Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-02-20

ScHatOE DTOWiib ~ svA4tsvAi CoiAiAAsSsAA7
Grating the services Of former Senator
Louis E. McComas, former Gov. Lloyd
Lowndes, and Judge McSherry, former
h;ef Judge Of the Maryland Court of
Appeals, came up as the sr ecial order in
the State Senate Wednesday last and
passed, after speeches were made BY
Senators Brown, Baker, Of Washington;
Matthias, Griffith. Led, German and Pref
iient Seth.
Senator Matthias said: sMr. President
The great county which ! represent in
CHS Senate has given to the State, or
mas been the dwelling place and home OF
many men distinguished in the history OF
our country. Frederick county was the
home Of Thomas Johnson, the great war
Governor of Marylapd' Of Francis Scott
Key, the lawyer, patriot and poet; OF
Roger Brook fancy, the great CHER
Justice, and Of other eminent statesman
and jurist.
at was my pleasure Mr.. President to
know and honor each Of the distinguished
gentlemen named in this memorial, anN
for their ability and devotion to duty l
hold them in high regard. But is to the
name of another wish to pay my tribute
today. To dwell on the memory of a de-
parted friend is at once privilege and a
sorrow, and realize both IN speaking OF
the great and good man whose life was
an example and an inspiration to all with
whom he was associated,
Judge James McSherry was born in
Frederick, Maryland, December 30, 1912,
and there spent the days of his boyhood
and youth. He obtained a collegiate
education at Mt. St. Mary's College, at
Emmitsburg, and began reading law UNI
der the guidance of his father, February
3, 1864. He was admitted to the bar in
Frederick, and Immediately afterwards
began practice at his fathers office. His
success was marked and immediate. In
1887, was appointed by Gov. Lloyd Lownds
to fill the place made vacant by the death
of Judge John Richie. Without opposi-
ton Judge McSherry was elected to the
Bench on November 8, 1887. He was
appointed Chief Judge of the Court OF
Appeals on January 5, 1896, by Governor
Lowndes to succeed Judge Robinson and
the appointment was confirmed by the
State Senate the same day. Judge Nc
Sherry soon proved himself one of the
most efficient and capable men who ever
presided over the Court of Appeals. Few
Maryland jurists have had the knowledge
and grasp of law which he possessed.
During nearly twenty years service on
the Bench, up to the time of his recent
long illness, he was absent from the
Court of Appeals only fifteen days, and
filed more opinions than any one judge in
the same period. He was no less eminent
as a Judge than he was as an attorney at
the bar. He was firm, incorruptible and
just, but it was always his desire to tenn
per justice with mercy, for he had a ten
der heart. His decisions indicated strong
mentality, careful analysis, thorough
knowledge of the law and an unbiased
Judgment. 1t was trait of Judge Nc
Sherry not common to those who secure
prominence among their fellowmen, that
he awakened no rancor, created and made
no enemies. He was singularly free from
the elements of irritation. This was not
due solely to his chivalrous regard for
the sensibilties of others, to apprecia-
ton of the niceties of any situation, pol
itical or professional, but to his broad
mindedness.
"His father, the historian of Maryland,
was one of the most influential men of
his times. His political influence can
hardly be exaggerated. 1t is not, there
fore Mr.. President, remarkable that the
late Judge showed the powers of discrim-
nation in a high degree, nor that he was
unselfshly patriotic. He carried the
traditions of his name to a high point,
and in doing so, added to the luster of
another name, that was to him one of
compelling affection, the name that COM
manded his fullest service, the name of
the State he loved and labored in, Mary
land.
"And yet it is not as the able jurist
and statesman, conspicuous as he was in
these respects, that we of his native
county love to remember him. 1t is
rather as the faithful friend, interested
in all that concerned the city and county
of his birth, that endears his memory to
us. A man of broad charity, the suffer-
ings of humanity and particularly those
of the poor and needy, appealed to him.
The Frederick City Hospital was the OBJ
ject of his unfailing interest and COM
manded his most efficient services. Mr..
President, who, that was ever associated
with him can forget his disinterested
friendship, the warm grasp of the hand
that evidenced his kindly heart? May l
be pardoned personal reference, when
say, that though of a different political
faith, he was ever my friend and adviser.
May we not say in truth, that prince and
mighty man has fallen, and that we shall
not look upon his like again.
Senator German said of Judge McSher-
ry that his name would ever live in the
hearts of those who knew him; that he
had made the judiciary of the State of
Maryland respected in every other State,
and that the courts of other States and
the Supreme Court of the United States
relied on his decisions as containing wis
dom.