Evening star., 1909-09-13


Funeral services over the remains of
Judge Martin Ferdinand Morris, former
associate justice of the Court of Appeals
of the District of Columbia, will be held
at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning at the
family residence, 1914 Massachusetts, ave-
nue. The officiating, clergyman will be
Rev. Thomas S. Lee. rector of ST. Mat
thew's Church. He will be assisted by
! Rev. John Montgomery Cooper, also of
st. Matthew'S The interment will be
private, at Mount Olivet
Justice Morris died at his home at 1910
O'Clock yesterday afternoon following a
long illness from stomach trouble He
was a native of this city, where he was
born December 3, 1884, the son of John
and Martha Colbert Morris He was edu-
Gated in Georgetown University, gradu-
ating from that institution in 1854. Sub
sequently young Morris pursued philo-
sophical studies at Georgetown with an
idea of entering the Jesuit Order. This
call he abandoned, feeling that his duty
was to provide a home for his sisters.
He took up the study of law in the
Office of Judge William Merrick and was
admitted to the bar in the early sos. He
first came into prominence In the trial
of the Lincoln conspirators. As counsel
for John H. Surratt, son of Mrs. Mary
Surratt, he conducted the defense with
, such skill that his client was acquitted.
Judge Richard T. Merrick. who listened
to the young attorneys argument in the
! Surratt case, was SO impressed with his
profound insight into the Constitution
! that he took him into partnership the
same day.
Ranked High in His Profession.
Later he was associated in sthe practice
of his profession with George E. Hamilton
and Michael j. Colbert. His work was
marked by vigor, skill and intellect in the
preparation of his cases, and he soon took
front rank as constitutional lawyer. For
about twenty years he was senior counsel
for the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and
in all the litigation of that great corpora
tion throughout the period Mr.. Morris
never lost or compromised a case. About
a quarter of a century ago he represented
the United States government in the pros
ecution of the then famous star route
case. involving alleged graft in the postal
department. The jury stood eleven to one
for conviction in this case. He also served
as counsel for Cardinal Gibbons, arch
bishop of Baltimore, for quarter of a
century.
Retres From the Bench.
President Cleveland named Mr.. Morris
as the first associate justice of the Court
of Appeals when that tribunal was estab-
lished. He retired from the bench in 1905.
His retirement was made the occasion of
a remarkable demonstration in his behalf
by the bench and bar of the District of
Columbia
Justice Morris was appointed professor
of constitutional law in the law DEPART
ment of Georgetown University in 1876,
and discharged the duties of that profess
sorship until about two years ago, serving
also for many years as dean of the law
department His lectures, like his legal
opinions, were characterized by clearness
OF thought and expressions, and were re-
garded In the light of inspirations by the
students, many of whom are now promi-
nent members of the bar.
He was we'll versed in the language
literature and history of ancient Greece
and Rome Judge Morris linguistic ac-
complishmentS also embraced French,
German and other modern LANGUAGES
particularly that of Spain. and in Span
ish history and literature he took great
delight. He was likewise versed in SCI
ence and in Iresent-day scientific prob
lens. Georgetown gave him the degree
of LII D. in 1877.
Contributor to Magazines.
For years Justice Morris contributed
magazine articles on the jury system
legal and historical matters. At the
request of President Garfield he pre-
pared a volume entitled THE East" AS
platform and delivered a series of ad-
dresses on the History of the Develop
rnent of constitutional and Civil Lib
erty' which won high comme endation
from jurists ard constitutional authori-
ties.
In conjunction with DIR. Charles /.
White, pastor of St. Matthews Church.
and the most Rev. John ]. Keane Arch
bishop of Dubuque. Judge Morris. some
twenty-five years ago, delivered series
of lectures on matrimony and law.
He was a member of the American Bar
Association and the District Bar Asso-
ciatfon He was one OF the organizers
and first president of the Marquette
League. an association having for its OBJ
ject the amelioration of the condition OF
the Indian.
His Business Connections.
Justice Morris was one of the founders
of the Union Trust Company. and for
number of years one OF the directors OF
that institution. He was also director
of the American Security and Trust Com
pany, and was connected with other
financial institutions.
Endowed with remarkable memory, he
possessed accuracy of thought, enabling
him TO readily call into use the vast re-
sources he had gathered in his lifelong
studies He had no taste for club life,
but spent much or his time in the seclu-
sion Of his study:
Justice Morris newer married but made
n.s s nome with his sisters. Miss Helen /.
I MvrIss mrs. Margaret Hastings and Miss
Eiszahsth Colbert. Mrs Daniel Hannah
also OF this city. is sister. Rev. Euxsre