The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1901-10-26
JUDGE RUSSUM
DIES SUDDENLY.
POPULAR ATTORNEY SUCCUMBS TO
HEART DISEASE.
His Life Terminated a Short Distance
From His Home in Dent0n-Active In
Politics for Many Years Appointed
Chief Judge of the Second Judicial
Circuit in 1896.

EX-Judge George NJ. Russum, of Den
suddenly from heart failure on Monday
evening. lie had an attack of heart
trouble about three weeks ago, but raj
lied sufficiently to attend to his business.
His fatal illness came Monday evening
as he was walking along the street from
his home to the drug store of George J.
Rcdden, in Denton. He entered the store
and asked for ammonia, saying that he
was suffering. Mr.. Reddcn. recognizing
his serious illness. told him to be seated,
which he did Restorativcs were APP
piled. but he gradually sank into uncon-
seriousness. and in Il few minutes passed
away. \ messenger had been dispatch
ed for his wife to the nearby home. She
was quickly by the side of her dying
husband.
True. charitable to Il fault, and spec
tally kind to the poor. Judge Russum was
almost universally loved in his town,
where he leaves the record of an unset
fish life rcplctc with good deeds. His
wife, Octavia RuSSum. survives.
SKETCH OF JUDGE RUSSUM.
Judge Russum was born at Wye Mills,
Talbot county, in January. 1884. His
father was DR.. Sydenham Thorn Rus
sum- The family is old English stock.
George VI. was educated ut Strasburg
College, Lancaster county. Pa. After be-
ing graduated from that institution he
entered Yale Law School, where he took
the degree of IL. Il. He was admitted
to the Caroline county bar in 1855, and
settled nj once in Denton.
That same year the Wings nominated
him for States Attorney. but the Demo
cratic candidate won. During the war
he was aSSrSSor of internal revenue for
the First Maryland District. by appoint
mcnt of President Lincoln. In 1867 he
WAS appointed by Chief Justice Chase
registrar in bankruptcy. In 1871 he was
elected States Attorney, holding the
office for two terms.
The Republicans ran him for Judge in
the Second Judicial Circuit in 1882, his
opponent being Judge WickeS. who won.
He was nominated for Congress in the
First Congressional District in 1854. but
was defeated by George w. Covington
In 1890 he ran for Congress again, and
this time Judge Page was his successful
opponent. He was once more nominated
in 1892. hut the late Robert b. Bratton,
the Democratic candidate. got more votes
than he, and once more his ambition was
thwartrd
Judge RuSSrrm was regarded by all
who knew him as one of the ableSt law
yerS in his section of the state. He was
possessed of genial manners and was n
ready wit.
Judge RusSum was twice married. his
first wife having died number of years
ago. His second wife, who was Al sister
of the first. was Miss Octavia Orme
George. daughter of the late DIR. Enoch
George. of Queen Anne's county one of
the famous Democratic senatorial cleo
tors known as The Glorious Nineteen,
of 1896. through whose determined stand
the reform hill of that year was passed.
APPOINTED CHIEF JUDGE.
Mr.. RuSsum WAS appointed Chief
Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit by
Governor Lowndes, January y. 1896, tc
succeed the late Chief Judge John NJ
Robinson. He WAS n candidate for the
United States Senate to succeed Senator
Gibson. hut upon the death of Judg,
Robinson he retired from the contest
Judge RuSSum had been for more than
20 years senior warden of Christ Protest
ant Episcopal Church. ut Denton. .Judg,
RuSSum was one of the most popula
men on the Eastern Shore. He had al
extensive practice in Caroline, Talbo
and Queen .Annc's counties, and mt hi
home an important case was seldom
tried in which he was not engaged a
counsel. and frequently his services wcr
sought in adjoining counties. The Judg
who was in Baltimore a few days befor
his death. was very confident of the pros
pcctivc success of his campaign and hi
election TO the Senate.
His father died suddenly in April. 1852
The funeral services We're held \
Christ Protestant Episcopal Church
Denton. on Thursday morning, at elevc
o'clnck interment in Choptnnk Ccmetery