Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-02-14
DIED IN THE HARNESS
JuDGG EDWIN maxwell VICTIM
OF PNEUMONIA.
Disease Contracted at state Capitol
One ofthe states Leading Jurtsts.


Edwin Maxwell. the oldest member
Of the lower house died Thursday
night at s O'Clock at the home Ct
Col. W. g. Bvrne, surrounded by
members of his family and a few
friends.
Judge Maxwell had been I'll for
a few days, suffering with a severe
cold, which developed into pueumo-
MIA. His death was a great surprise
to the legislators. rs it was not known
he was critically i'll.
At the opening 81 the house yester-
day morning, the formal announce
ment of his death was made, and after
a committee was appointed to accom-
pany the remains to his home at
Clarksburg, the house adjourned.
Judge Maxwell shas served on the
state bench and also in thezstate sen
ate.
He was one Of the states leading
~jurists and a man Of great learning.
Out of respects for the memory OF
the late Judge Maxwell q member
of the house from Harrison county,
both houses adjourned at eleven O'Clock
for a recess until Monday. In each,
resolutions Of coincidence were passed
aud comjttees appointed to escort the
body Of the aged statesman to his late
home at C~larksburg. The party left
on the noon train. Many other reso-
lutions were passed YESTERDAY morning.
The news Of the death of Mrs.
Armstrong, daughter of Judge Dent,
of Grafton. reached here and she was
included in the last resolution.
The long recess has induced many
to leave the town either for their
homes or for Washington. The city is
deserted by legislators.
After his arrival here upon the con-
yening of the Legislature, and for sew
eral days his condition had been seri-
Gus. Everything possible was done to
prolong his lie. but all efforts were
futile. and at s O'Clock the life of the
eminent jurist and honorable gentle
man passed away.
Ewdin Maxwell was born in West
Virginia, Lewis county, Virginia
about the year 1913. His father vas a
carpenter and selected the trade as a
life duty for Edwin. and often relied
uuon mis- judgement IN plans for house,
building. When Edwin was quite
Young the family moved to farm near
the village. 20 the age of twentv-one
the years were ~uneyentful. and he had
obtained only limited school privile-
ges. He studied law, and in 1852 be-
gan practice at West Union. In 1857
he located at Clarksburg and formed a
partnership in law with Col. Burton
Despard In 1865 Nathan Golf. jr..
was added to the firm, and so it cor
tinued till 1867, when Nj. Maxwell
was elected to the State Supreme
bench. and thereon served to Decem-
Der 81, 1872, when the operation of
the new law ended this term. In 1880
he was again nominated for Supreme
court houors. but was defeated at the
polls He was State Senator from the
first session of 1868 TO 1866, heading
the judiciary committee, and largely
shaping the enactments of those years.
During the vear 1866 he was attorney
general for West Virginia. In 1884 he
was the candidate of the Republicans,
in a fusion with the greenback-labor
wing, for GovAnor. but went into de-
feat with the ticket. To the State
Senate in 1888 he was again elected,
and was chairman OF the Judiciary
committee, and one of the members Ct
the JOINT committee in the guberna-
torial contest. Judge Maxwell Tor
many years has stood high III the pre-
f~ession OF the lawyers, and for nearly
two generations his private life has
been above r%eproach.