Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-04-12
Sudden and Unexpected Death OF
u. S. q. pitzer.
A BRILLIANT CAREER ENDED.
The Shocking Death of Berkeley County
Prosecuting Attorney Causes EGrief
Everywhere in the State.

sense of the word. one who his reach.
ed pinnacle seldom gained bv any.
one under adverse circumstances.
From his bovhood he was a favorite
and at the time of his death probably
on ma in Berkeley county was a
greater favorite with the people than
was he.
At an early age M. Pitzer entered
the public schools of Martinsburg and
became hard and eager student. He
sixteen wears OF age. at which time
he was attending the old High School
on s. Queen street
With journa istic aspiration be
left school at sixteen and entered the
Statesman printing office. few
years later he connected himself with
the independent and after working
four years as composltor he became
local editor and manager. which po.
sition he lied with satisfaction and
success. In May. 1886, he began the
study of law with J. Nelson wisner,
one of the leading attorneys of the
Berkeley bar and also proprietor Of
the Independent While studying
law he continued as local editor as
means of support, and a short time
afterward withdrew and entered the
State University. at Morgaptown.
where he successfully took q two
years law course in one and GRADUATE
ed with honor and distinction in his
class After graduation he returned
to Martlnsbrrg ana began The practice
of law with marked success
Although Mr. Pitzer followed the
nractice OF law after graduation. he
still stuck 10 newspaper work and for
a long time was widely known in lit
crazy circles, having been identified
with, b. sides the local uapers, the
Detroit Free Press, Cincinnati En-
quiAHr. Wheeling Register, Baltimore
sun. Baltimore Herald and other well
known napers. He had many warm
friends in both pollticsl parties. the
bar and the press and was what may
be properly termed popular self
made man. Since he was selected to
the office of prosecuting ATTORNEY he
was editor of the Martinsburg Herald
for one year, having succee ded A. b.
Smith.
From an early age the deceased
manifested considerable intersest in
politics and in 1884 he stumped the
entire county for Blaine and Logan.
he was the first president of the
sherman MunicIpaIs, the leading
young mems Republican club of the
State at that time. At the Keyser
Convention held September 10, 1856
he was unanimously elected chairman
of the Second District Congressional
Committee and since that time has
held various important positions in
the ReDu blican Darty. Shortly after
'EC VI 'OCO Ht was dDU Olut-
ed gauger at the Hannis Distillerv,
which position he held until 1899,
when he was elected prosecuting at
torney of Berkeley county. At the
time Of his death he was serving his
third term in that office. AT his sec
ond election, in 1896, he ceived the
largest majority ever given any man
In Berkeley county-5S8. He was
elected again In 1900.
He was never defeated at an cleo
ton but once. in the wear 1898. when.
he ran for the Legislature and was
defeated bv Harry s. Cushwa. Pre-
vious TO the last two Congressional
elections he was the strongest oppo-
nent to A. G.. DAYTON for the Re-
publican nomination. He was one Of
the best If not the best prosecuting
attorney Berkeley county ever had
AMI by his death the county has lost
an efficient officer the people staunch
FREUD.