The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-27
DNSUPREHglOUR7
Tragic End Of fEn-Attornoy General
Garland's Life.
STRICKEN WHILE IN ARGUMENT.
lie Had Just Declared, 'This, Your
HOnors, Is Our Contention" When
He Fell ,Senseless to tho Floor and
Died in Ten Minutes.


Honors, Is Our Contention" When
He Fell ,senseless to tho Floor and
Died in Ten Minutes.
Washington, Jan. 27.-Former Attor-
ney General Augustus II. Garland was
stricken With apoplexy while address
ing the United States supreme court
yesterday afternoon, and died within
ten minutes. When the court con-
vened at noon Mr.. Garland resumed an
argument in the case Of Towson VS..
Moore. which had begun on Wedncs-
day There was a full bench, with the
exception of Justices Brewer and
White. Mr.. Garland spoke calmly, and
with no evidence of agitation or effort,
He had read from a law volume and
had followed with the sentence: This.
your honors, Is our contention"
, As the last word was uttered Mr..
Garland was seen to raise his hand
and then gasp. He tottered and fell
sidewise, striking against chair and
overturning it as he fell heavily to the
floor. A succession of loud, deep gasps
came from him as he lay on the floor.
His associate in the case, Mr.. Franklin
Mackey, was at once by his side, and
with other counsel and officials the
head of the dying man was raised.
his shoes removed and q draught of
water given him. A deathly pallor had
Overspread his face, and this soon gave
place to a deep purple, which foretold
the gravity of the attack. He was car
ried,. from the chamber across to the
90 nfoy and
there placed on a sofa. Senator Gal
linger who Is a physician, was near at
hand. A single glance told him that
the attack would be fatal. Within ten
minutes from the time Of the stroke Mr..
Garland breathed his last.
The court in the meantime had post
poned the case in which Mr. Garland
was engaged and until the seriousness
of the attack was known had proceed
ed with other business. On, the an
nouncement of Mr.. Garland's death the
court at once adjourned.
1t is said that never before in the
history Of the United States cupreme
court has an attorney been stricken
with death while making an argument
there. There have been cases IN which
counsel have fallen, stricken With i'll
ness, but no case in which death has
followed within few minutes.
MIR. Garland has been In poor health
for several years, and some months
ego was in the hospital for some weeks
His friends noticed when he was well
enough to be out again that he had
failed rapidly and was growing feeble.
Several weeks ago he was taken ill
with the grip, and had suffered from
Its effects ever since. He doctored him
self by taking popular remedies, and 1t
is understood had not considered his
case serious enough to call in a physi-
clan. Before he went into the court
room yesterday he remarked to one
of the court officials that he was not
feeling very well, and he thought he
would 60 to Fortress Monroe next
Monday to take rest.
The news of General Garland's death
produced profound sadness in the
senate, where he had served for many
years. as one Of the galaxy of distin-
guished men. While in the senate he
had been a member of the committee
on Judiciary, and he had taken rank
with the strong men of that day. or
recent years he had practiced his pro-
fession almost exclusively in the su-
preme court Of the United States. 1t
was here that he won his most pro-
nonnced triumphs.
Augustus H. Garland was born in Ten
nessee on June II, 1882, but was taken
to Arkansas in his infancy. After
q collegiate education he studied law,
and began practice at Little Rock, the
state capital. Mr.. Garland began his
political career at the opening of the
civil war, being elected a delegate to
the state convention in 1861. In that
body he opposed secession, but when
1t was decided to follow the lead of
South Carolina. Mr.. Garland cast his
lot with the secessionlsts, and remain
ed faithful to the Confederacy until 1t
ceased to exist. lie served two terms
In the Confederate congress and por-
tiOn Of term In the Confederate sem
ate. The war over, he at once renewed
his allegiance to the United States.
In 1866 he was elected United States
senator. but congress refused to recog- |
ni.e the legislature by which he had
been elected.
In the contentious in the Republican
party in Arkansas, in the Brooks -Eax-
ter da"s. Mr.. Garland esp0used the
cause Of Mr.. Baxter, as did a major
|ty Of the Democrats, and he succeeded
Mr. Baxter as governor of the state.
He first served in the national senate in
1877, being unanimously chosen, and
was serving his second term when call
ed into Mr.. Cleveland's first cabinet.
While occupying this position as attor-
rey general he was rendered the posi-
tion on the supreme bench afterwards
given to Mr.. Lamar. but declined. say
ing he was too old, in his opinion
Since retiring from his position in the
cabinet Mr.. Garland has resided in
Washington.