Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-12-06

to introduce in his court the system of
suspended sentences. Where there was
ground for hope and reasonable belief
that leniency would result IN reforma-
ton of character and the salvation of
the family without offending the de-
mands of justice; where conditions pre-
vailed which often arise in courts of
justice where the ultimate end Fought
could not be gained by a suspension of
sentence during good behavior, Judge
INNoolson found great pleasure and un-
doubtedly satisfied his own conscience
and sense of redemptive justice, in CIV
I ing the erring prisoner a chance, his
family and kindred q hope and society
an expectation of the best results for all
concerned by leniency. Sometimes the
tfruitages was gratifying and justified his
faith; sometimes it was disappointing
and the reaction upon his intense ma
ture no doubt was one of the causes of
the undermining of his vital forces.
AS the number of this class of cases;
Increased, With suspended sentences to
be Kept in mind and the surveillance of
the persons on judicial parole was
maintained, involving increasing CORE
spondence and personal responsibility,
the burden became heavier and heavier
until at last even Judge Woolsons re-
serve force of power was exhausted and
! tired nature gave up the struggle
| The health lesson of this capable jur-
list is most patent to all who will heed
it. lie sacrificed his life to public du-
lsties. What more can a man do for his
country than that? But the patriotism
/ that inspired young Woolson in the
SOS to respond tothe call of his coun-
TRY TO save the union, inspired him in
all his public career We feel that it
/ was a mistake that he made the per-
sonal sacrifice that thus prematurely
ended his public servce-a mistake foi'
him ana for the public, but a mistake
lotber capable and lovabe men some
4 times make needless of the physical
Limitations that must bound their ca
pacty for toll.
/ The moral lesson in Judge Woolson's
4 life is his probity of character, his high
ideals of life and right living and the
llauda BILE example OF his devotion to
duty He was in an eminent degree an
exemplai of Theodorc RooseNelt's
e'strenuous life." Genial. hopeful, cour-
,gsons. ambitious. kind hearted and yet
tn. embodiment of infleNibie justice.
4 -.
! the hearts Of Il wide circle OF personal
friends. and a high place in the esteem
3of the general public His was an active
and useful career. and his death that
4 wll b. widely mou,'ned.
IISeokuk Gate citys
/ In the first shock that comes when
1.-THE doctor turns away from the couch
4 aith a face that says that all is over is
4 no time 10 form or express a judicial
j opinien of the character Of the dead.
4 Judge John s. Woolson was a many
4 siaed man whose character can not be
summed up in a sentence nor adequate
n tlescribea in haste.
i But the exclamation that comes from
! those who knew him IS: He killed him
4 self by overwork! II g was a martyr
70 his tremendous energy and sense OF
Responsibilities \ judge on the federal
beneh in this day of alternating boot
lpggirg cases and petty postnt'ice steal
1 ing With railroad bonds 10 he value of
j Millions OF dollars. has SO much to d.
that he must LEAVE the details TO am
bother. If he would live. Judge Woolson
Twas not content to do that. Every
petty being in the form OF man whf
Ihad come into the clutches of the Law
because of selling had whisky at a pic
/ MIC had his record looked up by tbs
s judge. That record comprised enough
10 make a character sketch of the Grim
i; mai and 10 determine beyond perad-
y venture whether jail sentence or q
suspended sentence would DO most u
make a good citizen out of poor mate
rial That invest sation Was a work foi
Iany one man. Then Judge Woolson haf
tsthe ambition to be right on the bench
combined With the feeling that he mus
! be right when important interests Were
"a involved. That meant much worl
: also And he Went on, burning up n#s
flew years the brain and nervous fue
(which the Almight tNdesigneo should b.
used for forty years.
With all his judicial power he coul,
never be made to understand that thi
was 50. Soon after he went on tn
! bench here he called in his physician L
: prescribe for headache. The doetu
/ heard about the headache, looked 1T nj
$ tongue, felt his pulse and, as Judg
Woolson told it himself, said Yo'
must stop working SO hard or there
be q lev judge ON the federal bench il
six months. But in telling 1t, Judg
Wuolson only remarked the aeumen o
the physician. TO whom he later con
!. fessed that he had been reading LAY
!. books until after daylight every morn
4 ing and then mounting the bench at
n o'clock. He took q rest then-With
3 lot of cases in his satchel to decide
4 and when he broke down again faile
: utterly to see that he was working to
4 hard He vas telling about his rheu
!, nlatisln and his minor SYMPTOMS a hi
!, very last term of court here, and wa
q amazed when the same physician toll
d him he might have a chance if j
a would call in at once the best medics
}. advice he could get in Des Moines an
b follow directions to the letter for
j. year. Herealiy did not know that any
,e thing serious was the matter with hin
J. This, TOO, after members of the bar ha
told him they felt guilty in trying cast
ii before him in his sick condition.
"a 1t was the tremendous energy
le oyerwork that when once inoculate
Il into IL man never lets go of him uni
rs death snatches the victim away II
" siren of oyerwork that befuddles III
II brain about ones self while leaving
s. clear for all else. The demon of owe
ltl work which is tearing the heart out
r. so many American homes. But in I'll
A. case of Judge Woolson there was b.
IS hind it a sense of duty to others.
-.lt.. 4