The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-06-17
DEATH OF JUDGE j. F. DORE.
Seattle Criminal Lawyer Is Stricken
Very Suddenly.

Seattle, Wash-JOhn F. Dore, one
Of the best-knOwn criminal lawyers
of the west. died suddenly at his res
idence on Eighteenth avenue Sunday
morning about o'clock. of fatty de-
generation of the heart. The death
of no man in this community cOulu
have caused a more profound sensa-
ton than that of Judge DOre, whose
part in connection with defense OF
the politicians and city officers indlct-
ed bv the recent grand jury, brought
him into great prominence. Not only
was he widely known in Washington,
but likewise in California, Oregon and
Idaho.
Judge Dore until Saturday after
noon was in his usual good health and
was a member of a pleasure party
which toured Lake Washington in the
private launch Of J. A. Paine, CAPT.
talist of this city. In the party was
ex-Attorney General Vance, of Olym-
pia. The party returned to the city
at 7 o'clock in the evening, dining at
a downtown restaurant. At II o.
clock Judge Dore. after visiting his
office in tue New York block, went di-
rectly home.
Alighting from the street car he en-
tered the house and complained to
Mrs. Dore of shortness of breath.
He said he would sit up for an hour
or so. He retired apparently feeling
well at about l o'clock. An hour la
ter his family found him in the death
thrOes. He was conscious but unable
to speak. He passed quickly away of
heart failure.
Judge DOre came to Seattle nearly
20 years ago. His home was former
~ at Boston, Mass, where he entered
the practice of law after receiving
a college education. His early career
in the law revealed an extraordinary
memory and masterful capacity in
the use Of the English language in jury
trials These brought him into prom
inence politically and at one time he
was one of the democratic leaders of
Boston Later he came west engag-
ing in the practice of law in Montana
where he had many exciting expert
ences defending criminals.
In Seattle he won prominence in
the celebrated Yesler will case. iE
which DR.. J. E. Jordan, then a mem
Der Of the city council, was accused
Of disposing of the will of the million
aire pioneer in the interest of him
self and the young widow. For the
past four years Judge DOre has had
a greater influence in certain phases
of law practice in this city than any
other attorney here. He defended
Mayor Humes, Justice Cam, Chief
Sullivan and many other prominent
men indicted by the recent grand jury
and in every case save that of Sui
livan succeeded in getting the indict-
ments Quashed. This gave him great
prestige here. He was only 45 years
old, and left a wife and family inclu-
ding John F. DOre, jr, student at
Harvard and Frederick Dore. who
is at Phillips academy. Exeter, Mass.
Judge Bell, Judge Mead Emery,
Judge McCafferty and other prominent
men nave taken charge at the DOre
household, Mrs. Dore being almost an
invalid
A case lately on record in SnOhO-
mish county gave Judge DOre almost
national prominence. A woman was
tried for the murder Of her husband.
There was little or no ground for de-
Tense until Judge DOre discovered that
the woman had read a chapter from
Marie COrelIi's 'Thelma." describing
the murder of a man by his injured
and abused Wife. The two cases were
parallel, and Judge DOre convinced
the jury that this book influenced the
woman to commit the crime. She got
off with one year in jail.