The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-01
W. M. EvARTS DEAD
A LEADING LAWYER AND STATES.
MAN FOR MANY YEARS.
DEFENDED PRES. JOHNSON
AND SECURED THE PREsIDENCl
FOR HAYES.

Was Henry Ward Beecher's Att0r-
ney I'm the Famous Bcccher-TiIton
TriaI-showcd Remarkable Endur-
nnce In That Celebrated Case-Sec-
rotary of state Under Hayes, and
Afterwards United states senator.
Few Public Men Have EquaIed
His Record.
New York, Feb. 2s.-Wiliiam M. Eyarts
died at his home In this city at o'clock
this morning. aged So. HIS death was
caused by pneumonia For several years
he has been too feeble to leave his home.
Up to the time of death he was the nom>
inal head of the law firm of Evarts, Cho-
ate & Beaman. although for many years
he had not been in active practice.
Mr.. Evarts began sinking at 4 o'clock
this morning, and lost consciousness two
hours later growing gradually weaker
till 9:10 o'clock, when he breathed his
last. His wife and four sons ana four
daughters We're present al the end. The
funeral will take place Saturday and in
terment will be at Windsor, VT.
in 1918. After getting good elementary
education he entered Yale College. At
Yale he made record as thorough stu
dent, being especially fond OF and pro
ficient in the classics. Among the men
since prominent who were among his
classmates were Samuel j. Tden, whose
claims 10 the presidency Mr.. Evarts af-
forwards successfully disputed in the in
terest of Rutherford b. Hayes; Chief
Justice Waite, Attorney General Pierre
pont, Professor Lyman, Benjamin Sill
man and others. Alrendy he had decided
10 follow the profession of law, and he
went directly from Yale 10 tho Harvard
Law School. There he spent one year. GO
ing thence TO New York, where he en-
tered the law office of Daniel Lord as a
student. Two wears later he was admit
ted to partnership with j. Prescott Lord
In 1860 Mr.. Evarts first entered the field
q national politics. Al the Republican
National Convention of that year he rose
OIL behalf of New York. to present the
name of William n. Seward as candi-
date for the presidency. The next year
he himself became candidate for the
United States Senate The fight in the
Legislature was prolonged. Horace Gree
ley being the leading candidate against
him. Finally Mr.. Evarts withdrew his
elected.
In 1862, when the question Of treating
captured vessels az maritime prizes ac-
cordng 10 the rules of war came up. the
government called on Mr.. Eyarts to con
duct its case. He also maintained before
the courts the unconstitutonality of
state laws taxing United States bonds or
national bank stock without the euthor-
ization OF Congress
When, after "a long controversy the i'm
reachment of President Andrew Johnson
was decided upon, Mr. Evarts was at
once engaged as one of the counsel for
the President. The result OF the trial was,
as every one knows, an acquittal The
principal argument on the part Of the
prosecution. which was conducted by q
board of seven members from the lower
House of Congress. was made by Mr..
Boutwell,. Mr.. Evarts' reply In behalf OF
the impeached President is remembered
IS masterpiece Of eioquence and sar-
casm
In 1871, after Gen. Grant had been elect
cd President the Alabama claims came
up for arbitration. and Mr.. Evarts was
again summoned 10 represent the claims
OF the government.
In isI4-'75 the famous Beeoher-Tlldeu
case came on for trial. Mr. Evarts was
then nearly 80 years old. but he took hold
OF the oelWiAe WIN INC NlBoT anu earnest
ness which had always marked his work.
The case was long-drawn out and proved
a terrible strain on the endurance OF even
the younger men vino were connected
with a. lie was the senior COUNSEL Tor
Mr.. Beecher and retained charge Of Tho
sse throughout IT'S iireFome length when
a came time FOR Inc summing no the
Judge and most OF the counsel on both
sides were haggard and csrewOrn. 0nly
Mr Eyarts appeared 10 retain hls original
viFor and enthusiasm. Ife spoke for
eight days m closing The case Tor The DO
scnso, ana az The close appeared as fresh