The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-18
JUDGE
ROGERS
RESIGNS
The State Of His Health Has
Forced Him TO RSIinquiSh All
Duties of an ArduOuS Nature

The i'll health to which Judge Horatio
Rogers OF the supreme court has been
subject for some time has reached such
state that his physicians have advised
him to give up all active duties at once
and In line with this advice Judge Rogers
has forwarded his resignation to Govern
OF Garvin and yesterday II was presented
to the senate and referred to the Judiciary
committee. The resignation follows;
Providence, r. l., Feb H. 1903
To the Honorable the General Assembly
OF the state OF Rhode Island and Provi-
dence Plantations:
Upon the advice OF my physician l here
by resign my office Of Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court, this resignation to
take effect Immediately. l regret the ad-
visibility OF this step. as the duties OF
the position have been very agreeable ana
my relations with both bench and bar
have been OF the pleasantest character.
Desiring to give some practical express
sion OF my appreciation Of the honors
conferred upon me by my native state l
asl. fits acceptance of my law library, ana
/ suggest that the Chief Justice be au-
thori-ed to receive it on behalf of the
State and to cause it to be placed In the
Judges consultation room I'm the Provi-
dence County Court House. where am
advised by those best fitted TO express an
opinion IL would be valuable for READY
referefice AS the cases now holding the
library were especially built for 1t at the
expense OF the state. the acceptance or
this gift will involve but slight outlay 10
make It Immediately available. very re-
spectfully. HORA1lo hOphHS'
Justice Rogers was elected TO the SUI
preme bench May q, 1891. making his ser
vice little less than IL years since ms
election he has performed a great deal OF
hard work and 10 this is due much or nus
present -siekness-Some- time ago-ne
went 10 Carlsbad to recuperate. While
not an invalid at present, his health IL
such that his physician deemed II adVis-
able that he retire In order 10 build up
his physical condition.
NEW STATUTE.
The statute under which his retirement
Is made possible at the present time was
enacted by the last general assembly. It
provides that a justice OF the supreme
court after 25 years of continuous service,
or after ten years and having reached
the age OF 60 years, may retire on his
salary OF $1,000 year The statute which
this law superseded read 20 years instead
of 65.
Judge Rogers was born in this city May
Is, 1886. being the son of Hoiatio and Su-
san (Curtis) Rogers. He is cousin OF
George William Curtis. and a descendent
OF James Rogers of Newport who
fiourished in that city two centuries and
4 half ago.
Judge Rogers was graduated at Brown
university in 1855. He studied law in the
office OF the late Thomas A. Jenckes, and
at the Harvard Law school, and was ad-
mitted to the bar in January, 1853. Be
ginning practice in Providence. he soon
achieved success and reputation. and In
June, 1861, was elected justice OF the
city police court. He was active In adj
vocating the election of Abraham Lincoln
In 1S60 and soon after the outbreak of
the Civil war he Joined the army, and
was successively commissioned first lieu
tenant captain and majc~ in the Third
Rhode Island Heavy Artillery; colonel of
the Eleventh and colonel OF the Second
Rhode Island Infantry Regiments, and at
the close of the war was brevetted briga-
der general OF United States Volunteers.
He was elected attorney general in 1864
and was reelected three times. declining a
further term OF service. He was mem
ber of the common council of Providence
(lS6G-6S lsT3-74. and it's president In 1874.
and was member OF the state house OF
representatives 0S6S-69 1sl4-I6) During
L. years CS73-S5) he was engaged extern
eively I'm cotton manufacturing with his
father-in-law the late Governor James
Y. Smith. and his brother-in-law, Charles
A. Nichols, and then returned To profess
sional practice. lie was again elected
attorney general i'm 1888
FAME AS AN AUTHOR.
He is the author Of Private Libraries
Rhode Island. the quaker Martyr OSsol
and "Haddens Journal and orderly
Books (lSS4), which consists OF the Jour
nal of Lieut.. lafterward Maj. GEM James
NJ. Hadden OF Burgoyne's army, with
which Judge Rogers has combined co.
pious and exhaustive notes and essays OF
biographical and personal character.
He is chairman OF the record commits
mission OF Providence, is member ol
the Rhode Island Historical society, ano
was its president from 1889 until 1888; Is
member of the American Antiquarian
society and OF many other societies, ant
he has held numerous positions OF honol
and trust The degre OF LII. -. was
and trust. The degree OF LII. ID. was
Hartford. Conn. i'm 1896.
He has been twice married: first Jan
20. 1861. TO Lucia. daughter OF Resolve,
Waterman OF Providen':e; second. oct
1869. TO Emily Priscilla, daughter o
James Y. Smith OF Providence. BY M
fret wife he had two sons both Episco
pal clergymen. and by his second VIII
one daughter
The resignation has. of course. arouse,
mentioned but two stand out prominent,
successor. While number OF names ar
mentioned but two stand out prominetnl
those OF Judge William ~. Sweetlan
OF the Sixth district court and Judg
Clarke II. Johnson of the Eighth distriC
court. Either man. IL is said would b
Svs spns 70 sS 0 Ss snG
According TO report. Gen. Brayton
reported TO have stated that he had n
~ the mos ros would e Ee
Office.