East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-03-29

Washington, Mar. 29.-David Jo-
siah Brewer. associate justice of the
supreme court of the United States.
died last night at 1880 o'clock of a
stroke of apopleXy. His death oc-
Cured before he could be carried to
his bed. Mrs. Brewer was with him
when the end came. Justice Brewer
was 7S years old.
The end was altogether unexpected.
Although he had not been feeling well
for the last few days, the aged jurist
entity in good health and spirits. He
was in equally good spirits at dinner
and spent the evening reading.
shortly before 10 o'clock he retir-
cd to his room and within a few mo-
ments Mrs. Brewer heard a heavy fall
and went to investigate. She found
her husband prone on the bath room
floor. He did not regain conscious
ness and died before a physician, has
tily summoned, could reach the house.
The two daughters of the aged jurist,
Mrs. James F. Karrich and Mrs. H.
J. Jetmore. We're summoned at once,
but reached the residence too late.
Came from Kansas.
Justice Brewer came to the su-
preme court of the United States from
the federal court in Kansas. He was
the second oldest member of the
court, Justice Harlan only being his
senior. He was regarded as the most
democratic of all the members of the
court most affable, approachable and
accommodating He was the one man
on the bench who had proof copies
OF his opinions prepared for the
newspapers and this he did consist
entity.
another characteristic of the jurist
was he never took any of the time of
the court or the public in announcing
his opinions He reached the con-
clusion probably many years ago that
the audience in the court room was
so extremely limited it was a pure
waste of time to read opinions there.
He would give in few words his con-
clusions and then hand down the
proof sheets of his opinion, always
completely arranged.
western man, and his sympathies We're
always with the west. He was deeply
versed in corporation law and will
be missed immensely during the franz
ing of the opinions of the supreme
court on the momentous questions
concerning the Standard Oil and the
tabacco cases now under consider
alton.
Fond of Outdoor Life.
In his earlier days Justice Brewer
camped regularly'in the Rocky noun
tains and was fond of outdoor life.
He was a member of the old Field
family, being a nephew of the late
Justice Stephen J. Field and Cyrus w.
Field. Justice Brewers death raises
serious question as to the action
of the court regarding the standard
Oil and American Tobacco company
suits, and it is not improbable, since
there now remains but seven justices
to pass upon them, Justice Moody not
having participated in the trials by
reason of continued illness.
Justice Brewer was the one MEM
Der of the supreme court who was
in almost constant demand as lee
turer and after dinner speaker. He
was an orator of unusual ability With
a picturesque parsonage, a rich voice
and a command of strong and pow
erful English, he always held his au-
dience until his last word had died
away. He expressed his opinions
forcibly and clearly on any subject
unless, for some reason, it might af-
feet the pending decision of the su
preme court.
Born in Asia Minor.
David ]. Brewer was born in
Smyrna, Asia Minor, June 30, 1887,
the son of Rev. Josiah and Amelia