The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-02

called on to give his opinion of Judge
| Woods, said:
I'VE are met to pay tribute TO the men,
DRY of no common man. From modest and
severe conditions, Judge William Allen
Woods rose to eminence and power The
circumstances of his birth and boyhood.
while in a sense unpromising were, in a
larger sense, the best school in which he
could have been tutored. Necessity is the
wisest instructor; her lessons are best and
longest emembered. There is no finer
fiber than that which is produced by early
responsibility. Labor upon the farm and
widowed mother and to gain for himself
an education. laid the foundation of in
dustry. self-reliance and frugalty which
developed into robust and splendid man
hood-into a nobility of character which
won our love and admiration.
His sense of justice which was a domi-
nant characteristic, was never more con-
spicuously manifested than when he re-
fused to sell a slave whom he had inherited.
In order that ne might complete his college
studies without pledging the future by Dor
rowing. He had a passion for an education,
but he could not crafty it by trafficking In
human flesh and blood. His innate sense of
justice and human rights held the mastery
from the beginning. He gave freedom to
his chattel and won mis- scholastic degree
through his own efforts.
Judge Woods possessed in a large meas
ure the virtue of work. Nature had en-
dowed him with a robust intellect. with q
mind OF rare excellence, yet he labored with
ullRSnce. udIeNeT he undertook lie QlU
thoroughly and well. He consecrated him
self completely to whatever task lay be-
fore him.
H was a successful tutor and school
teacher, an industrious and able lawyer, a
vigilant and conservative legislator, but his
chief distinction was achieved upon the
judicial faculty and had an ambition to fill
well the judicial office. After he passed his
thirty-ffth year, he was called to the
bench. and remained continuously in judi
1 aia1 CnrtiOQ until tho Sudden and Ia rnanfaH
close of his honorable career. During al
most thirty years service upon the circuit
and supreme benches of his State, and as
judge of the United States District Court
of Indiana. and as judge of the United
States Circuit Court for the Seventh judi
cial circuit, he won and held in full meas
ure the confidence of the bar. the bench and
the people, by the very able and faithful
manner in which he discharged his judicial
functions.
Judge Woods had the patience TO hear.
weigh. His conclusions were honestly
reached, and were expressed in cogent,
was tenacious of his opinions. but in no
merely dogmatic way. He was willing to
recede from them il convinced that they
were founded in error: Herein lies the
more difficult task for us than TO confess
that we are in error. and yet nothing is
more praiseworthy.
NO MERE CASE LAWYER.
"He was a complete master of the prin-
ciples of the law. He was in no sense a
mere case lawyer, a mere case judge. He
could we'll have interpreted the laws of
a State during it's formative period. He
possessed exceptional analytical power.
He would quickly discard the nonessentiaI
and seize upon the controlling facts and
points Of law.
1T fell to the lot of Judge Woods to
| CpptiOnal moment His 0nipiOnS in these
cases constitute the best eulogy and the
fttest tribute to his memory. They will
remain an enduring source of inspiration
and strength to the bench and bar. The
case which enlisted most attention and
for a time sorely vexed the judge was a
proceeding against q political manager,
federal statutes during a political cam
paign. A letter was alleged 10 have been
written, advising the purchase of votes.
The judge, in his charge to the grand jury,
called attention TO the section of the fed
eral statutes which makes bribery an Of
Tense and provides that any person who
aids, counsels procures or advises any
such voter, person or officer TO do any act,
made a crime by the section quoted shall
be punished.
AT a subsequent date, he further in
structed the jury that in addition to the
mere fact of advice, 1T must be shown that
the crime contemplated was committed or
an attempt made TO commit it, in order
to constitute an indictable %offense.
Partisan feeling was intense at the
IfUe ana Al was NClGltltHllI CHdIRtQ IOdI
the judge had changed his instructions for
partisan purposes. Incorporate and un-
luSt criticism filled the air. For a time he
suffered most keenly. He was a man of
extremely delicate sensibility. He had a
pride in the bench and az ambition to up
hold it's exalted traditions. He was deep
~ touched by the criticism and alienation
of some of his valued friends. who held
political views opposite TO his own. HI
was conscious of the integrity OF his re-
vised instructions and felt that when pas
sion had subsidized. that the deliberate judg-
ment Of the bench and bar would complete
IN Justify his course. He lived 10 realize
Of all whose good opinion is more 10 be
priced than the highest judicial distinc.
ton. He knew that no mere place had
aught of honor in it; that honor abides
alone in the approving Judgment OF men
INC stain rests upon the record OF our
any act Of his were undone. He was ac.
tuated always by high motives. He walked
in the full sunlight, a frank. brave man
fearing naugh except that through fallible
judgment he might do wrong.
He was warm in his personal attach
ments and preferred to think good of his
fellow-men. lie was a nan OF superb
moral courage; he was ever ready 10 de.
clare before the world the faith that was
in him and abide the consequences.
Our friend. who SO lately walked amons
us In the full maturity of his power. ar
able and just judge. honored and respected
OF all. has finished his useful career. II,
a noble lamp
Others that spoke were Judge Collar:
of Fort Wayne. John c.. Williams. Johr
r. Dye, Smiley y. Chambers. John 5. Dun.
can, Addison c. Harris and Judge Kohl
Saat.