The Washington times., 1906-09-15
JUDGE ALVEY DEAD
At ADVANCED AGE
End Came Unexpectedly at
His HagerstoWn Home
Last Evening.

HAGERsTOwN, Md. Sept 15.-
Judge Richard Henry Alvey, retired
Chief Justice Of the United States Court
Of Appeals for the District of Column
bia. former chief judge OF the Mary
land court OF appeals. and in 1896
member OF United States Commission
on Venezuelan boundary dispute, died
Unexpectedly last evening al his home
in HagerstoWn IN his eighty-first year.
Gathered at the bedside when the end
came were members of his family.
His condition was much improved
yesterday morning but at noon he was
seized with fainting spells. from which
he never rallied.
He retired from the District bench
january. 1906. since which he has lived
quietly at his old colonial residence
residence here.
Judge Alvey was regarded as one OF
the ablest jurists Of the country He
had been on the bench for about thirty
seven years and IN that time wrote
some 5000 opinions.
The funeral viii be held Monday af-
ternoOn at o'clock, with services at
residence Of the Rev Henry Evan Cot
zen, Of ST. Johns Episcopal Church.
Interment in Rose Hin Cemetery. Ow-
ing T. Judge Alvey's love for simpIi-
city the services will not be elaborate.
Sketch of His Career.
Richard Henry Alvey was born in ST.
Mary's county Md. In 1896. and received
his early education in the public schools
of that county. Before he reached his
majority he was appointed TO a clerk
ship IN the oIsce of the clerk OF the
court OF Charles county. Md. and re-
mained in that position until 1880 In the
meantime he had pursued the study Of
the law and was admitted 10 practice
IN 1919 In the fan Of 1850 he moved 70
HageTstOwn. and there commenced the
active practice Of his adopted profess
sion While Mr. Alvey did not seek or
covet public honors. IL was not long
after he removed TO Hagerstown that
ne was brought prominently before the
public by being chosen g presidential
elector during the Pierce campaign ia
1852.
Al the breaking out OF the civil war
he was among the first 20 go 10 the front
and WIS at one time a prisoner IN Fort
Wayne. After the war Mr. Alvey took
an aC-.ve part In politics and was prom
tHent IN the organization of the Demo
cratic party. He was a member Of the
constitutional convention OF Maryland iu
1861 end was chosen member Of the
judiciary committee OF that body. Later
ne was elected judge 6f the Fourth
Maryland judicial district, and In Isa-
was reelected 70 the position.
Appointed Chief Justice.
In the following year Judge Alvey
was appointed by Governor Hamilton, Of
Maryland as chief justice OF the court
OF appeals OF that State and ne held that
olsce until April. 1893. when be was ap-
pointed by President Cleveland as chief
justice of the District Couri Of Appeals.
He continued a member OF the bench
of the local Appellate Court until Janu-
airy /. 1905. when he resigned. The va
CanCy on the bench caused by his resig-
nation vas filled by President Roosevelt
by the appointment OF Charles II. Dueu
who at the time was Commissioner OF
Patents
While Chief Justice Alvey was a mem
her of the bench Of the District Ap-
pellate Court he was appointed bv Pres
ident Cleveland, in January, 1885. as a
member of the Venezuelan Boundary
Commission, and he discharged the
duties OF that office not alone with
honor TO himself, but also to the salts
faction of the people OF the United
States.