New-York tribune., 1902-06-26
OBITUARY.
EXJUSTICE WALTER s. cox.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !

LBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBCNE.I
washington. June 2.-Waiter S. Cox formerly a
justice of the Supreme Court OF the District OF
Columbia. who presided the trial of Guiteau
the assassin o. President Garfield. died at his
home in Farragut Square this morning Justice
Cox the first native and lifelong resident Of
the District of Columbia occupy a the
bench of the Supreme Court of the District. He
was born in what then the city of George
town on October .. 1895 His father was Clement
Cox, a well known lawyer. Justice Cox attended
private schools until he eleven years old. and
that age entered Georgetown College, from
which he graduated in 1Si3 He went from
Georgetown the Harvard Law School and
graduated there in July 1S47 before he had reached
his majority. and admitted to the bar his
twanty-frst birthday. He entered the Georgetown
Common Council and its Recorder and it's
law officer who. offico. President of the
Board OF Aldermen and after his retirement from
that place he was auditor of the Supreme Court
Of the District. On March S. 1s7g President Hayes
appointed him justice OF the Supreme Court of this
District. For nearly a quarter a century he
was the dean of the faculty of the Columbian Uni
versity Law School He also prepared the well
known manual. "Coxs Practice and almost the
last act os public nature. in addition the dis
charge of his judicial duties. which he performed
before retiring was 70 prepare the voIuminous code
for this District. Justice Cox retired in July 1899
after a service of twenty years and four months.
During that time he sat in every branch Of the
court. and administered the law OF this jurisdic-
ton in every possible phase. The record OF his at
taInnents and quafica tons is to be found in the
reported cases in which he either spoke for the
court a whole delivered some opinion of such
general interest and Importance TO have been.
rescued from the oblivion otherwise attending the
utterances of judge from day to day The ap-
pelIate jurisdiction of the General Term of the Su
preme Court of the District of Columbia during
Justice Cox's service extended from March, 1879.
until April 1893 month than fourteen
years. In that time he frequently sat in General
Term. and there recorded in the reports OF the
court between 10 and $50 of his opinions Out OF
many notable criminal cases heard by Justice
Cox. alone-the world famous case OF the
United States against Ciuiteau-JUstice Cox might
safely rest his reputation profound lawyer
and a wise judge. The knowledge OF this case by
displayed by Justice Cox in handling il is recog-
nized everywhere. In all the exacting days of the
months consumed in the trial Justice Cox held an
even course, and notwithsa nding the multitude OF
rulings which he called upon to make. com
rnItted no error prejudicial to the rights of the
prisoner for whose blood the country clamOr-
ing. One broad question raised in this tral-that
Of insanity defence for crin1e-was dealt with
in opinion which is almost familiar TO the
profession to-day any Of the leading opinions
In the earlier and more formative periods Of the
law. and that is regarded as the best charge ever
delivered 20 Jury in which that defence
Justice Cox was vice-president OF the Corcoran
Art Gallery. president of the Arlington Fire IN
suranCe Company member Of the vestry OF 81.
Johns Protestant Episcopal Church. and one OF
the trustees OF the Louise Home He leaves one
daughter. The funeral will take place Friday.