New-York tribune., 1907-09-22
OBITUARY.
HENRY w. BOOKsTAVER.

Word was received in this city yesterday by the
friends and relatives of Henry ". Bookstaver.
former Supreme Court Justice, of his sudden death
at MddletOwn. r. L. yesterday morning. from heart
trouble. Judge Bookstaver had been a summer
cottager Newport for more than thirty years.
going there long before the Rhode Island city be-
came anything like the summer capital that It IS
to-day. His cottage well known one pitched
on a fine hill to the east of the city.
Henry Weller Bookstaver born IN Montgom-
cry, Orange County. n. Y. on September II. 1885.
He was son of Daniel Bookstaver. of that place.
who was descended from Jacobus Buchstabe. or
Boochstaber. who immgrated 70 this country from
Switzerland TIE eighteenth century and became
one of the largest property owners in Orange
County.
Judge Bookstaver was graduated from Rutgers
College in 1859 with high honors. and at once
began to study law in the office of Brown Hall &
VanderpoeI of which a. Oakley Hall. later Mayor
of the CITY was member. He was admitted TO the
bar in 1861 and. continuing his ASSOCIATION with
Brown Hall & Vanderpoel, was soon admitted 10
partnership. He became counsel 10 the Sherin OF
New York County and later was counsel TO ire
Police Board and to the Commissioners OF Cnarl-
t,As and Correction He was elected judge OF the
Court of Common Pleas on the DenocraIlc ticA7t
In 1855 and was transferred TO the supreme '''''
in 1895 On the expiration Of his term, IN l%" ne
resumed the practice Of the law. He was inter
es+ed in the study and the promotion of science and
art and was a member of the Archaeological So
ciety of America. the Metropolitan Museum OF ART
the New York Historical Society, the New YORK
Botanical Society the Huguenot Society and the
American Museum of Natural History He was
also a member of the Manhattan. St Nicholas
rotos National Democratic National Arts and
Hardware clubs. He received the degree or doctor
of Iaws\from Rutgers College In 1sS9. On MS re-
tirement from bench his associates gave Jusuce
Bookstaver a loving cup
He married Miss Mary Bailey Young. daughter or
Charles Young Of Hamptonburg. Orange County
V in 1895 She and an only daughter, the wife
of Char.es Knoblauch a broker. Of this city, sur
vive him.
Judge BooIstaver into unpleasant pronl-
nence in 1859 and 800 on account OF his association
with the F1ack divorce scandal Sheriff James A.
FIack caused a summons and complaint To be
served on hfrsef in a fictitious suit which he had
brought in the of his wife for absolute di-
vorce from him. Ambrose Mcneil. Flacks lawyer.
appeared as Mrs FIack's attorney Of record. An
affidavit appended 20 the papers, purpor'lhs 10
be signed by Mary 7. Flack
The papers together with order Of reference
with blank space reserved for the referees name
were presented in June. 1889, 10 Judge BookstaVer
who appointed Joseph Meeks referee to try the
case Meeks was Monelrs brother-n-Iaw. Meeks
made a report to Judge Bookstaver on July OF
that he had taken testimony and estaollshed me
fact Of Flacks misconduct and that Flack dld ho'
defend the suit. He recommended that Judge BOOK
staver sign the decree Of divorce. Judge BOOK
staver pointed out that Mcneil was Mr.. Flacks at
| torney Meeks took the papers in the suit nae
them all rewritten. had Judge Bookstaver appoint
him referee again. got another lawyer to allow ms
nalra 20 be used and. about ten days after naf'H=
/ his first report he made another 10 the same ef
! feet and Judge RookStavsr signed the decree
| The conspiracy was discovered, Flack was tried
and convicted and so was Maeks- Mcneil died
Neeks served a term IN prison Flack got on
through the intervention OF the Court OF Appeals
The Far Association thoroughly investigated Judg
F,onLsta,er-s connection with the affair and recon-
| nended that the Assembly inquire into the case
Joseph II. Choate then president OF the BAL
/ Association w 3. Hornblower was chairman o.
/ the executive committee and EHhu ROOT Wa
hartman Of the committee which made charges
agairst Judge Rookstaver at Albany. After Ions
in1-e zttgation the Judiciary Committee OF the As
sen1bly decided not to impeach Judge BookstaveT