New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-27

VINO dropped dead yesterday.
TO which Dr. Long called from the Hudson
street Hospital He said Justice Van Brunt had
died instantly, presumably from apoplexy.
Justice Van Brunt left his home. at No. 10
East 46th-st, just before 1 o'clock. apparently
IN the best Of health. Previous to this he had
spent the morning in the Offices of the Windsor
Trust Company, at ATHEIST. and 5th-ave.. of
Which he was president.
When the death was learned in the court
house the various departments were adjourned.
Justice Giegerich said.
Poor Justice Van Brunt It was a sad death.
ne was my friend; he helped me young
aaw s ana was true friend. great 1urist
ana one or the greatest judges that ever pre-
sided in this State. He was a noble type of
manhood, generous and warm hearted.
City Court Justices seabury and Delehanty
also adjourned their courts Several justices
visited the emergency hospital and talked with
Miss Van Brunt, The justices Of the Appellate
Division will hold a special meeting to-day to
take suitable action.
The Biondi case was being heard before Justice
Leventritt when the of Justice Van Brunt
reached him. With tears running down his
cheeks he interrupted a witness to announce the
news. Elihu Root arose and said the news was
a great shock to him it must be to all MEM
bers of the Bar and Bench.
1t is expected that Governor Higgins will ap-
point Supreme Court Justice j. Proctor Clarke
to fill the vacancy made by the death of the
presiding justice.
Justice Charles H. Van Brunt had been on the
bench for thirty-six years. of which twenty-five
had been spent in the Supreme Court, and was
to have retired in few months He had been
the guest of honor at elaborate dinners of the
most exclusive clubs of the city, and his pict-
ure hangs in the courtroom OF the Appellate
Dtvison-an unusual honor for living Judge,
His picture also occupies a conspicuous place In
the rooms Of the bar association.
Justice Van Brunt was born of old Dutch
stock at Fort Hamilton, Long Island, IN 1886,
He was prepared for college in Brooklyn. He
was graduated from the University of the City
of New-York with the class Of 80 He en-
tered the law office Of Leonard & Hoffman as
student and made rapid progress. In 1860 he
admitted to the bar. He remained with the
firm OF Leonard & Hoffman for a while con-
fdential clerk. and afterward became partner.
For a short time he was counsel to the City
Chamberlain. In 1869 he was appointed a judge
Of the Court of Cor mon Pleas. to ill the
vacancy caused by the election of Judge Brady
to the Supreme Court. One year later he was
nominated and elected judge of that court for
the full term of fourteen years. During the
greater part of that time he served in the
Supreme Court by assignment of the Governor.
Justice Van Brunt was elected justice OF the
Supreme Court in 1883, and in 1887 became the
presiding justice of that court in the First
Judicial Department. succeeding Justice Noah
Davis. When the Supreme Court reorgan-
lied under the amended constitution OF 1896
Justice Van Brunt was appointed by Governor
Morton to be presiding justice of the Appellate
Division of the First Department and he has
held that position since. In the fall OF
1897 Justice Van Brunt was renominated for
Justice of the Appellate Division by all of the
political parties and organizations. In celebra-
ton Of this the Lotos Club, Of which Justice Van
Brunt was a member, gave dinner in his honor.
Two years ago Justice Van Brunt accepted the
presidency of the Windsor Trust Company, for
which he was severely criticised. He said he
intended TO retire this year, and was only
making provision against that time, and that
he would not accept any salary until after his
retirement.
He was a member of the Lotos. New-York
Yacht and Manhattan clubs, st. Nicholas So
ciety Aldine Association, American Museum of
Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art
and the IiederkranZ Society.
A few months after the Charley Ross kidnap-
ping, in 1874, the two men who We're suspected
of having kidnapped the child Mosher and
Douglas tried to rob the Van Brunt home at
Bay Ridge. Justice Van Brunt and his father
shot and killed both burglars.
Justice Van Brunt had been twice married.
His only son, Arthur H Van Brunt is a prac-
Using lawyer in this city.