Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-07-14
USEFUL LIFE ENDED
CHIEF JUSTICE FULLER DIES AT
SUMNER HOME.
HEART FAILURE THE CAUSE
Great Jurlst Suddenly Stricken While
Apparently In Good Health--Prob-
able Reconstruction of the Su-
preme Court.
HEART FAILURE THE CAUSE

Washington. Weston Full
er, chief justice of the United States
Supreme court. died suddenly of heart
failure at his summer home in Sorren-
to, Me-, five miles from Bar Harhor.
Dispatches from Beverly say that,
while President Taft declined to COM
NIT himself definitely, 1t is regarded
a practical certainty that Governor
Hughes of New York will be the next
chief Justice.
News of the passing OF Chief JUS
tice Fuller came as shock to every
body in Washington. on the very latest
reports from him, despite his II years,
contained no word of complaint or 9TH
er hint that he was not In his usual
condition of excellent health.
Only about two weeks ago Justice
Fuller made his annual trip to Chicago
to see friends and members of his fam
lily and to look after his business In
terests there, which are considerable.
Important Cases Pending.
AS the news spread rapidly through
the capital the response from all
sources was one of surprise and sor-
row, followed by opinions as to the
effect which the death of the chief
Justice would have upon the important
cases now pending In the Supreme
court.
Probably never In the history of the
Supreme court has that body had In
hand as many cases of tremendous and
far-reaching import as now are await
Ing adjudication. How far the re-
moval Of the chief justice will compli-
cate matters and how far the personal
equation" and general point of view OF
his successor will affect the ultimate
fate Of the deep-lying national prob
lens that now face the court are ques-
tons that are being discussed with
deep interest in Washington tonight.
No Premonltory symptoms.
Dispatches from Bar Harbor say the
death of the chief justice was entirely
unexpected as there had been no pre-
monitory symptoms Of any kind OF
trouble. The chief justice arrived at
Sorrento June 25 from Chicago. He
was not well In Chicago in June, but
since coming to Sorrento his health APP
parently had been very good, consider
ing his advanced age. He enjoyed a
sermon the day before his death In
the Church of the Redeemer (Episco-
paD by Rev. James Il. Freeman Of
Minneapolis. who has been a lifelong
friend of the Fuller family. When
Justice Fuller retired he was In excel
lent spirits. and not the slightest indi-
cation that there was serious trouble
with his heart was observed by his
daughter. Mrs. Nathaniel Francis Of
Washington, who was with him at the
Fuller summer home.
Daughters Hears Hls Cry.
Mrs. Francis was awakened by a
feeble cry from her father. Upon look
ing at him and hearing his words, II
am feeling very ILL.," she realized that
he was In a serious condition. DIR.
Phelps hurried over the three-mile
stretch of road In an automobile, but
failed to arrive until his patient was
dead. Mrs. Francis also called In Rev.
Mr.. Freeman, who occupies neigh
boring cottage, and he and Mrs. Fran.
els were with the chief justice when
he breathed his last. q
Vacancies Close Together.
What will amount practically to q
supreme court of the United States
constructed by the hands of President
Taft is rendered probable by the death
of Chief Justice Fuller. In the year
and a quarter of his term already
passed President Taft has made two
appointments to fill vacancies caused
by death. The chief justiceship now
to be filed marks the third vacancy
caused by the same agency within a
comparatively few months. If Asso-
ciate Justice Moody retires under the
special act of the recent session of
congress granting him that privilege
as is expected-there will be two po-
sition to fill In the immediate future.
This will make four Taft appoint
ments to the supreme bench within
the first half of his term in the White
House. There are nine members of
the court, and as the chances are at
least even that another vacancy will
occur before the expiration Of the
presidents present term Of office, the
rare duty of naming majority of
the highest tribunal OF the land is
likely to fall to his lot.
The potentialities involved in this
indicated reorganization of the court
of last resort at time when problems
of development of which the consti-
tutional fathers may not have dream.
ed are pressing for settlement, are re-
garded on every hand here as of the
greatest Importance.