New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-23

son and law partner, John P. Stockton, jr
who was informed of his fathers illness at his
office in Jersey City, was shocked at the unex-
pected news and was completely Frustrated. Mr..
Stockton sank rapidly and died at 1:3O o'clock.
The death of John Potter Stockton removes
a prominent citizen of New-Jersey Although he
had lived in New-York City and at Elberon for
years, he maintained a legal residence in Jersey
City.
The Stocktons were conspicuous in the history
of the State and the country. John ?. Stockton
was born at Princeton, N. J., on August ?, 1925,
his father being Commodore Robert f. Stockton,
of the United States Navy. He was graduated
from Princeton College in 1S43, studied law with
the late Judge r. S. Field, and was admitted to
the New-Jersey bar attorney at the April
term, 1S47, and as counsellor In 1901 He
practised law at Trenton, and became prominent
in State Democratic circles as a public speaker
and Gs participant in the councils Of the party.
It was at about this time that he was ap-
pointed by Judge Ryerson and Judge Randolph
a commissioner to revise and simplify the pro-
ceedings and practice in courts of law He per-
formed this work so satisfactorily that his re-
port was adopted by the Legislature.
In 1857 Mr. Stockton gave up his lucrative
law practice at Trenton to accept the appoint
ment offered to him by President Buchanan as
United States Minister at Rome He held that
place until 1851, when hi returned to Trenton
and resumed the practice of law. He had by this
time attained much prominence as Demo-
cratic orator and statesman that he was elected
by the Legislature to the United States Senate
for the term which began March 4, 1865, to
succeed John c. Ten Eyck. He was unseated
after serving one year, but reelected for
the term which began March 4. 1869. At the
end of the term he returned to Trenton and
again opened a law office. On April s, 1871 he
was appointed Attorney General and served
twenty years, as he was reapponted IN 1867
1887 and 1892
1t was while he was Acknowledgement, in
1894 that the notorious Democratic effort to
steal the New-Jersey Senate was made. There
were ten Democratic and eleven Republican
Senator'S The Democrats refused to permit
Senator-elect Bradley of Monmouth County, to
take his seat, the allegation against him being
that he had been guilty of hribing voters at the
election. After having taken the oath OF once
in Trenton hotel the Republicans, hndlne the
doors of the Senate Chamber locked against
them, organized a Senate in one of the small
rooms in the Senate House. The Democrats
held the Senate chamber by force The question
of the constitutionality of the Democratic or
ganization was submitted to Acknowledgment
Stockton, and he delivered an opinion to Gov
ernor Werts on January II, 1884, sustaining the
Democratic Senate. The question was submitted
to the Supreme Court, and II was the OPINION it
of Chief Justice Beasley, also Democrat, Whlch
repudiated the constitutional theories set up IN
the opinion ofNAttorney- General Stockton, gave
the Republicans the control OF the senate, anu 4
brought to the then aged but still vigorous Chler
Justice his greatest fame.
During his last term as Attorney-General ne
was a vigorous opponent of trusts, and secured
the dissolution of several. Three years ago ne
opened an office in Jersey City with his son, and
was retained as senior counsel in several I'M
portant cases. notably the effort to stop the
pollution Of the Passaic River and to prevent
the execution Of Edward Clifford, convicted OF
the murder of superintendent WatIsoH' VI the
West Shore Railroad. 49,, 49,
Attorney General Stockton up to within the
last twenty years not only an active par
ticipant but also a recognized authority in the
counsels of the Democratic party. He was
delegate from New-Jersey to Democratic Ma
tional conventions several times and was re-
peatedly mentioned a probable Democratic
candidate for Governor.