Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-01

pacity when, shortly after o'clock, Justice
Harlan raped for order and briefly an
nounced the purpose of the meeting.
Mr.. William F. Mattingly, chairman of
committee appointed by the president of the
Bar Association shortly after the death of
Justice Cox, and consisting of Messrs Jas.
g. Payne, Nathaniel Wilson, ]. J. Darling
ton, R. Ross Perry. A. S. Worthington, A.
B. Duvall, George e. Hamilton, Henry E.
w. G. Johnson, Montgomery Blair, William
H. Sholes and D. s. Mackall, submitted a
resolution expressive of respect to Justice
Coxs memory
Text of the Resolution.
The resolution was as follows:
1.-THE death Of Walter Smith Cox, late an
associate justice of the Supreme Court Of
the District Of Columbia, is mourned by the
bench and bar and by the whole community
of this District. His life Is treasured by
them as an honorable record of worthy pur
poses accomplished and inspiration to
those who come after him. compelling to
like high and noble action. The visible re-
suits Of good mans life do, indeed, con-
stitute a worthy monument. Yet there are
vastly greater and broader foundations for
his fame and praise which cannot be meas
ured by the eye nor weighed by any more
material standard. That which Judge Cox
accomplished was admirable, but that
which his pure, just and sincere life ex-
hibited to us all as an example of laborious
and insstent effort in the discharge Of
duty, humble as well lofty. will perme-
ate and leaven the lives of thousands who
knew and loved and revered him. No man
can wholly die whose memory is the we'll
spring of better resolves, of more dutiful
action in the lives Of his fellow men.
"Moved by these considerations and deslr-
ing to bear record of our appreciation of his
character, we, members of the bar Of this
District, testify to the great merit of the
late Walter Smith Cox a judge. In
learning he had no superior upon the bench
of this District. He could interpret with
wonderful sympathy and wise adjustment
the law of today because he so well knew
the parent law of the past In courage he was
equal to any emergency; no threat, no fiat
terry, no favor, no prejudice, disturbed the
judicial balance in his hand as he held it
aloft in the fine air where Justice alone
reigns. His thoughts were judicial only.
His nature was such that no alien consider
alton could fntrude. He asked himself:
What is right to be done in this case And
when he answered that question, he had
finished So complete a lawyer was he that
the answer would often come from Wis
dom that had become an instinct; but he
did not permit himself to utter the high
voice of the law upon that instinct, secure
as 1t was. 1t was only after patient and
severe consideration and judgment that he
would pronounce the words that meant to
those whose interests were in his hands the
sentence of the law. Consequently his
judicial decisions are Weighty, learned, con-
vincing and authoritative Bearing In mind
in this broad land of ours, rejoiced
that we have such decisions as his in
reports, and we feel a high and worthy
pride In them and him, their author.
Judge Cox's Courtesy.
THE courtesy of Judge Cox, both upon the
bench and in private life, was most CRATE
full and lovable. 1t is true as conse-
quence Of this, that there was not a mem
Der Of the bar who did not have a strong
feeling of personal tachment for him, and
some Of us loved him father. He never
forgot the advantage which his position
upon the bench gave him over those who
came before him in the necessary presenta-
ton of their clients cause. and his be-
havior was such as was due to himself-the
minister of the law-as well as to them
suffers for justice. No man ever went out
of his presence burning with the resentment
Of a cruel and incapable insult. When the
memorable duty of the judge compelled him
to impose a severe sentence or to pronounce
a disastrous judgment the sympathy of the
man tempered and softened the blow. This
is the secret of his strong hold upon our
affections. This is why we shall miss him
SO keenly and why his memory will inspire
us to follow with earnest, although slow
and unequal, steps along the path which
he so worthily trod to Its end.
LAS a lawyer Walter Smith Cox was emil
nent and most capable There are few
among US now who recollect him while he
was still in name as he always was in fact
one of u.s. Naturally, he had the same quail
ties which characterized him later as Judge.
He did not change when he went the
bench He merely acted under different cir
cumstances. The same learning, the same
kindness the same fairness, the same judy
ment and wisdom, the same sympathy. In
evitably he was among the leaders Of the
bar, and when he was elevated to the bench
the bar universally recognized that he was
the best equipped man among Its number
for those new duties No detracting voice,
no envious look went after him as he
moved on and up, cheered by the goodwill
of his fellows and by their general belief
that his would be judicial career worthy
of him and of them. They were abundantly
justified and recompensed in that belief.
Affable, Sincere and True.
"As a man Judge Cox was affable, sincere
and true He was just in all his dealings.
His word was accepted by all. He had the
| warm regard and honor of his fellow cit
izens AS son, husband and father he re-
minded all who knew him In his domestic
| life of the happiness which attends these
relations where Joy Is duty and love 10
| law Hence 1t is that at this meeting of
| the bar the citizens Of his native place are
| mingled with us and speak their love of
| him as we do
The resolution was unanimously adopted.
| In response to it Mr.. Arthur Peter spoke
feeltngly in behalf of the family of Justice
Cox.
| Addresses eulogistic of the deceased were
next delivered by Associate Justice A. 3.
| Hagner of the Supreme Court of the Dis
| Needham president Of Columbian Univer-
I've h ipr}tl x