Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-25
STATES
SUPREME COURT
JURIST EXPIRES
RUFUS W. PECKHAM DIES IN
ALTAM0KT, N. Y.
SERVED ON BENCH FOR TERM
OF 26 YEARS
Famous Democratic Magistrate, Noted
for Seclusion, Passed Away at
Summer Home-Was APP
pointed by Cleveland
GRy Associated Press.l

A LBANY, N. Y, Oct. a.
II Rufus w. Peckham, Justice
"A of the United States SUI.
preme court, died at his summer
home at Altamont at 8:15 to.
night.
! Death was due to complica-
ton of diseases-heart trouble
Bright's disease and hardening OF
She arteries contributing. us-
tice Peckham had been i'll for
some time, but his condition was
not considered serious until re-
Gently.
Following adjournment of the
May term of the United States
supreme court, he came from
Washington with Mrs. Peckhan
to spend the summer at Alta
mont.
A few days ago his condition
became such that his physicians
said he was likely to die at any
time, or might linger for several
months.
Up to a few days ago Justice
Peckham exhibited considerable
strength and was able to be about
the house.
The circulatory disturbance,
which contributed to his death,
was first noticed about six years
ago.
Shock to Associates
WASHINGTON, Oct 24.-The an
nouncement of the death of Justice
Peckham, while expected, came as a
shock to his associates on the bench
and in official circles, and everywhere
expressions Of regret were heard. JUS
tice Peckham was a Democrat and
before taking q seat on the ben h
gave considerable attention to politics
in New York.
He was born in Albany November
s, 1858, and had been ON the bench,
state and federal, for twenty-siX years.
He came from the court of appeals of
his native state.
Mr.. Peckham's first office was that
of district attorney of Albany county.
He was elected to that position in 1868. |
He afterward became, in succession, a
counsel for Albany, men,
ber of the supreme court of the state
and associate Justice of the state court
of appeals. He was the last of Presi- |
dent Cleveland's Democratic ap-
pointees to the federal supreme court,
Chief Justice Fuller and Justice White
being the other two. He took his seat
In January, 1896.
His chief distinction was that of
giving his time exclusively to the
iuties of the court. He accepted no
outside appointments and undertook
10 work not connected with the high
He was in CONSTANT attend
lnce on the court, and he gave the
most careful attention to all matters
before it.
Went Little Into Society
He was married, but went little into
ociety. He accepted no invitations
0 public functions and made no pub
ic addresses after taking his seat as
justice.
Cases involving the reports of cor
orations received special considera-
ion at Justice Peckham's hands and
e was the author of some of the
curtis most noteworthy opinions of
ecent date along this line.
Among them may be mentioned the
ase of the Consolidated Gas company
f New York, in which he held that
,hile rates fixed by the legislature
lust allow a fair return on invest
lents, federal courts could not inter-
ere to declare them invalid unless
ley were so unreasonable as to be
One result of that deci- L
on was to cause the return of several o
liIlion dollars to consumers. Il
Several of Mr.. Peckham's corpora :,
on decisions dealt with the Sherman
nti-trust law as applied by railroads.
These included the joint traffic and r.
le trans Missouri cases, in both of
hich he held the law to be applicable.
e also prepared and delivered the L
,inion of the court in the case of At p
rney General Young of Minnesota, in II
hich he held that the federal courts o.
uld interfere with the execution by
e state courts of an unconstitutional II
ate law. X
Expressions of Sorrow a
When the news of Justice Peck ii
ms death was brought to the other ts
embers of the supreme court tonight, W
were deeply affected Chief JUS te
,e Fuller expressed his sorrow and I,
id the passing of Justice Peckham dt
rs a severe loss to the American II
nch. Justice Harlan was overcome m
th emotion when he heard the news
1T is a great loss to the country" he m
i'd. Justice Peckham was one Of the m
lest jurists who ever sat on the ~
nerican bench. He was absolutely he
re in mind and thought and free h,
1m everything that would prevent
N from rendering an honest judg sb
INT in any case brought before him. -,
He had strong political convictions, ,,a
t when on the bench he knew no ~, os
Igants politics and cared nothing for -,
I'm. His sole desire was to admin %,
er the law as 1t was and to give eS
eh party in every case his just rights.
lad great personal affection for him
d he was one of the purest men 1
er knew" Or
'he other members of the tribunal tic
Ike in similar terms Of Justice Peck co
ms life and services. The justices foI
so closely bound together by COM stl
N ties that the passing of any one ra
them is sorely felt by
here was genuine mourning tonight gr
ong those with whom the late jurist by
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