The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-12

Horn, the judges legal partner for the
past score of years. In this letter Mr..
Horn paid a beautiful tribute to the
memory of his departed friend. telling
of his legal ability, his great thor
oughness and above all his sturdy,
honest christian character and life.
c. b. Gardner, one of those who
studied law under the deceased, then
made brief address in which he cited
his many noble qualities and stated
that 1--WE will always have his MEM
ory but we will never have another
Judge Ward"
The report of the committee on res
olutions was then received and read
by Mr. Comegys. 1t was as follows:
THE RESOLUTIONS.
At meeting of the members of the
bar of Backuwanna county, held on Mon
day, the 11th day Of December, 1899, and
called to take appropriate action upon
the death of the Hon. w. G. Ward,
among other things done, the following
memorial minute was presented, read and
unanimously adopted:
Born on the 7th day of October, 1919,
at Dover, in Duchess county, of the state
of New York. Walsingham Griffin Ward
a lawyer of good repute, died at his
residence, in the city of Scranton, on
Saturday, the 9th day of December, 1899.
A farmers boy, after studying law with
diligence for several years, under the di-
recton of the late Judge Dana, he was
finally, in 1851, admitted to the bar of
Luzerne county, at Wilkes-Barre, and i'm
mediately thereafter locating at Scran-
ton, he began that laborious and eminent
ly successful career, at the close of which
there is now the peaceful rest Of an eter-
nal and dreamless sleep.
At the very threshold of his profess
sional life, the conduct of this man gave
promise of a brilliant future 1t was of a
nature to compel success. He loved the
books; their slave and their master at
all times he was n patient panstaking
and persevering student. Understanding
human nature, he knew men; he early
inspired them with confidence in his in
tegrity, respect for his judgment and ad-
miration for his abilities. Rarely visit
ed by disappointment in the result of his
causes. he soon acquired an extensive and
remunerative practice, and attained po-
sition of prominence among his fellows
which he maintained with steadfastness
until the day of his death.
Raised by n well-earned popularity TO
the bench in 1870, for a period Of five years
thereafter he served faithfully and with
distinction as the first and only elected
recorder of the shOrt-lVed Mayors court
of the city of Scranton. Plain and with
out affectation in manner or method, as
a judge he was righteous in Judgment,
always administering a justice tempered
with mercy, emulating Gibson whom he
admired and following Congingham
whom he loved.
HIS WISDOM AS A JUDGE.
Returning to the arduous labors of a
professional life, he pursued them with
unremitting zeal and fidelity. The i'm
perishable records of a court may attest
and perpetuate the wisdom of the judge
among the traditions of future genera
tions the fame of the skillful and saga
cious lawyer will rest secure Sound,
cautious and conservative as a legal ad-
visor, his broad and liberal mind was
thoroughly imbued with those funda-
mental principles of law and human ac-
tion, upon the knowledge of which the
safety and security of the client must
invariably depend. and every lawyer $
reputation stand. An advocate, endowed
with rare quan,.~ of mind and heart,
proper place for the display of those
precious gifts of soul and speech which
so eminently distinguished him.
Constantly engaged in many causes of
great Importance, both civil and Grim
inal, he was always ready and prepared
to meet every eXigency of his case. Wig
liant and acute, and, on the most trying
occasions, of imperturbable self-posses-
sion he was at the same time wise and
crafty in the development and argument
of a cause. Versatile and vvacious, be-
fore a jury, especially in homicide cases,
he was eloquent and impressive; while
i'm his arguments to the court, there was
always manifested candor and straight
fOrwardness, which must have insensibly
won tor him the confidence of the
judge, lie was a lawyer of distinguished
merit.
He assumed the various responsibilities
and faithfully discharged the many
duties of his life. To his family, he was
indulgent generous and Hnd-to his
neighbors. considerate and hospitable. In
his professional relations he was ever
faithful-fathful to the court, faithful tC
the client and faithful TO the claims OF
truth and honor. An excellent and wor,
thy citizen he was a model friend. To
ask his aid was to Immediately receive
It. Liberal and charitable 10 n fault, he
was kindly affectlonate and stranger
TO enduring resentment, Knowing how
to forgive an injury, he also knew how tc
forget n fault. His every action was but
the outward expression of a gentle and
sympathetic nature-a nature which he
had with him until the end.
JUDGE WILLARD'S TRIBUTE.
Judge Willard in moving the adop.
tion of the resolutions made a brief
but eloquent address in which he re-
| ferred to the judge as having been ono
! of the best jury lawyers in the state
| He spoke of his great confidence in the
| jury and the court and as an illustra,
| tion of this stated that he believed he
never filed over six writs Of error dur,
| ing his whole career.
The resolutions were unanimously
| adopted after which short addresses
| made by District Attorney John r
| Jones, Colonel f. l.. Hitchcock, Ed.
ward Merrineld, II. F. Wells, John B
Ceilings and John f. Scragg
Judge Archibald then spoke. He re.
| ferred to the fact that II was by
| Judge Wards order that he was frs
admitted to the bar, The Judge was
| followed by Frank j. Fitzsimmons
who spoke briefly.
1t was decided that the bar meet IN
the court house this afternoon at