Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-25
HEARD WITH SORROW
Death of Justice Peckham An
nounced to Associates.
COURT ADJOURNS AT ONCE
Business Suspended Out of Respect
Until Next Monday.
LONG AND EMINENT CAREER
Tributes by Mr.. Justice Harlan, At
torney General Wickersham
and Others.

Out of respect for the memory Of the
late Justice Rufus Wheeler Peckham.
who died at Altamont, n. Y, last even
ing. Chief Justice Fuller declared the
Supreme Court of the United States adj
journed today for one week. He an
nounced the death of his colleague in
solemn tones two minutes after the court
convened at noon and Immediately the
| justices filed slowly out of the court
room.
The statement Of the Chief Justice was
| as follows:
1T is with deep sorrow that ! announce
the passing Of our eminent colleague and
dear friend, Mr. Justice Pecl1ham. He
died at his summer home at Altamont
only yesterday evening at quarter past
eight. The court will transact no bust
ness but will adjourn until next Mon
day
Justice Moody Absent
All of Mr.. Peckham's surviving as
sociates were in their seats except JUS
tice Moody. who is i'll at his home in
Massachusetts. AS usual, the members
of the court entered the room as a body
and in single file, and their long black
gowns almost trailing behind them lent
| to the occasion much of a funeral
| aspect if there had been a special
preparation for the occasion. Even more
serious than usual appeared the Chief
| Justice and his associates as they filed
| into the room, and the voice of the crier
was deeper than ordinarily when he an
nounced the approach of the dignified
procession. Instantly all persons pres
ent were on their feet. and all stood in
respectful attention until the court had
been seated.
Without permitting any semblance of
business the Chief Justice made his
| nouncement. and at 1902 o'clock, headed
the other way, the small procession
marched out of the room, not to return
again for seven days. All attendants and
spectators again rose as the court with
drew, and remained standing until its
members had disappeared from sight.
Later in the term the court will further
! officially notice Justice Pcckhams death.
Attorney Generals Tribute.
The courtroom was crowded with attor-
| neys and visitors. Attorney General Wick
| ersham was among those who heard the
| announcement of Justice Pcckham's death
| from the bench.
Mr.. Wickersham was very ready to ex-
press his regret y hen the court had adj
Il have learned with profound regret
| of the death of Justice Peckham. who
was jurist of the highest distinction and
contributed some of the most valuable and
learned opinions of the Supreme Court
| during his incumbency as a member of
| that body" he said. lie wrote the
opinion in the first great case which dealt
with the application of the antitrust
| law to railroads, namely, the trans Mis-
souri, case. He wrote the opinion also. in
the Joint Traffic Association case; in the
| cases of Anderson against the United
1 INST tha tod
States, and in the -Addyston Pipe and
Steel Company case.
| His Interpretation of this law in its
| application to the great transportation
| companies and to manufacturing and
| trading companies engaged in Interstate
| commerce constitutes a great monument
| to his learning and industry, and in mis-
death the court suffers Il tremendous
| loss"
Associates Deeply Affected.
| When the news of Judge Peckhams
| death was broken TO the surviving mem
| bers of the Supreme Court last night
all Of them appeared to be deeply affect
ed, although the end OF their fellow
| jurist had been looked upon as merely
| matter of hours. Chief Justice Fuller
had retired when word was conveyed to
| him, but he expressed his sorrow. and
| said that the passing of Justice Peck
| ham was severe loss to the American
bench. Justice Harlan was overcome
| with emotion when he heard the news.
| It's great loss TO the country. he
| said. Justice Peckham was one of the
| ablest jurists who ever sat on the Ameri
/ can bench. He was absolutely pure in
| mind and thought and free from every
thing that would prevent him from rem
dering an honest Judgment in any case
| brought before him.
| He mad strong political convictions,
but when on the bench he knew no liti-
gants politics and cared nothing for
! them. His sole desire was to administer
the law as 1t was and to give each party
IN every case his just rights had
| great personal affection for him, and he
| was one of the pursst men | ever knew"
| The other members of the tribunal
| spoke in similar terms of Justice Peck
| hams life and services. The justices are
| so closely bound together by common
| ties that the passing OF any one of them