Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-12-02
LENDALL TITCOMB.
Response Of Mr.. Justice Cornish.

Response Of Mr.. Justice Cornish.
Through the courtesy of the preSld-
ing Justice the pleasant though SAD
dilty has been assigned to me, OF ac-
knowledging for the Bench the resoiu-
tions which have been presented upon
the death of Hon. Lendan Tltcomb
Though l speak for the Bench, my
acknowledgement cannot truly repre-
sent the Court because my brief term
of service would not warrant such as
sumption. Ny relations with Broth
Ell 1itcomb, have been. not those of
court with attorney. but like your own,
attorney with attorney, man with man.
friend with friend. And from this
standpoint alone is it proper for me to
speak at this time.
T doubt. if ever before in the history
of this county, the Far has lost fro.c.
its ranks within the space of few
short months, four prominent members,
engaged in the active work of their
profession. Two of the number it has
been my good fortune to be intimately
associated with, Brother Baker and
Brother Titcomb. Mr.. Justice White
house has in most fitting and dis
eliminating terms spoken of Brother
Baker and of the exalted place in the
profession which he deservedly won.
With all that he has said I most
cordially concur and to it l would add
single personal word. AS a student
in the Office of the father Joseph
Baker, and son Orville D. Baker for
one year, associated in work with both
for three years and then in partner
ship with the son for ten years more,
l came to know them thoroughly and
to recognize and appreciate the
strong points of their character.
Keener, more logical, more COM
prehensive legal minds I have never
met, and for the opportunity and
the training afforded me by such as
sociation / shall ever be grateful. At
this time it is my plain duty to make
this recognition although it may seem
somewhat of a depression from the
topic assigned me.
And yet the depression is not SO
great. The career of these two sons
when taken in connection with the
two fathers have run along lines sur
prsingly parallel in many respects.
Joseph Baker, was admitted to the
IodI ttllu SlSllcu MS Httl1le III llldl ulllS
book in the possession of the clerk
that is a treasure house of names in
Guiding that of the present Chief JUS
tice of the United States at the Au
gust Term 1889. Samuel Titcomb, only
three years later at the August Term
1912. Both ever after made this city
their home and after long and useful
and honorable professional careers,
died in the harness, the one in 1883 and
the other in 1892. Their sons were
born within three months Of each 9TH
err, the one on December %, 1S47, and
the other March H., 1S4S, attended
school together, We're graduated. the
one at Bowdoin and the other at Har-
ward and were admitted to the Bar
within eighteen months of each 9TH
err. the one at the March Term 1872 and
the other at the August Term 1873.
Both ever after made this city their
home, and after an honorable profess
sional career passed away within four
months of each other. the one at the
age Of six years and eight months and
the other sixty years and one month.
The streams of life rarely move in
such parallel channels
Like father, like son, is an old adage.
that is sometimes though not always
true. In these two cases the sons
did inherit largely in mental attri-
butes. in temperament and predilec-
lions from the fathers. and while Mr..
| Baker, senior, delighted most of all in
| the combat of actual trials and the
| brilliant display of talent that the
| court room affords, Mr.. Titcomb senior,
work of the Office of the probate court
and those close and confidential rela-
tons with clients that exist on the
part of the counsellor, but not ne
on the part of the attorney
| at law. The sons followed their
fathers and stepped into the practice
and the same kind of practice that
the elders had built up, and each in
his sphere was a success and an au-
thority.
Lendall Titcomb as lawyer, was
careful, thorough and sound. His
opinion was not first impression but
the logical result of thoughtful reason
ing aided by an examination of de-
cided cases. This made his. services
as legal counsellor especially de-
srable and valuable. He was intel
1ectually honest and unprejudiced
His personal wish or that of his client
did not pervert his legal judgment.
That worked regularly and imper-
sonally without regard to conse-
quences. This I think was the strong
point of his legal equipment During
his thirtyfive years at the Bar, he
took part in many trials with his
father and alone, and he had his fair
share Of success, but it was not a life
that appealed to him strongly and