Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-02

Byrne. The firm dissolved soon after
Mr.. Bradford was appointed United
States judge.
In politics, Mr.. Vanderbilt was
Democrat, and always took an active
interest in what appertained to the
welfare of the State. He had held no
political office until appointed, in
April, 1894, as United States attorney
for the district CT Delaware.
His term was the busiest of any dis
trict attorney who ever held the office
10 this State. He conducted the prose-
cution in the Cuban tilibuster cases and
IN the Capt. Edward Murphy and
steamship Laurada cases. The Cubans
and Capt. Murphy were acquitted. The
Laurada matter is still pending on an
appeal taken by the government, her
forfeiture being involved. Charles
Harris, pension swindler, and ooun-
terfeiters who operated near Dover,
were sent to Trenton penitentiary In
Mr.. Vandegrift's term.
But the cases which make his Work
as prosecuting attorney most notable
were those growing out Of the defalca-
tion OF Paying Teller William N. Boggs
of the Dover National Bank. Boggs'
flight and return to pay the penalty Of
his crime, the many indictments found
by the grand juries, and the great IN
terest aroused in the prosecutions, the
trials teing contested by able counsel
ut ever, point, are all matters OF com
mon knowledge. That Mr.. Vandegrif'
met every requirement 10 the greai
burdens thrust upon him in that w0rl
| is everywhere acknowledged. As re-
suit, Col. Ezekiel Il. Cooper, Thon,a:
8. Clark, William e. Cotter and William
N. Boggs, the latter pleading guilty
we're sent to the New Jersey Stat,
Penitentiary at Trenton. This othe
cases were dropped.
Mr.. VandegrIft was continued beyont
his term in order to prosecute the baul
cases
In 1888 Mr.. Vardegrift was delegat
! to tie Democr ATTIC National Convention
and from 1888 to 1892 was the Demo
cratic National Committeeman from
this State. He was several times men
j toned as a Democratic candidate 70
Congress but declined to make can
vass for the position. He was vigor
GUS speaker and took part in numerou
campaigns.
His practice was very large and b
gave to it close application, being on
OF the most tireless workers. Anon
{ his clients we're the du Font corpora
tions, the Wilmington 4 MOI thorn Raj
load Co. and the philadelphia & Reao
ing Railway Co., +. Blumenthal & Co
The Diamond State Steel Co., and tn
Edge Moor bridge works. One OF hi
last cases in the Superior Court We
that Of Ray VS.. the Diamond Sta
Steel Co., which resulted In victor
for this defence.
The following lawyers read law und'
Mr.. Vandegrift: Howell s. England
, L. r. Cochran, Jr., Hugh G. Brown,
A. J. Lynch. Georgetown; Edward !
, Coocb, Thomas q. Frame, JI.,
Dover; P. Blair Pie, George l.. Tow
/ send, Robert Pennington and W.
5 Willis.
, Mr.. yandegrifT was at one time pres
! dent Of the New Castle County Bar a
, sociation, and was recently arpointe
q with Walter. II. Hayes, to represent
{ at the meeting OF the American B
' Association. He was president of d
!. Bayard Memorial Association and
the Friends Of Old Drawers Presh
terrain Church. He was trustee
] Delaware College, and member Of 7
o Historical Society of Delaware, and t
o Wilmington Club.
d MIR. Vandegrift married Miss Ract
3 M. Garrett, who, with five childre
v survives him.