Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1909-10-29
d Murphy

Judge Michcal y. Murphy. one Of Ne
vada's best and most highly respected
citizens diel III Carson Tuesday after
noon. The following sketch of his
honorable career Is taken from the Car
son Appeal:
After Il long, lingering illness Of
many months. Judge VI. \. Murphy.
late this afternoon passed away sur.
rounded by the ~sorrowing members of
his family-his son. Frank Murphy of
V. and T. r. X. company, and Miss
Martha, his daughter.
All during the long weary hours Of
the day his physicians and the MEM
berS of the family watched the flick
ering spark of life slowly dying away
and in the hush of the stiffness Of IA
beautiful day the Angel of Death relicv-
ell his suffering and his spirit passed
to God who gave it.
A silent, sympathixing sorrow per
vades this city and many kindly rX.
presSions of sympathy and love are
heard III whispered words aS the life of
the old pioneer and history maker i
told.
His was Il life of activity. begun
under the most adverse circumstances
a ld continuing throughout his earlier
career until after years Of toll and
p%rivation he attLin:la legal. scial.
and Political standing second 20 none
in this state. He cared little for
riches and the happicst deeds of his
life were thu-c of charity. No one
ever appealed to him for help in vain
and no one ever asked Il favor. Ia he
returned with "A frown. His WAS "A life
of practical religion, aud many "A IN ~.
woman and child will shed tears over
the thought of his departure. 4 lDy.
ing father whose home WAS the one
spot on earth he loved above all others.
He WAS II lawyer Of marked ability.
and the practical manner in which he
had studied law, made him "A practitioner
VINO" legal ScrviC" was always in de.
lnand. His experience a> Assessor,
District Attorney, Attorney General,
District Judge and Suprcmr Judge
rounded ont his career in the legal pro-
tcsSion ~ u" training in college, could
do. Many Of his decisions while on the
Supreme bench are cited rs authori.
ties in the various courts today, and
will he cited long after ''ihr foot Of time
has troddcn down his marble tom }.
stone"
He was Of IA cheerful, hopeful dis.
position and always had Il good word
for everyone. He was scrupulOuslv
upright and honest in his dealings with
men and had the confidence Of all who
knew him. He WAS Il sticklcr for prin-
ciplcs and the decisions he rendered
were always looked upon by both sides
OF the controversy Is tho honest con
v~ictiOns Of the man whU rendered them.
He would rather die IN poverty and oh.
security than sacrifice ono honest ron.
~victiOn that he held.
He has been prominent in the legal,
social and political life Of this state
for nearly half a century. and his mmnc
is written upon every page of her his
tory. The Appeal, in common with tho
people Of the entire state sympathizrs
with the children in their anIiction, but
they can find consolation in thc Thought
that he left them as II priceless legacy
AN hOnOrcd name.
There is no Death! What seems
SO is transition:
This life Of mortal breath
Is hut a suburb Of the life Elysiun,
Whose portals We call Death"
Judge NJ. a. Murphy was born I'm
the state Of New York Sept. 20. 1897.
Shortly after his birth the family NOV.
cd to MclIcnry County, Illinois. where
hr attended the public schools until he
was sixteen ycIrs Of age. when no
crossed the plains In the mad rush that
followed the gold discovery in Cali.
fornia. He arrived in Trinity county.
California. In 1868. and joined his
brother who had preceded him.
lie soon engaged in mining and
various other pursuits. meeting with
little success. He resided there for a
number of years coming to Nevada
in 1863 where he successfully engaged
In mining. In Esrncralda county. in the
meantime studying law. Il profession
he had IN view from his infancy. He
made money sufficient la enable him TO
further pursue the legal profession and
on the 29th day Of February, 1872. was
admitted 10 practice before the Supreme
Court Of this state, His ability. honesty
and Integrity were soon noticed | in this
now fold Of cndcavor, and IN 1865 no
vas elected Dirtrict Attorney Of the
Same county, and reelected TO tllc.sainc
position In 1874, and again in 1910. IIu
was subsequently promoted To the At.
tOrncy Generals Office. defeating the
eloquent and distinguished KitlrclI by