The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-01

large attendance of the members of the
bar whose sorrow was plainly evident.
Each member felt that he had lost y
kind and generous friend. The chair on
the bench that had been occupied by
Judge Gunster was heavily draped in
black.
In the absence of Attorney j. II. Tor
rey, president of the Bar association.
who was not in the city, Attorney G.
II. Welles called the meeting to order
and suggested Judge Il. w. Archibald
for chairman Of the meeting. This sug
gestion was unanimously agreed to
and in taking the chair Judge Arch
bald spoke feelingly Of his departed as
sociate. He said:
'The blow has fallen. Death has
come. The anticipated has happened.
That which in anxiety and sorrow we
have contemplated for the past three
months is a certainty. Hon. Frederick
w. Gunster. senior additional law
Judge of this county is dead. For the
second time in it's history this court is
compelled to mourn the loss of one OF
its members. stricken down in the
midst of his labors, with his attain
ments at their highest, with the
promise Of the best work and the high
est efficiency yet to come. Truly it is
an occasion not only for the court and
bar, but for the community at large
to deplore his loss.
\ PROMINENT FIGURE.
so prominent Il figure has Judge
Gunster been in the life, progress and
development of this city, SO large a
place has he filled in the public eye.
that there is little that can be said at
this time, that is not already known
But very few, If any, have known him
longer than have |. We were boys to-
gether in the High school of this city
from its very earliest, until each went
on his way to college. He was few
years NV senior. and l looked up to
him with emulation. Of not only a
scholarly but Il literary turn of mind,
he stood foremost in his classes and
ranked as young man of the greatest
promise. When he entered Williams
although brought in competition with
one of the his t set Of men ever
graduated from that institution, he
took rank with the best and graduated
with the highest honors. Returning
to this city his merits were anew
recognized. and he entered upon
the practice of the law. remem-
Der WELL when l entered on the study
of the law, being advised to secure Il
place in his Office although he had then
been in practice but three years. \
few years later he was elected to the
legislature, and the high vote which
was given him showed the support
which he received regardless of party.
That was the second session after the
adoption of the new constitution and
the importance of the legislation to be
considered was correspondingly great.
But in that legislature there were to
b found some of the strongest men
ever sent to the capital, of whom Ira II.
Mitchell, Judge Albright and Judge
Yerkes may be mentioned. Judge
Gunster still held his own. and is spok-
Ell Of to this day by those who met
| and knew him there.
II do not need to mention the other
more recent public honors which camo
| to him. AS first district attorney OF
| the county, that office has never been
more efficiently filled. and when by
| the resignation cf Judge Hand. a va.
| carcv in this bench was to he filled
! the bar. with marked unaninity, sup
| ported the nomination of Judge Gun.
| ster. and the people ratified the choice,
| HE REELECTION.
"Barel- year has passed since he
was again nominated and elected, re.
gardless of party. This recital conveys
| but brief mention of the homer AMI
! positions of responsibility which III
| held, and they one and all testify to
| the confidence reposed in him by the
| people of the community.
| II might not SO let this occasion pass
without leaving my personal and Of
| fetal testimony to his worth. l have
been associated with him fer over
eleven wears. He vas of TIE highest
! legal and judicial at-ainments. and
. never came TO the cons Iteration of a
hot hn .,.itl tl,n,,
, suggestive observation upon il. He
was firm in his opinions. which were
! judicial, not personal. and he was
! fearless in the expression of them, as
| the occasion required. His life is now
hut = memory. Put in recognition Of
It's high worth, lei us keep it green
for the emulation and example OF this
as well as the early generations"
After Judge Archibald concluded. Al.
torney Joseph O'Brien was elected sec,
retary of the meeting and on motor
Of ex-Justlce Alfred Hand, commit
tee of three was appointed to draw u,
suitable resolutions expressive of tn.
sentiments of the bar with reference t,
the death of Judge Gunster. On thi.
committee eX-Justice Hand, cy-Judg.
Il. n. Willard and Attorney C. Com
eggs we're named.
! While the COMMITTEES was preparing
its report euloGies were pronounced b,
sevcra! OF those present. Judge II. NJ
| Edwards said that he found it Difficult
to express his feelings in view of tn,
great calamity that had befallen them
Il do not feel like commenting o,
the life Of Judge Gunster in its mani
fold activities. I cannot assemble m,
thoughts to express what is in m,
heart this morning. 1t may be that af
ter this dark cloud of sorrow has passc
away that 1t will be possible for m,
and other members OF this bar to d,
justice to the character and worth o
Judge Gunster. / cannot do ii now.
WORTH AS A LAWYER.
MANY OF the older members of tn
bar know his great worth as a lawyer
they have felt his keen intellect an,
great mind in the trial of cases. Thes
may speak of his great intellect for H.
was pre-eminent in this respect. O
this there is no doubt. / will not speal
of his career as a Judge, for that ha
been done by Judge Archibald witt
whom he was for years associated oi
the bench, but will speak of the feel
ing that Is uppermost in my mind, o
his greatness as man.
| For nearly quarter of a centur!
/ have been associated with him, an
as ! look back how that period of tim
has flown. l read law with him an,
In my early career at the bar wa
greatly indebted to him for his advic
and assistance. He had a great min
and great heart that always respond
ed To the chords of sympthy. Hoy