The Washington times., 1901-10-09
DISTRICT COURTS ADJOURN
Unusual Tribute of Respect on
the Death of Walter d. Davidge.
EuIogies Delivered From the Bench
Follow the Announcement - ihe
Members of the Local Bar to At
,.nd the Funeral Ceremonies.

The members Of the bench and bar OF
| the District with one accord, Eesleru"S
refrained from the consideration OF any
business as testimonial OF respect "
| the memory of Walter d. Davidge, VINO
died on Monday at his home, 1924 II street
northwest. The Court of Appeals for the
| District was the first to take action yes
terday, and by order of Chief Justice
| Avery pcstponed consideration of several
| important matters set for hearing. AS
| soon as the different branches of the Su-
| preme Court convened, on motion OF
prominent attorneys they, too. adjourned
| Later in the afternoon specially called
! business meeting of the Washington Baf
Association was adjourned on motion Oh
| \. S Worthington, who made an olIclal
! announcement of the death of Mr. DaF-
| idge on the suggestion of K. Ross fer-
| nv it was further agreed that the members
of the District bar will meet at the as
sociation rooms today at l.50 p. m, pre-
paratory to attending the funeral OF MT
| Davidge in a body.
The funeral services over the remains
| of Mr.. Davidge win take place today at
D. m. at his late residence, the Rev.
John a LaMothe, assistant rector of the
Church of the Epiphany, officiating. I'm
| mediately after the services the body Will
be conveyed to Oak Hill Cemetery, where
the interment will be made.
The honorary pallbea~ers will be Chiet
| Justice Fuller and Associate Justices Har-
Ian. Brown, and Brewer, of the United
| States Supreme Court: John w. Ross
| Commissioner of the District of Columbia
| Justice Seth Shepard. of the Court of APP
peals of the District; Justices Hagner and
=
/ trict; Walter S. Cox, formerly associate
justice of the Supreme Court of the Dis
! trict; Judge Edward Lander, Hilary A.
Herbert, formerly Secretary of the Navy;
Nathaniel Wilson, Bancroft Davis, Gen.
Absolom Baird, NJ. a. BaHinger, DR.. T. V.
Hammond. Lewis J. Davis, John Seldom,
A. S. Worthington. Assistant United
States Attorney Hugh T. Taggart, James
Lowndes, and f. p. B. Sands.
The active pallbearers will be William
w. Boarman, Algernon Sartoris, Paul
Johnson Albert Harper, Z. L. White,
Walter V. B. Berry, Douglas II. Gordon,
and DeCourcy Thorn.
The announcement of the death of Mr..
Davidge was made in the Court of APP
peals for the District by Nathaniel VIII
son, who said: as.l
May it please the court: ! have TO
Walter Davidge, which occurred yester-
day AS member of the bar of this Dis
trict for more than fifty years, Mr.: Da-
yidge was, | may say, in almost daily at
tendance upon the courts actively and
zealously engaged in the practice of his
profession.
Your Honors well know what brilliant
and powerful faculties of mind, what
comprehensive learning, what powers Of
argument and persuasion, and what
fidelity and untiTing industry he unspar-
4. -.I rtegl limo u tn he
services of his clients in the contests of
the courts. and to the administration or
justice.
Tributes to his eminent abilities and
honorable career Will be spoken hereafter.
At the present moment the respect for
his character and his life which all en-
tertain, the profound sorrow which we all
feel for his loss, suggest the motion that
! now make that the court should end its
session for the day and now adjourn
Chief Justice Alvey, with much feeling
replied as follows:
Gentlemen OF the Bar: This is very
melancholy announcement, and it is with
great sorrow to every one of US VINO had
known Mr.. Davidge as We'll as We had
known him. to his relations as member
Of the bar, of the courts Of this District,
and of the Supreme Court of the United
States His activity continued up 10 the
last days of his existence, and il was only
I recently before our last adjournment,
that he was engaged in the argument Of
case of great Importance before US in
which his eminent abilities were mani
fest.
In view of the fact that he was the
Oldest member of the bar. and Of his long
] practice in the courts, and Of his asso-
/ citation with US ALL this court will depart
from the precedent heretofore established
and upon the bare announcement of the
death viii now adjourn over until tomor-
row morning out of respect and honor to
the memory of Mr.. Davidge.
THE funeral we are Informed Will take
place at o'clock tomorrow when one of
the members of this court viii attend as
pallbeaTeT. The court now stands ad-
iourned until tomorrow. when at o'clock,
il will again adjourn to attend the fun-
eraI. The court is now adjourned.
In Equity Court No. !, Justice Hagner.
/ an adjournment was made on motion OF
/ Charles G. Cole, formerly associate justice
/ Of the Supreme Court of the District
While the occasion was. not one for
! oulogy. said Mr.. Cole, he could not re
| frain from paying word of tribute TO
! the distinguished dead. Mr.. Davidge
! had al! the qualities Of great lawyer
continued Mr.. Cole He was profoundly
/ learned. and possessed ability and dig
/ nifty. with a gentlemanly manner and
! l.indliness Of heart, that at once won
and retained the love and esteem of all
/ with whom he came In contact.
His death leaves Il great vacuum in
! the community. In respect to his mem
! ory, l move that this Court, in common
| with the others which set in this build
| ing, do now adjourn and transact no
| further business this day.
| Justice Haguer said: 1t is eminently
! proper that this motion should be made
| before this Court and in this room. Mr..
DaVidga was older than this Court. The
| portraits OF some of the earlier practi-
| TONERS. which adorn these walls, are the
| likenesses of gentlemen VINO were ms
| earlier associates.
| If it were possible they, as well as
| We would voice his many good qualities
| and the general regret at his end. He
was here in almost every important case,
| and in all classes Of cases he exhibited
| wonderful ability. 1t was generally rec
| ogniZed that he had no equal in real es-
| tate matters. He had a wonderful com
| mand of language and a most melodious
| voice.
| His death is very great loss both to
| the profession and to the Court, and also
| to the community. He left US in the har
| ness. To the last his wonderful mental
| powers were in full vigor. While this
| q haps is not the proper place for eul-
| oBy, these are spontaneous thoughts that
| come to me in my appreciation and ad-
| miratiOn OF Mr.. Davtdgc as great law
'.Today. and tomorrow, as that is the
| day of his funeral, this Court viii take
a rest from business. The Court now
| stands adjourned"
An adjournment was taken in Equity
| Court No. 2, presided over by Justice
| Bradley on motion Of Andrew b. Duvall.
In Circuit Court No. l. Chief Justice
| Bingham and Criminal Court No. ., Jus
| tice Barnard, similar action was taken
| on motion of Henry r. Davis. and Assist
ant District Attorney Hugh T Taggart
| respectively.
| Circuit Court No. /. Justice CIabaugh
presiding, and Criminal Court No. !. Jus
| tice Anderson presiding, were in session
| Monday when the news of Mr.. Davidge s
| death reached the City Hall, and business
was suspended at once. In the former
| action was taken on the motion Of \. S
| Worthington, and in the hitter on the an
nouncement made by Assistant District