The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-01-31
JUDGE CLAYTON ]
/ Is DEAD.
Distinguished 'Jurist Stu
died Law in This City -
Fifty Years Ago. !,

Chester, Pa, January 3O.--Hon.
Thomas J. Clayton, President Judge
OF the Courts of Delaware county,
died at 80 o'clock this afternoon
at his home at Thurlow. He was
"A years Of age. Death was due to
a general breaking down Of tn e
system and not to any specific dis
ease.
| Judge Clayton was taken illabout
six weeks ago and left the bench,
expecting to return after the Christ
mas holidays, by which time it was
thought he would have rest, but
he grew we1ker and was obliged to
take to his bed.
Thomas Jefferson Clayton came
from an old family, his ancestors
having immigrated to Pennsylvania
before William Penn landed. The
Claytons settled at Marcus Hook,
but a branch of the family moved
to Bethel township, where the fu-
ture judge of Delaware county was .
born on January 20, 1926. Judge
Clayton read law at Wilmington,
Del.
On November "a, 1851, he was ad-
mitted to practice at the bar of ,
Delaware county, being the first
attorney to be admitted after the
removal Of the county seat from
Chester to Media. The following
year Mr.. Clayton moved to Phila.
delphia and began the practice Of
law in that city, where he soon at.
tracted attention b. mis- forensic
powers.
The vacancy on the bench occa-
stoned by the erection of the Thirty
second judicial district was filled
by the appointment of Hon. John
M. Broomall to the position OF
President Judgeof Delaware county
He took the oath of office on MAY ;,
1874. The Republican convention
which met that year nominated Mr..
Broomall for the full term of ten
years, and then followed zone of tho
most famous campaigns in the his.
tory of the State.
After Judge Brcomall was nom-
mated by the Republicans, the op-
position cast about for an available
man to pit against him Thomas ].
Clayton was agreed upon and he
was elected.
After ten years of service on the
bench, Judge Clayton was nominal
ed for second term by the Re
publican convention in 1884. His
opponent at the primary election
and canvass was the son of his
former rival. William B. Broomall.
The fight was hardly less than the
famous battle of a decade before,
but Clayton won. Efforts were
made to get Mr.. Broomall to conc
out as an independent candidate,
but he declined
In 1894 Judge Clayton was elect.
ed to'the bench for the third time.
defeating o. b. Dickinson, the
Democratic nominee.
Judge Clayton was one of til.
greatest travellers in Delawars
His first visit to a foreign
shore was made when he was
young man.
He wrote very entertainingly OF his
travels abroad. The last visit
abroad made by the jurist was te
he Holy Land.
The Judge made a will within tho
)ast three months, which will dis.
,ose of his estate, valued at $780,. 4
400. The management of the es.
ate, is left entirely in the hands OF
he Delaware County Trust Com.
'any. in which the Judge was large
y interested. Judge Clayton for a v
lumber of years has been TRUSTEES IL
or several large estate, one q Y
which is valued at or over one nit
ion dollars.
Media, Pa, Januaay g.. When
udge Thomas J. Clay OF passe!
way at his home in Chester thi,
1 tcrnoon "A new element entcrcs
nto the celebrated case of tho
Pierce brothers, charged with tie
lurder of George b. Eyre. Juds,
laytons feeble condition preclud
d the possibility of his presiding
t the March tern of court, when
he case will be called, even if lie
ad survived until that time.
Judge Claytons successor will
oubtless be appointed before Dis
'ict Attorney Smith moves the cas-.
II trial. Three or tour names are
entioned as the late Judge Clay
ms possible successor. Amor,
lose mentioned for the place aIs
aptain Isaac Johnson, George L. 4
arlington and V. Gilpin Robin 4
On. William b. Broomall, WHO i, 4
ssoclated with Joseph II. Hinks,r Y
$ counsel for the Pierce brothels
also talked Of.