Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-11-30

The writer of exhaustive opinions
was TO those who most valued his legal
aeumen, the dear friend, the kindly man
who took a fatherly interest In young
lawyers.
This associate upon the bench 70.
marks upon Judge Whecler's facility
IN getting ut the heart of question:
his admirable disposition Of compli.
Gated questions In clear, luminous =
statements, We laymcn noted that
characteristics, and took pleasure In his
genius for deducing TO simplicity dis
cpssions In which he took part. As
] heard him deal with questions under
discussion, he made me think of the
saying that Lincoln used 20 win eases
by his statement Of them, which was so
clear MS 10 make argument unnecessary.
4 mass Of technical terms and arts
30 with every profession and its mem.
hers take pride in their familiarity with
these badges of calling, Judge Wheel
CT knew the tools Of his work, but he
was never numbered by them, ms many
men are. lie used them deity, but
what he loved was not the law In this
| technical nsc;-hut what we may call
"the law Of the Lord the clear prin.
ciples Of Justice and righteousness, up
ON which he meditatcd day and night,
and which had become part of him.
| He delighted to draw these out of com
plicatod details, and set a thing forth
In a manner So luminous that IL was
clear To the simple as well rs the legal
mind.
lie occupied himself with the heart
| of things once commisurated him
upon huge mass of typewriter testi'
mony which is was necessary 10 digest
before writing the opinion in a ease
before him. and he answered, 81 don Z
read il all: only what bears ON the
point" lie spoke ms il the essential
part was the smaller part, and added,
at is like reading book. | never
read n whole book. ! take the point
This trait of piercing to the luminous
center of complicated things character
lied the man rs well as the judge. He
gave his time and interest to the few
great things, and centcring in this way
he had time for them, and the compli'
Gated detail that frcts SO many did not
trouble him. He brushed il aside, like
irrelevant testimony in n case. Hence
his life was so even that his serene
bearing was the wonder of his friends
Much of his strength as lawyer
Law in this fact that he was never
ruiiled, and if an opponent lost ms
balance and was betrayed into eXag'
geration, a quiet sentence pierced the
uniustifed statement and riddled the
false position.
We do not think today of what this
poiscd hold on the few essential Things
became as a weapon against the false
hood of others, but of the ripened fruit
il bore in his own life, which was
ccntered in things that are right, KIND
" and generous.
His delight was in the law OF the
Lord. the law of righteousness ana
charity. He loved the church of God
I doubt if any man has been more
constant attendant here, or more 10Y
al and generous supporter oil al ln'
work of the church in TINS town, OF III
larger enterprises of benevolence ou''
/ side our borders. He not only gaVo
when asked. but as soon as he OWNED
the GRAND, opened his purse to ASK
what was wanted, and say that the
one who goes about to ask money mas
the hard part in raising it. 1t palned
him not to do anything asked OF MN
that was for the interest of chureh
or community The one request ne ue
clined me was TO preside al the NM
tieth university of our church las,
summer. He did so hesitatingly' ana
with no explanation, except that ne
thought he had better not or course
he was not urged, but when saw mn n, y
stricken, and hardly able to speak this
fan he said, "This was the reason
did not take the place you asked at inc
meeting. 1t had begun. y -.
Shall we say that his strong me
was centered in righteousness, or !,
i love2 1t is a demonstration that trutl
and gentleness go together. Many o.
Won bear witness that our honored an,
loved brother was the most ran an.
the most kindly man you ever knew Knew
None could question lis absolute lnteg
r;tv None could know him and MOI
feel his gentleness. ~.
do not know when we shall see hi'
like There are few such men, ana st
| ,,,lf