The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-07-28
WILCOX IN
MEMOR|AM
Members of Bar
Submit Their
Tribute.
Series of Resolutions
Entered in Court
Records.
Chief Justice Frear Sums Up
Sentiments OF Bench and
Bar in Order.

Whereas, William Luther wilcox,
member of the Bar of the Supreme
Court of the Territory and District
Magistrate of Honolulu, has been TAX
en- from us by death:
Resolved, that the members of the
Bar here assembled place on record our
feeling of personal loss in his death and
our sincere appreciation of his genial
disposition as a man; his sound COM
mon sense and ability to read human
character as a judge, and his trustful-
ness as a friend.
Resolved. that we extend our SYM
patty to the widow and brothers OF
Judge Wilcox in their affection
Resolved, that these resolutions be
spread upon the minutes of the Su-
preme Court.
There was a good attendance of mem
bers of the Bar at the opening Of the
Supreme Court session yesterday MORN
ing, when the foregoing resolutions in
memory of William Luther Wilcox were
presented by a. F. Judd, chairman of
the special committee of the Hawai-
ian Bar Association.
The speeches that followed repeated
in substance the eulogies passed upon
the lamented District Magistrate on the
day following his death. when the va
rious courts adjourned their sittings out
of respect to his memory. Some of the
leading sentiments expressed on this
occasion, specially appointed by the
Supreme Court, are given below. The
remarks of the Chief Justice appear in
full.
W. O. Smith, president of the Hawai-
ian Bar Associa tion-Throughout his
last unusual suffering Mr.. Wilcox dis
played great fortitude. He faced the
final enemy calmly and with his usual
kind consideration of others. He was a
faithful, efficient public servant and a
brave man.
A. S. Hartwell-I consider Luther
Wilcox. his life and his memory, part of
the wealth of Hawaii.
E. P. Dole-we all knew him as a
friend and a neighbor, and shall cherish
his memory as long as we live.
J. L. Kaulukou-There is one voice
| from end to end of this Territory and
| it is, aloha Wilcox" He was a good
| judge and a kind man, and that is the
universal voice of Hawaiians. His place
is vacant, his face is absent, but we
shall always remember him for his
worth. I knew him from 1874 as a
public officer. This court is under OBJ
legation to him for his services. His
ability and faithfulness also in assisting
members of the Legislature are worthy
of remembrance. No man has filled the
office of police judge more faithfully
in the interests of justice. After pass
ing a hard sentence he would come
down to sympathize with the offender
and express regret for the necessity Of
infiicting the punishment.
r. w. notwithstanding the
position he held was one inviting
criticism, everybody spoke we'll of him
in his life and universal sorrow was
expressed at his death. 1t seems to me
it requires more ability to preside over
a police court than over a supreme
court-not the ability to read and un-
derstand many volumes of law but the
ability to read human nature In
community like Honolulu. a seaport
town. more harm can be done by an in
competent police court judge than by
any other judge.
The Court Cby Chief Justice Frear)-
The Court gladly joins the Bar in this
honoring a man like Judge Wilcox.
The mere fact of the spontaneity, the
universally and the genuineness of the
respect shown him upon his death is in
itself an impressive eulogy. The rea-
son for this is not far TO seek. Judge
wilcox was a man who did his duty
and did it well. did it courageously and
faithfully. and as a matter of course;
but with tact and kindness and with
out affectation or ostentation. Equipped
as he was in a remarkable degree with
common sense and with sound judg-
ment, knowledge of the Hawaiian Ian
guage and of the Hawaiian people and
of human nature in general, he filled
with almost ideal perfection important
public offices which he occupied for
more than a third of century. first as
Interpreter in the courts and the leg
islature. and then as District Magis-
trate of Honolulu, and his services for
his country and for his fellow men were
quite as far-reaching and fruitful of
good in his capacity as a man as in
his capacity as a public official The
territory cannot we'll afford TO lose citi-
zens Of his stamp.
The motion is granted and the reso-
Iutions are ordered spread upon the
minutes OF the court.