The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-31

elected recorder of the mayors court
of Scranton. This was In 1872 and
Judge Gunster then formed law part
nership with Charles II. welles and
continued in that connection until 1885,
In the fall of 1874 he was elected
to the assembly on the Democratic
ticket and served in 1s75-76. He wns
very active in securing the passage
OF the new county bill separating
from Luzerne. but the bill
was twice defeated in the senate white
he served in the lower house. After
retiring from the assembly, however.
he returned the next year and fpnt
material assistance In getting the
measure through the legislature.
When the new county was organized
he was appointed the first district at
torney by Governor Hartranft and
served with credit in that capacity for
one year and three months.
ON Aug IA, 1883, he received the. un-
animous nomination of the Democratic
party for the position of additional law
judge of Lackawanna county end the
Republican county convention gave
him an endorsement by refusing to
nominate a candidate against him. He
was elected by a large majority ever
the Independent candidate. A. A.
Chase. Judge Gunster took his seat
Jan. /, 1889, for the term of ten years.
Eighteen months ago Jul lgs Gunster
received the unanimous nomination OF
both Democrats and Republicans for
his second term and he won out by a
big majority, despite strenuous Oppo.
sition by Cornelius Smith. He agail
took his seat on Jan. !, 1899, for the
second term of ten years, but higher
power decreed that he should never
finish it.
ORGANIZER OF BANKS.
He was one of the organizers of the
Third National bank and served as
one of the directors until he was elect
cd Judge. He was also one of the
board of trustees of the Lackawanna
hospital. has served as q director OF
the oral school and was also a trustee
of the Albright library. Fraternally,
he was an active member Of the Ben
evolcnt and Protective Order Of Elks.
AS n civil and equity Judge, Judge
Gunster held high rank. being consid-
cred one of the ablest in the state. His
knowledge of law was wonderful. not
only in it's vast range, but also in its
peculiar thoroughness. In his dispo-
sition of criminal cases, If fault he
had, it was in leaning too much tow
ard mercy.
The judge presented striking per-
sonal appearance in his younger years,
being over six feet tall and as straight
as the proverbial arrow, and even in
later years he was almost as erect IN
bearing. He was great student, was
master of several foreign languages
and impressed every one who came IL,
contact with him by his uniformally
courteous manner and unruffled tefn-
permanent. In conclusion let 1t be said
that in the death of Judge Gunster
Scranton has lost an able jurist. Il
patriotic citizen and last and most i'm
portant of all, an honest man.
The following tribute to the dead
jurist is from the pen of his close
friend, +. J. Fitzsimmons, and was
printed in Sundays News, of which
Mr.. Fitzsimmons Is editor:
COL. FITZSIMMONS' TRIBUTE.
Judge Gunster was essentially a mar
of books. rare modesty and great re
serve force. He served one term in til,
legislature. and during it made I
speech against the lax and unscrupu
lous way the general assembly granted
divorces, which gave him nationa
and international reputation as a pow
erful debater and profound thinker. H
was at Harrisburg in the early seven
ties He afterward gave his undividet
| attention to the practice of the law til
| 1858, when he was elected judge. AS ;
| lawyer he easily reached and was con
ceded a foremost place at the bar.
He was no specialist. He eXcelled II
all departments of his profession
Arguing intricate questions before tn
| court he was lucid, concise. and con
vincng. In the preparation of cases
in the drawing Of legal papers and i
| the giving of advice he was exhaust
| i've, accurate and sound. Before a jur
he was n match for the most brillian
| in the land. 1 always regarded him a
one of the three strongest advocates
ever heard address twelve men. He ha
q superior mind, enriched with classi
learning and adorned by extensiv
reading of master authors. 1t was re
tentive. analytical, logical Yet hi
great persuasiveness came from an
other source. 1t was Unborn and need
ed not nursing. 1t consisted in hi
great intense sincerity, which thrille
his splendid voice and was visible upo
every feature of his intellectual face.
Nature did not only endow him wit
the attribute of believing what he sait
but she gave him the rarer gift--tha
of communicating the same belief
those whom he addressed. When h
gave much thought to a subject. G
carefully arranged an argument,
was a treat to listen to him. He wa
no less thorough than skillful. He sal
nothing that should have been left ur
said and unsaid nothing that shoul
have been said. His capabilities as
lawyer and his keen conception OF wha
a lawyer should be, made him, at times
noticeably annoyed when on the benc
regulating case which was bein
bunglingly handled by careless attoi
neys.
PURE MINDED MAN.
No purer-minded man ever poise
the scales of justice. His governin
desire and fondest hope were to sc
right prevail. He detested only wha
was false and insincere. He loved h
profession and was happy when he sa
1t upheld in all its integrity and grea'
ness. He delighted in the companion
ship of friends and in the enjoyment {
harmless pleasures.
He did not have an extensive int
mate acquaintance. Therefore 1T wa
not difficult for an unprincipled demS
gogue or a constituencies seeker aftt
notoriety to cause him to be misunde
stood by the masses. Did the peop
know him as he was in heart and sol
they would have esteemed him as /
other public man was ever esteemed
this community. Those who knew hi
best revered him.
The proof of this was that the part
of his political preference named hi