The Washington times., 1909-09-13
COURT ADJOURNED
FOR JUDGE MORRIS
Funeral of eVnerable JuriSt
Will eB Held Tomorrow
Morning.

The Supreme Court Of the District
was adjourned today by Justice w. p
Stafford out of respect for the memory
of Justice Martin r. Morris, former
Chief Justice of the District Court Of
Appeals who died yesterday afternoon
Formal notification Of the death Of
the venerable iurist was made 10 the
court by George +. Hamilton. his for
mer law partner.
Mr.. Hamilton. I'm addressing Justice
Staffords court, said.
News Of his death came as a great
sorrow 10 his friends and a shock to
the community in which he had lived
Tor more than fifty years as lawyer
and jurist, laboring for the fair admin
both as a lawyer and a jurist. will re-
main as the honorable record of man
VINO tried always TO do his duty to thu
community, nut more particularly to
The profession which he loved. In his
death the District lost a good citizen, an
able lawyer, and an upright judge.
move that the court adjourn in honor
10 his memory"
Justice Stafford replied:
i learned of the death Of Mr.. Morris
with utmost sadness. ard j am glad Of
the motion 20 adjourn the court out of
respect to his memory. The records
will show everlastingly the respect On
which he was held
Funeral Tomorrow.
The funeral will be held at the family
residence. 1914 Massachusetts avenue. to
morrow morning at 10 O'Clock. Monsig-
nor Lee. OF st. Matthews Catholic
Church. will officiate The interment
will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Judge Morris died after an illness Of
three days. His health had been failing
Tor several months, but not until last
Wednesday was he confined TO his bed.
Althougs he was in his seventy-fifth
year, friends and relatives did not be-
lieve that his condition was serious until
ne began to sink.
Judge Morris was not only the first
chief justice of the District Court Of
Appeals, but he was responsible for the
creation Of that body. II was on his
recommendation that President CleVe-
land warm personal friend, hrst con-
sidered the establishment Of the court.
On the suggestion of the President,
Justice Morris drew the original draft
OF the bill providing FOR IL Immcdt-
ately after the passage OF the act, by
Congress, he was named chief justice.
He was the first resident OF the District
OF Columbia appointed to the bench IN
one of the District courts.
Born in Ireland.
He was noted among his colleagues
for his dry humor, which was appar-
ent only TO those with whom he was
intimate He was born in Ireland on
Morris. When two years old he was
brought TO the United States, the Nor
ris family settling In this city. He
was educated at Georgetown Univer-
Eity and was graduated in 1895. He
studied for the bar and began prac-
tice in Baltimore, where he .Lemained
from 1864 to 1867, when he Returned
10 Washington. He entered into part
nership with Judge Richard I. der
rick, who was then at the zenith Of
his career.
Morris first sprang into prominence
through his defense OF John II. Sur
spirators. He conducted the defense
with such skill that his client was
acquitted. Mr.. Morris aided in thu
establishmenI of the Georgetown Uni
versity hfw school in 1870. and for
twenty-five years was actively inter
ested In fits work.
After the death Of Judge Merrick
he became associated with George e
Hamilton and Michael J. Colbert. He
won his way to the highest judicial
position in the District by his vigor
OF intellect. profound knowledge Of
the Law and OF the Constitution, and
his masterful skill in the preparation
of cases.
Through his writings on the law
he became known in the literary
world. He was for twenty years
chief counsel Of the Baltimore and
Chic railroad. and in all that time
never lost a case.
He was a member Of the Washing
ton Literary Society, Columbia HIS
torical Society, the National Geo
graphic Society, and the Philosophical
Society.