The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-08

DALLAS. Texas. May David b. Cul-
berson died suddenly at his home in JEFF
ferson at o'clock this morning. He had
been in falling health for some time. but
his condition was not considered alarming
until yesterday. The news OF his death was
a shock to the people of the e.-with
whom he was immensely popular. Ar
rangements for the funeral have Tot yet
been made, but the obsequies will be on
an elaborate scale. They will be par
ticipated in by the Confederate Veterans
Association. and the State militia. The
interment will probably be at Jefferson.
David 3. Culberson was born in Troup
County. Georgia, September 2s, 1880. His
education was received at Brownwood
College, LaGrange, Ga. He subsequently
studied law under Chief Justice Chiffon,
OF Alabama, and was admitted 10 the bar
when just past his majority. In 1856 he
removed to Texas. where he took an active
interest in politics. He was an ardent
Union sympathiZer and as such was elected
to the State Legislature of Texas in 1883.
He allied himself with Sam Houston,
former Governor Throckmorton. and four
other members OF the Legislature an re-
sisting the act OF secession to the last
extremity.
Al the outbreak of the war, however.
he enlisted as a private in the Confederate
Army but was commissioned lieutenant
colonel Of the Eighteenth Texas Infantry
on the organization of that regiment. Later
he became colonel of the regiment when
the command was left vacant by the trans
fer of Colonel Ochiltree, his ranking officer.
In 1854 on account of i'll health, he %as
assigned TO duty as Adjutant General OF
the State of Texas with the rank of colonel.
In the same year he was again elected to
the State Legislature, and subsequently,
in 1879. became State Senator.
He was elected Representative to the
Forty fourth Congress in 1874, and served
continuously in every successive Congress
until the end of the Fifts fourth Congress.
in 1896, when he wGs succeeded by j. L.
Sheppard. While representing his State in
Congress he was chairman of several COM
:nittees, among others the Committee on
Territories and the Committee on Judi
ciary.
He was appointed to the Judiciary Com
mittee during his first year in Congress
and was member of the committee con-
tinuously until his retirement from the
House. Judge Culberson was selected as
chairman of the committee by Speaker
Randall in 1879, and held that position
under every Democratic Speaker of the
House subsequent to that date.
After his retirement from Congress
President Mckinley appointed him in
the summer of 1897 a member of the
special commission to codify. the criminal
and penal statutes OF the United States.
His two associates on this Commission
were Judge Watson, of Ohio, and former
Governor Bodkin, of Wisconsin. This
Commission had not completed its la
bors at the time OF Judge Culberson's
death. and bill has been lately passed by
Congress enlarging the scope of the labors
of the committee, to include the arranging
and codifying of the civil laws OF the
United States.
Judge Culberson was the author of the
present law organizing Federal courts and
defining their jurisdiction. He leaves two
sons. the present Senator from Texas,
Charles A. Culberson, and Robert Culber-
son, now practicing law at San Antonio,
Texas. Judge Culbersons wife died about
two years ago.
Judge Culberson was distinguished for
his legal attainmsnts. which were of the
highest order. He was considered the
greatest criminal lawyer Texas ever pro
duced. and his forensic abilities were such
as to gain for him the reputation of one
OF the foremost orators of the bar.
While the intellectual qualities of Judge
Culberson won for him the admiration and
respect OF those who recognized his abili-
ties, he was even more highly esteemed for
the simple, gentle, generous traits of his
character. He was greatly beloved by all
who came in contact with him, and the
record OF his life abounds with instances
OF kind. unselfish actions.
1t is related of him that while Chairman
OF the Judiciary Committee many times
when report was to be made on some
great measure, Judge CulbersoR would
write il himself, and delivering it to the
youngest member OF the committee to
present to the Hou.e, would absent him
self in order that the younger man might
secure the credit
Former Speaker Reed, when in Wash
ington some time ago learning of the i'll
ness of the distinguished Texan said:
Judge Culberson has done more 10
soften the asperities Of the civil war than
any man who was ever in Congress. And
during his long and honorable term OF Of
fee he has ever been great conservative
force. He was also the architect OF near
ly all of the general statute Law enacted
sn Congress since 1875"