Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-09-22
CHIEF JUSTICE TORRANCE
MenkS Of Bar Hold Memorial Service
 -LeHeT Read From Daughter.


 The memorial services for the late
 Chief Justice David Torrance took
 place in the district court room after
 bar meeting this morning. The com.
 mittee on resolutions, Attorneys John
 r. Kellogg, James NJ. Lynch and
 Deputy Judge Peasley presented tue
 following:
 Whereas, In the recent death of
 Chief Justice Torrance, the state of
 Connecticut has lost one of its most
 beloved and respected citizens and
 its foremost representatives on the
 bench,
 Resolved-That the members of
 the Waterbury bar, in solemn meet ing now assembled testify their ap-
 preciation of the purity of his char acter, the strength and breadth of his intellect, Acknowledgement and judg- ment his sterling common sense, in dustry, integrity, fairness and un- Falling courtesy, and the possession of all those attributes which so pre- eminently fitted him for that digni- fled office so well and so Aonorably filled by him and,
 Resolved, That his death comes to the members of this bar; as deep and personal sorrow, and to his fam fly we extend in their bereavement our sincere and heartfelt sympathy and,
 Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the records of this bar, and a copy be f0rwarded to his fam lily.
 The resolutions were unanimously adopted
 Attorney John O'Neill, who presid- ed read note from Mrs Margaret Torrance Holmes, a daughter of the deceased justice. thanking the bar for it's expressions of sympathy and condolence.
 Judge Cowell was the first speaker on the resolutions. He heartily en- dorsed them, he said, because they contained all that was true of Jus tfce Torrance. He said the justice was n self made man in every sense of the word, most striking example of what person can do if he only sets his mind down to it. Justice Torrance was born in Scotland and when he was nine years of age he came to this country with his mother, his father having died but a short time before Mrs Torrance settled in Derby. and her boy went to work in shop be- fore he was ten years old. While his days he spent in hard work. his even ings he gave up to educating himself, so that when the civil war broke out he was fairly well educated. He en- listed in the army as q private sol dier. He was appointed captain of a cOlored company and he left the army after the war was over lieutenant colonel
 In 1S66 he was admitted to the bar a year after Attorney John O'NeiIl was admitted. and his first case which was tried in Waterbury won him im- mediate fame throughout the state as n young lawyer of great promise. The case involved the purchase of COW, and though that was some years ago, the case has since become famous and is referred to more often than any other case in suits where fraud Is alleged. Attorney o'Neill in his remarks telling about this Case said ] how Attorney Torrance came to town ''loaded down with books and authorities and facts and everything that hinged at all upon his side of the | case. In fact he soon became known as one of the great collaborators of facts throughout the wholestate.
 ''He had q most convincing way" said Mir ONeill. this manner of ad- dressing the court or the jury plainly told them what he was saying to and he made the court and the jury believe this. He was so full of | that without a moments he could speak for half day on any subject
 .'I remember" said Mir O'Neill. '.onc day he was invited to partake of the festivities of certain club in New York. He went down. It seemed to be n rule of the night that anyone asked to speak should do so. So any previous intimation of what his subject was to be Mir Tor rance rose in his chair when called upon and spoke for half an hour on subject on which he had not the slightest knowledge he was to be call sd upon to speak. Still his education was limited: it was nothing at all like what young lawyers get today. But ie was n worker, most industrious 1oung man. and, as said while lgo. he could gather facts and author ties quicker than any lawyer ! ever thew. In disposition he was very retiring and gentle"
 Judge Peasley. Attorney Carmody md Judge Warner of woodbury poke also. after which the meeting adjourned.