. with the deep SYM
pathy of the bar of the state, a copy of
these resolutions be transmitted to the
afflicted family of the deceased
Every head bowed as the last words
were uttered and silence that could
brook no applause bespoke hearty in
dorsement of the resolutions.
Governor Carpenter moved that they
be spread upon the minutes of the court
and that an engrossed copy be sent to
the family of the deceased.
Attorney General NoIan's Tribute.
Attorney General Nolan then ad-
dressed the court seconding the mo-
tion:
May it please the court: 1t is with
no ordinary emotion that l second the
motion presented to adopt the resolu-
tions just offered. These services re-
mind me that an eminent citizen of this
state has passed from this transitory
life to the great beyond. 1t was my
pleasure to be personally acquainted
with Judge Buck for over 10 years, and
during about seven years of that time
my acquaintanceship was intimate,
mora especially was this so during the
IL, 4,
this state in a judicial capacity. En-
dowed by nature with fine intellectual
powers. it is not surprising that he
achieved merited distinction upon the
bench. | appreciate that by some his
judicial action upon the niSi prius
bench was considered precipitate and
hasty, though not considered so in the
spirit of accusation or reproach. The
characteristics of his nature set forth
in the resolutions offered fully explain
why such haste and precipitancy We're
possible. Possessing a remarkably ana
lytical mind, he readily grasped the le-
gal questions determinative of the con-
troversy, and thus reaching a conclu-
sion further argument to alter the de-
cision thus made was time wasted and
energy uselessly expended. Hence in
those few instances where a manifesto
tion of impatience appeared, il was oc-
casioned by thought that through
Vocate hoped to secure a judicial in
depreciation conformable to his views,
and at variance with the judgment
arrived at in the manner above indi-
Gated.
1T Is no wonder. then, possessing
sterling qualities such as | have in the
abstract outlined. and more fully set
forth in the resolutions just read, that
in every community where he resided
he secured the confidence, love and es-
TEEN of the entire people regardless of
politics. 1t can be truthfully said re-
specting him that he dignfied and
honored every position which he filled
by exalted abilities and stainless
character. He is gone from the high
places of earth to the higher realms of
immortality, but so long as American
history treasures up pure lives and
faithful public services, SO long as pub
lie and private virtue shall be revered,
so long viii his memory be cherished.
Ii IS possible that in the roll-call of
pubic servants. who have served the
state and territory. other names may
suggest more luminous intellects, whose
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