Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-11-18
/WILClAN n. BLISS DEAD.
Judge of Probate for Addison Dis
trict Passes Away Suddenly.

William H. Bliss died at his home on
Washington street on Saturday night
as the result of a shock of paralysis
caused by the bursting of blood vessel
in his head late Friday night. He did
not regain consciousness.
Judge Bliss was born in Royalton,
October 5, 1847. He was the son of
Charles and Henrietta Bliss. He
fitted for college at the Royalton
Academy, and was graduated from the
University of Vermont in the year of
1871. He studied law with Thomas c.
Green, leading member of the bar of
Providence, R. l., and was admitted to
the bar in that state in 1873. He con-
tinued to practice with his preceptor for
the following three years, afterward
locating at Rochester, where he con-
tinued to practice until 1886, when he
moved to this village. He was later as
sociated for three years with E. R.
Hard of Burlington. In 1890 he was
elected States attorney of this county,
and in 1895 he was admitted to practice in
United States Supreme Court. In 1899
he was appointed judge of probate and
insolvency for the district of Addison
and held this office up to the time of his
death. He has also been law agent for
the town of Middlebury during the
greater part of his residence here.
While incumbent of the office of States
attorney of this county he prosecuted
Alphonse Charquett, convicted of muir
der in the second degree, and in 1899
1900 he assisted in the prosecution of
Frederick Eastwood. convicted of muir
der in the first degree. In 1886,
Judge Bliss conducted the case of Ed
ward Hodgson, charged with violation
of the prohibitory law. He carried
this case to the United States supreme
court to test the constitutionality of the
Vermont law. Judge Bliss in 1879 was
poet at the annual reunion of the alumni
of the University of Vermont, and was
also poet of his class in 1871. He wrote
many poems and was frequently called
upon for addresses aside from politics
and his profession. During the cam
paign of 1896 he made speeches on
twenty-eight consecutive nights, ex-
cepting Sundays. He wrote the valua-
BILE worl- known as vermont Illus
trated," and also assisted Col. Joseph
Battell in his Morgan Horse book.
Judge Bliss was twice married. His
first wife was Miss Myra Mitchell of
Providence, R. l., who died in 1900. In
1902 he married Miss Mabel A. Kingsley
of this village, who survives him. He
also leaves a brother who lives in
Bethel.
The funeral of Judge Bliss was held
at his late home on Washington street
at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.
Prayers were said by Rev. D. H. Cork
ran of the Methodist church, after which
exGov. E. j. Ormsbee spoke feelingly
of Judge Bliss. Judge Seneca Hasel
ton of the Supreme court gave touch
ing tribute to the memory of the de-
ceased as did also Charles l. Button.
The floral offerings were many and
beautiful. The honorary bearers were
Judge Seneca Haselton of Burlington,
ex-Gov. E. ]. Ormsbee of Brandon.
Marvelle C. Webber of Rutland, P. M.
Melden of Rutland, States Attorney
F. w. Tuttle of Vergennes and Judge
f. c. Dyer of Salisbury. The bearers
We're Frank L. Fish of Vergennes,
Murray Bourne of Bristol, C. l. Button,
Ira H. LaFleur, A. w. Dickens and
l.. c. Russell, all members of the Ad-
Olson County bar During the funeral
all the business places in the village
were closed out of respect to the de-
ceased The burial took place in the
West cemetery.