Evening journal., 1902-08-27

c. Bird. the most distin-
d lawyer in the State.
in his summer home, '-Hill-
Narm, near Delaware City at j
this morning He was 10 years
Or. James A. Draper gives as the
of death chronic dysentery.
death OF Mr. Bird was unexpect-
4 d comes as a shock to his friends
elbow practitioners before the
lf the State. In this county his
gill be keenly felt, having prac-
here ever since his admission to
+ T in 1866.
4 week ago today Mr.. Bird re-
a / from Bedford Springs, where he
4 ,pent several weeks, and to his
S who were solicitous about his
he said that he was well. On
lay morning he complained Of
: i'll, and by that night his con-
and grown worse, although no
81 tension was felt. He went to his
4 y home, but the change of air
ater did not prove beneficial. DIR.
A. Draper and DR.. James A.
r, Jr., were in attendance, and
q | in their power to save his life,
cir efforts were to no avail.
Bird was one of the most inter-
4 as we'll as most prominent mem
the Delaware bar. He studied
nder the late Daniel M. Bates, and
81 omitted to practice in 1865. His
ates at the time were the pres
q lief Justice Lore, Justice George
Associate Judges Spruance and
and Colonel BENJAMIN Nields,
Senator Anthony Higgins,
II. Rodney. the late Thomas f.
d, George c. Gordon, Richard G..
II and William G. White
New Castle was then
unity seat, and it is related that
w members of the bar of those
lad many an exciting trial in the
Hiding there. Chief Justice Lore
any recollections of those days,
eferred to them this morning
speaking Of the death of Mr.. Bird.
Chief Justices EulogY
a jury lawyer in damage cases, -
" he Chief Justice, Mr.. Bird had
a equal before the bars of the
The secret OF his success was
did: First, he had a thorough
Comprehensive knowledge of the
of the county; secondly, he made
business to study the list when
ne to draw a jury. He seldom
mistake in empaneling his his
GIe had the singular faculty OF
hold of the strong points Of his
arly and not dwelling on mere
!. In the cross-examinatiOn OF
ses, where most lawyers make
res and often strengthen the
Of their opponents. Mr.. BIRD
worked other THAN TO bring out
svelop his side of the case. And
w when to stop.
ere was a generosity about the
n his dealings with people thai
ost winsome. He thoroughly un-
cd human nature"
lcis NJ. Walker said: Il have
4 Mr.. Bird for many years, anC
rays was very kind to me, as tC
younger members of the bar. In
st few years l came to know hin
veil, and to admire his numerous
qualities. He made a success OF
)fession, and for many years mac
ne OF the ablest, if not the ablest
srs OF this bar in presenting {
o a jury. He was earnest and
mt, and many of his speeches tC
here were models of force anC
nee. He was generous and large
d to a degree"
Manner Was Extraordinary
n Mr.. Bird came to the bar, i
of him that his manner of ad
ig a jury was somewhat extraor
but his manner of argumen
down later. There we're only
OF his twelve colleagues vino haC
ting chance" with him before thu
of that time.
first case in which Mr.. Bird made
Nished success, so far as Chic
Lore can recall, was one o
VS.. the p, w. & B. Railroa'
my. in which Mr. Bird opposes
e Thomas F. Bayard and Georg'
don. It was at the trial that tn
at one must stop, look and lister
crossing a railroad, was lai'
Although young in the practic'
he presented his case we'll, bu
her case in which he showed re
BILE ability was the last one triei
old New Castle Court House
the libel case of Croosdale VS.
n. Messrs. Bird and Bates ap
for Croosdale, and the presen
Justice and William G. White
Tantum. Before the jury MI
aid particular stress on the fac
le case was the last one TO b
n the old Court House, and h
the last act there be a sigma
for his clients. The Chief JUS
Us the appeal was effective, Mn
ON his case.
reat was Mr.. Birds success as
Q suit lawyer that OF late year
practical monopoly OF tina
Of the law business. He wa
for the Baltimore and Obi
I'D Company. Philadelphia an
& Railroad Company, the Harla
ollingsworth Company, Adam
Is Company. and various other
VS. suits for damages were brOugh
other companies. persons inter
Fwere never satisfied until MI
&ad been consulted. The presen
st of Superior Court shows tw
ases. in which Mr.. Bird was inter
They are those of Jennie I