The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-01
IN MEMORIAM.
Tribute Paid to Justice Lip.
pincott By Ex-Judge
Hoffman,.
GIFTS OF BAR ASSOCIATION
Pictures of the Jurist and
Chancellor McGill Hung
at the Court House.

Ihe portraits of the late Supreme Court
Justice Lippincott and the late Chancel-
Tor Alexander T. McGill presented by the
Hudson County Bar Association. were
unveiled with brief but impressive cere-
monies In the Supreme Court room this
morning. Justice Collins presided Be-
side MIN on the bench sat Judge Nevius
OF the Circuit Court and Judge Adams OF
the Court of Errors and Appeals. Inside
the rallied enclosure were assembled
about fifty members of the bar
On each side of the bench one of the
portraits of the departed jurists rested on
an easel. That of Justice Lippincott cor
responds in dimensions with the pictures
OF the late Justices Bedle and Knapp,
which already adorn the wall of the Su-
preme Court room
Judge Otto Grouse formally stated the
objet of the gathering and announced
that Justice Lippincott's portrait would
remain in the Supreme Court room while
that OF the Chancellor would be placed
in the General Sessions Court room.
where he had so ably presided a few
years ago.
On behalf of the Bar Association, ex-
Judge Hoffman was selected to make the
formal presentation of the portraits. He
said
In this presence what a flood of men,
ories comes rushing to US as we look up
to that wall. Bedle, Knapp, McGill, Lip
plncott, seem to be with US again in life.
We turn back the hands on the dial and
see them as active. as earnest, as full
of hopes and ambitions for the future as
we, still living, with the worlds endear-
ments, its duties and it's labors.
Something seems gone from nature
when such men die, and summer Is not
summer, nor can be, and we stay a little
longer to cover up the embers that still
family burn, and thus we are confronted
with the ever occurring questions-old as
the sixty centuries of human life-Why?
Whittier? The eternal why is at this
moment potentially present, as we are in
| the presence of death.
ITO what end did our dead friends live,
move and do their work? No matter how
high has been our position, no matter how
large place We may have filed, the sur
face has been but moment troubled and
all is as quickly placed as before. Appre-
hending all this, it is eminently fitting to
emphasize with whatever force we can
| the life work of the friends who have
| departed, that the memory of them may
be brighter and longer in our minds per-
| chance little longer, while in the rush
and termoil of life it dainty fades away.
| Therefore bespeak your attention for
a few moments while try to recall some
| of the most characteristic features of the
| life and character of Job H. Lippincott
! 1t is third of a century ago since came
to this country to practice law. He had
just removed from Burlington County to
Jersey City, and from the time first met
him we became close and intimate friends.
| What throng of incidents in our associa-
| ton arise. When 1 think of the years of
our intimacy, so close, so unbroken. Now
all these relations are sundered and I
stand here to scatter few flowers upon
his grave.
''As lawyer he sprang at once into
prominence. He was successful from the
start, and this was largely due to his
great industry. OF rugged health he
seemed as if no amount of work could
tire him, and night with him was hardly
discernahe from day. But it must not
be forgotten that he had a great knowl-
edge of fundamental law. He had been
a most diligent student. To this was
added sterling common sense. Taken to-
gether, this gift of nature and these at
tainments he could not fail of being a
good lawyer.
| in the trials of cases he had no frills
nor faneies He caught the main point
and let minor details take care of them-
selves. His blows never glanced. they all
ways struck fair. full and hard. Hs
never talked over the heads of iuries
1 ht,t In ,1a;r
| and the listeners knew exactly what he
meant. His cases were always carefully
prepared and, knowing his ground. he
was ready to meet emergencies and en-
tighten the Court as to his ideas of tha
laws, and which in the main were corr
rect.
He served as counsel to the Board OF
Freeholders for many years and was all
most phenomenally successful in the-con<
duct of the important litigation which
crowded and filled his term of this office.
THE appointment of United States Dis
triet' Attorney, which came to him during
President Cleveland's term, was thought
by him and his friends to open the way
to greater prominence and influence. but
the duties of the office were distastefuI
to him and he soon resigned it. Shortly
atterward he was made presiding Judge
of our County Courts. and here, in my
Judgment, he achieved his greatest eucs
/ cess
HE came to this office after great ex.
perience at the bar, but this not always
fully fits man to be a Judge. Besides
the greatest gifts of genius bestowed upon
Judge do not always make him the
most useful one. A complete mental
equipoise, fair talents and knowledge ot
principles, honesty of purpose and moral
courage combined with fzsf equipment
of what We call common sense will always
make the safe, useful and judicial officer
All of these Judge Lippincott possessed
in full measure"
Counsellor William Dougherty followed
with few touching remarks on the lifs
of both magistrates. after which the cere
monies were brought to close.
| JAfnFC