The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-06-10


 Worked at Building Locomotives
 Spoke During LincOIn's Csmpaign-
 Inspeetor of Cusroms-G Graduated from
 Yale Law School 1s73-CIty Attorney
 for Six Years.
 Judge Rufus $. Pickett died at his home, 140 Sylvan avenue, yesterday morning at eleven o'clock. Judge Pick ett was stricken with paralysis May 13, and at no time since the stroke was his recovery expected. He has been unconscious for the last four days and his death was therefore free from pain or suffering There have been times since the stroke when he has been able to converse with members of his fami- ly, but for the most part he has been unconscious. The patients vitality and strength stood him in good stead, and his wonderful constitution withstood the shock for long time. During all his illness he has been attended by Df. Edwin P Putnam, who has done all that was possible to save the valued life, but human aid was unavailing. In the death of Judge Pickett New Haven loses one of her most respected and val ued citizens. A brief sketch of MT. Pickett's life follows:
 Rufus Starr Pickett had been resi- dent of New Haven since 1854, and was a descendant of the sixth generation of an English ancestor who emigrated from Dover England, and settled at @,.I txa tot "a Ridgefield, February 2S, 1929, studied in the common schools and prepared for college at Hugh Banks academy, in his native town. On account of the failing health of his father, Rufus H. Pickett, Rufus s. was, when eighteen years old, compelled to relinquish study and de- vote himself to the management of his fathers business, which he continued for six years, when he removed to New Haven, and for seven and a half years 2 worked at building and repairing loco- motives for the New York and New Haven railroad. when it was single track road, doing it's business with tWenty-four engines only. In the Lin as always. an ardent republican, was encouraged to take an active part by his friend Cyrus Northrop, then pro- lessor in Yale college. now president of the University of Minnesota. He an- swered some of the numerous calls for speeches in New Haven and adjoining towns. speaking in company with Pro- lessor Northrop, Hon. N. D. Sperry, John Woodruff. M. C., and others.
 After the Lincoln administration came into power, and the late Hon. James F. Babcock was appointed collec- tor of the port of New Haven, he ap pointed MT. Pickett an inspector of customs, which office. and that of weigher and gauger, he held for several years; and while in these offices, and performing his duties faithfully, re- stunned study. entered the Yale Law school, took the Jewell prize as essayist at the close of the first year, graduated with fair honors in 1873, and entered upon the general practice of law. In 1877 he was appointed city attorney be- ing continued in that office six years; in 1885 he was appointed assistant judge of the city court of New Haven, and in 1887 he was appointed judge. Judge Pickett heard some of the early boy cott cases and prepared opinions on them, which had a wide circulation in the country, and which have been sub- stantialIy confirmed by the higher courts of several states.
 Judge Pickett was married twice, and leaves four children, three by his first wife and one by the second, who is still living and to whom he had been married since 1871 (thirty-two years.) Z The children are Rufus H. Pickett, a foreman at tSargent's; George A. Pickett, who is with the American Brick Com pany in Berlin; Mrs. Howard Billman, of Shelbyville, Ind; and Attorney Ed win S. Pickett, of this city. Judge Pickett's religious connections have been with the Congregationalists, and he was also member of the Sons of the Revolution" through his maternal ancestry. Judge Pickett has had a law office in the Benedict building on Church street for many years. Judge Bishop of the city court has been in the office with MT. Pickett since July 1, 1864. Attorney Edwin s. Pickett is also in the same office