The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-03-29
DEATH MAY AFFECT
IMPORTANT SUITS
Justice Brewer Dies Suddenly From
Apoplexy in Washington-0il
and Tobacco Cases Pending.

WASHINGTON, March 29.-The
death OF David Josiah Brewer, asso-
ciate justice OF the supreme court OF
the United States. which occurred at
1880 o'clock last night at his home
In this city, raises serious question
as to the action Of the court regarding
the Standard Oil Co and American To
bacco Co. suits. IL is possible they
may have To be retired since there
now remain only seven justices to pass
on them, Justice Moody having been
absent from the trials owing TO III
ness.
Justice Brewers death came sud-
denly from apoplexy. Although he had
not been feeling we'll in the past few
days, he was up and around yesterday.
He retired to his room shortly after 10
o'clock last night and soon afterward
Mrs. Brewer heard a heavy fall. She
found him prone on the floor. Tho
venerable jurist was dead before a
physician arrived.
David Josiah Brewer was born in
Smyrna, Asia Minor, June 20. 1887,
the son of Rev. Josiah and Amelia
Field Brewer. He was graduated from
Yale university in 1856 and the Al
bany law school in 1858. He receiv-
cd the degree Of Ii. D., from the
University of Iowa. 1884; Washburn
college, 1888; Yale, 1891; University
of Wisconsin, 1900; Wesleyan univer-
sity. 1901; University of Vermont,
1904; Bowdoin college, 1905.
He was brought by his parents TO
this country from Asia Minor In the
autumn of 1888. His mother. the
daughter of Rev. David Dudley Field,
and her brother. Stephen j. Field, ac-
companied her husband to Turkey as
a missionary in 1890
After his graduation from the AL
bany. n. Y. law school, in 1858, fol-
lowing studying law in the office OF
his uncle, David Dudley Field, in New
York, he entered the practice of law
in Leavenworth, Kansas. There he
progressed rapidly In his profession
and was made United States commits
sioner OF the circuit court In 1861,
Judge of the probate and criminal
courts Of Leavenworth county. 1863
Ga, and of the first district of Kansas.
1860; district attorney for Leaven
worth county 1S69-70, and Judge of
lIC SGDltlHt 1Oull vi fNdhodS, lOfO-ofs
He was appointed by President Ar
thur Judge Of the United States cir
cult court for the eighth circuit in
1884 and served five years. and fol-
lowing this service President Harri.
son appointed him justice OF the su.
preme court.
While on the supreme bench OF
Kansas. Justice Brewer handed down
the decision that women were eligible
to the office Of county superintendent
of public schools and another sus-
tanning the right of women to money
possessed by them at the time OF mar
riage. and to all money earned by
them thereafter.
AS United States circuit Judge he
entered the decree sustaining the
Maxwell land grant. the largest pri-
vate grant sustained in the United
States.
Justice Brewer married Louise X.
Landon, OF Burlington, VT, Oct. 8,
1861, who died April 3, 1898. June s.,
1901, lie married Emma M. Mott, of
Washington, ID. c.
Justice Brewer was appointed by
President Cleveland In 1896. to the
Venezuela boundary commission in
1899, he was a member OF the British
Venezuelan arbitration tribunal He
was president of the universal con-
gress of lawyers and jurists. of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St.
Louis, In 1904.
Justice Brewer was the author OF
1.-THE Pew to the Pulpit" ''The TWEEN
tieth Century from Another View
Point" American Citizenship" and
THE United States a Christian Ma
ton"