Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-01
TRIED THE ANARCHISTS
SUDDEN DEATH OF JUDGE GARY
OF CHICAGO.
Noted Jurist Was Repeatedly Threat
ened With Death by Sympthixers
With Men He Sentenced.

A dispatch from Chicago says: Judge
Joseph E. Gary of the superior court died
suddenly at his home in this city today.
The specific cause of death was degenera-
ton Of the heart muscles. The judge held
Court as usual Tuesday, but was not in
his usual health this morning, and sent
word that he would not hold court. He
grew steadily weaker through the day and
expired quietly at about 2:30 o'clock.
Judge Gary had been member of the
Cook county bench for forty-three years.
and was the Oldest Judge in point of serv-
Ice, as well as in years. He occupied judi
cial position for a greater length Of time
than any man who ever sat upon the bench
In this portion of the state. Judge Gary
made national reputation at the tine Of
the anarchists trials in 1885, over which
he presided. AS the presiding officer at
the trial he was repeatedly threatened
with death by anarchist sympathizers, and
showed wonderful physical, as well as high
moral, courage during a very trying expe-
renee that continued for many mcnths
after the anarchists had been executed.
Born at Potsdam.
Joseph E. Gary was born at Potsdam, ST.
Lawrence county, N. Y, on July 8, 1921.
Orilla Easton Gary, his parents being of
Puritan extraction. His early education
was obtained in the district schools and at
the village academy at keesville, N. Y.
He learned the trade of a carpenter and
spent the summer Of 1910 working at his
trade at the carpenters bench He decid-
ed to become lawyer and devoted spare
minutes to professional reading. He came
west in 1S43. going to st. Louis, where
he continued to read law. In April, 1914,
in Missouri. He began his practice in
Springfield Mo- in that year and remained
there until 1S49.
The war with Mexico had opened up a
new territory for Americans, and there
had been large settlements in New Mexico
Of volunteer soldiers from Illinois and west
ern states. The practice of law in the
newly acquired territory presented some
difficulties, but it was more lucrative for
the young attorney than the practice which
he was able to command at home.
Gudge Gary made the essay in 1S49. He
settled in Las Vegas. He was confronted
with the necessity of learning the Spanish
language, but soon attained sufficient COM
mand of 1t to practice in the mixed courts
He had the advice of Murray F. Tuley
who had gone into the territory as a lieu
tenant in a company of the 9TH Illinois
Volunteers and had remained for the prac-
tee of his profession. Judge Gary remained
at Las Vegas for three years and half.
Killed by a Saber Blow.
From Las Vegas he went further west
and practiced law in San Francisco for
three additional years. In the spring of
1886 he returned from the Pacific coast
and went to Chicago. One OF the first men
he met in Chicago was his former associ-
ate in New Mexico, Judge Tuley and the
Two formed partnership which continued
until 1883, when Judge Gary associated
himself with Evert and James Van Buren,
lie practiced his profession partly in con-
nect1on with this firm until his election
to the bench CT the superior court of Cook
county in 1863.
A story current at the time attributed
the nomination of Judge Gary to his first
judicial position to a quarrel between a
federal officer and German resident The
German was killed by a saber blow de-
llvered by the officer, who had served with
distinction during the war, and who was
released en- bail by Judge Goodrich then
the occupant of the position to which
Judge Gary was afterward elected Oppo-
sitlon to Judge Goodrich among the Ger
man voters was aroused by the release of
the off1cer, and the nomination went to
Judge Gary.
The official life of Judge Gary was I'M
broken from the time of his first election
The nomination upon four of the occa-
slons in which Judge Gary was reelected
to the bench was from both political par
ties. His experience as an attorney prac-
hcing in Missouri, New Mexico, California
ana Chicago and his experience as a Judge
Tor nearly half century, covered wide
field.