Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07
DEVOTED TO RIGHT
Tributes to the Late Chief
Justice Drake.
IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS
Presentation Of Life-Sized Portrait
Of the Jurist.
CAREER GIVEN BY G.. A. KING
Declared by F. W. Hackett to Be Of
the Cromwell Type, Intolerant
Of Injustice.
IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS
CAREER GIVEN BY G. A. KING

A life-sized portrait of Charles D.
Drake. for fifteen years chief justice of
the Court of Claims. was presented to
the court this afternoon in the presence
Of a court room full of friends and rela-
tives of the late jurist and members Of
the bar.
The picture is the gift Of his only sur
viving daughter. Mrs. Anna P. Westcott.
and was painted from a photograph of
the former chief justice by Charles Bit
a studio in New York.
In behalf of the donor Attorneys
George A. King. Frank w. Hackett and
John c. Fay made brief speeches eulogiz-
ing the work and character of Chief JUS
tice Drake. and the present chief justice,
Stanton J. Peelle. accepted the portrait
on behalf of the court.
After the converting of the court at
noon and the announcement of several
decisions, Chief Justice Peelle recognized
Attorney King. In formal sentence he
presented to the court the portrait, which
was standing on an easel near the bench.
In presenting this picture" he contin-
ued, Mrs. Westcott is guided not only
from members Of the bar of this court
who desired that the picture of this emf
nent chief justice should be hung on these
walls. The work is by Charles Bittinger.
who studied art in Paris and there re-
ceived high honors, and who is now 10
Gated in New York. think 1t will be the
testimony of all who knew Chief Justice
Drake that this is faithful likeness of
him as we remember him.
Chief brakes Career.
Charles D. Drake was born in Cincin-
natl in 1911. said Attorney King. At the
age OF sixteen he entered the navy as a
midshipman, and remained three years.
In 1880 he returned to Cincinnati, and
three years later was admitted to the
bar. In 1884 he moved to st. Louis. with
winch city his name was long connected.
When he was twenty-seven years old
he conceived tina idea of founding a law
library for the use of members of the
founded the. present st. Louis law library.
In 1S4S he became treasurer Of the board
OF missions of the Presbyterian Church.
but he resigned year later and returned
to st. Louis.
In 1859 he was elected to the Missouri
legislature. to press bill in behalf OF
better Sunday observance. In 1854 he
was made a member of the convention
which drew a new constitution for the
state OF Missouri. and he wrote much of
the document which was then drawn up
In 1867 he was elected United States
Senator from Missouri, and he was in
the upper house of Congress during the
stirring time of the impeachment trial
Of President johnson.
In 1870 he resigned as United States
senator to become chief justice of the
Court Of Claims and he served in that
position until his retirement in 1885.
OF the Cromwell Type.
Attorney Hackett declared that Mr..
Drake was of the old Oliver Cromwell
type of man. intolerant Of injustice and
strong in his work for the right.
Attorney Fay pointed out that Justice
brakes chief characteristic was his firm
devotion to right and justice.
Chief Justice Peelle voiced the thanks
Of the court for the portrait, and added
several tributes to the former presiding
Judge Of the court.
HE seemed to be stern man." Chief
Justice Peelle said, but when appealed
to by those In need or in want. am told
by those who knew him, he was as tender
and loving as a woman"