The sun., 1898-04-01
an EX.CHANC[LLOR DEAD
Sudden l'eath Of James l.. VOL
cOtt at Dover
WAS A PROMINENT POLITICIAN
Stricken With Apoplexy While in Bed
and His Unconscious Form Dis
covered by His Wifr--A Csc-
FIJI Life.
WAS A PROMINENT POLITICIAN
Special to The Sun.

: Special to THE Sun.
5 DOVER. March 3l.-Peoplc gaspcd fo1
breath here earl Y this morning when it
was reported that ex.ChanceIlOr James
; IL. Walcott was dead, due to apDoplexy,
as he was around town early last even-
ing and apparently in his usual health.
Last night the eX-chancellor retired at
an early hour and requested that he be
aroused in time to catch the express
train for Philadelphia, as he had some
business in that city which required his
attention.
At 7 O'Clock this morning Mrs Wal
colt went to her husbands room to
awaken him, and receiving no reply to
her call, opened the door and entered,
when to her amazement she found him
in a state of collapse and speechess.
DR.. Anderson was at once summoned
but he could do nothing to revive his
patient, and ten minutes after his arrival
life was extinct.
! Ex-Chancellor Wolcott was in the
fifty-seventh year Of his age, and from
early in manhood had taken an active
pa,t in the political affairs Of this State
and had held many offices of trust and
honor, and up to the time Of his death
held the love and esteem of all who were
in any way acquainted with his life and
services.
Resolutions of regret and coincidence
were presented in both houses of the
State Legislature ana feeling remarks
and speeches were maze in the Senate
and House by many of the members, and
as further mark of respect to the de-
ceased the Legislature adjourned until
Monday morning at 10 O'Clock.
| The funeral will be held Saturday
afternoon. Services will be held at the
house at l.3O O'Clock and intermcnt will
be at Silver Lake Cemetery.
Life of the Deceased.
james L. Wocott was native OF Mis-
piIlon hundred, and was born about one
mile and Il half east OF Harriny yton,
February 4th, 1912. His parents were
Josiah and Elizabeth Wolcott, and he
received his education in the country
schools in which he afterwards taught.
| In 1853 Mr.. Wolcott entt red upon the
study OF law with the Hon. Eli Sauls-
bury, and was admitted to the bar April
23d, 1856. After his admission he took
an active interest in politics and soon
arose to prominence in both it and his
profession. The State Senate, ut the ses-
sion of 1871, elected him clerk. In
February, 1871, he was chosen counsel
for the Levy Court of Kent county, and
continued in this position until January.
1879, when Gov.John W. Hall appointed
him Secretary uf State for the term
ending January, 1888.
Upon the death of Chancellor Willard
salisbury, Mr.. Wolcott was appointed
by Governor Reynolds on May :i,lS93, to
succeed him. but in November 1895, re-
sighed in order to devote himself to pri-
vate practice, particularly to the duties
of counsel for the Delaware railroad,
succeeding George Y. Massey in this po-.
sition.
Mr.. Wolcott was conspicuous figure
in the Democratic politics Of Delaware.
He was the head and fir mt OF what was
called the Wolcott faction Of the party,
which was radically hostile to the SauIs-
bury faction, the lines bet ween the two
being very distinctly marked in Kent
county. In 1883 he entered the lists as
All avowed candidate for United States
Senator in opposition to the late Eli
Salisbury, whose term was about to cx-
pire. After an exciting and memorable
primary canvass, Mr.. Wolcdt carried u
majority Of the delegates to the Kent
county Democratic convention, and by
the application of the unit rule, this con-
vention nominated complete Wolcott
legislative ticket, denying to the
Salisbury faction, in opposition
to what up to that time had
been the custom, the right to name
candidates for the hundreds carried by
that factior This caused an open re-
volt in the party, and the Republicans
elected their legislative ticket in Kent
county. They were successful also in
Sussex county, by reason of the factional
division of the Democrats, and the re-
suit was Legislature with Republican
majority on joint ballot, which sent
anthony Higgins to Washington as The
first and only United States Senator from
Delaware. Mr.. Wolcotts last public
appearance was as counsel for the Demo.
,ratic members of the Kent county
Board Of Canvass, in the legal proceed
ngs growing ont of The count of the
,cles cast at the last general election in
hat county. lie had been in i'll health
or over year past, but there were no
OF his affection becoming
ritical, and his sudden death today
ONES as great surprise throughout the
tate.
Deceased leaves a widow, u daughter
# the late Alexander Goodwin and three
ons, James L. Wolcott, Jr.. who has
'een practising Jaw with his father;
Ileyander q. Wolcott and Josiah o.
Volcott, who is attending school ut
1iddIctown, Conn.
Successful Test.
The official trial trip of transfer tug
10. II, built by the Pusey 4 Jones
company for the New York New Haven
nd Hartford Railroad Company, took