Evening star., 1901-09-24

illness during the night until he went to
his room this morning at o'clock He
was then told that an attack of indigestion
had been experienced during the night and
a physician had been sent for
Drs. Corey and Fisher were again at the
Shoreham this morning. Mr.. Wilson did
not get up as usual, but Admiral Schey
and Mr.. Rayner both went to his room,
and he talked with them about the case
under inquiry. They left him at 10
o'clock, and as they were leaving MEM
berS of the board of directors of the Ches-
apeake and Potomac Telephone Company
called to talk with Mr.. Wilson about
meeting to be held this morning, Mr.. Will
son being the president of that company.
1t was half-past 10 o'clock when they left,
and then Mr.. Wilson complained of feeling
badly. Drs. Corey and Fisher, recognizing
the serious condition of their patient at
once, sent for Mr.. Wilson's only son, Mr.
Charles Wilson, who is associated with his
father in business, and at once restoratives
were administered. Then Mr.. Wilson laid
back in bed, and when he had turned over
as If to sleep, the end came. The immedi-
ate cause OF death was said to be heart
failure, this being the result of indiges-
ton, from which he had suffered, and Of
the failure of the kidneys to act.
His Long and Active Career
Mr. Wilson was everywhere known as
Judge Wilson, and for twenty-five years
he had been a leader of the bar in this
city, having declined denomination to
Congress, after having served two terms,
in order to enter upon the practice of law
here. He was born in Warren county Ohio.
November %. 1898, SO that he was in the
seventy-third year of his age. He received
an academic education and then studied
and practiced law. He was judge of the
court of common pleas of Fayette county,
Indiana, from 1860 to 1865 when he re-
signed.
He was elected to the 42d Congress, in
which body he took his seat in December,
1S11 He was reelected to the 43d Con-
greSs as a republican, but at the end of
his term, declined, as stated, to stand for
denomination. AT the close Of his career
In Congress he became a partner of Mr.
Samuel Shallabarger, and their business
relations continued until the death Of the
latter in 1886.
Connected With Famous Cases,
During his long practice of the law in
this city Mr.. Wilson has been connected
with many famous cases and has gained a
reputation as a criminal lawyer, being
frequently spoken Of unequaled in such
practice in this city. AS a cross-examiner
he has become famed.
He has acted as attorney for the Union
Pacific railroad and the Mormon Church
He appeared as counsel In the case Of John
Wedderburn before the patent office, which
having business with that branch of the
government. He was counsel for Howard
Schneider in the celebrated murder case,
and was counsel for the plaintiff in the
Breckinridge-Pollard breach of promise
suit. He defended Dennis j. Comfy who
was charged with the killing Of George M
Rye. and of which charge the accused was
acquitted. He also defended the sugar wit
nesses who had declined to testify before a
Senate committee the first Of which was
brought to trial January 6.
lie appeared as the representative of the
heirs-at-law in the famous Holt will case
also as counsel for Capt Henry W. How
gate when he was tried in 1894. He also
defended Frank Ward in the case whiSh
attracted so much attention in this city.
martial proceedings of Gen. Swain, as he
was also in the case of Capt. Oberlin Car
ter. He was counsel in the Alabama
claims and French spoliation cases and in
the La Abra Mexican and the Venezuelan
cases.
At the time of his death Mr. Wilson was
president Of the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company, a director in the Ma
tfonal Fidelity and Deposit Company and
also of other corporations OF the District.
He was a member OF the Metropolitan Club
and of the Bar Association of the District
of Columbia.
While in Congress Mr.. Wilson was chair
man Of the special committee of the House
of Representatives to investigate the board
OF public works. This investigation was
held in 1874 and lasted four months. Dur
ing its progress Mr. Wilson was accused
] by some acting as q prosecutor rather