Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-07-05
DEATH OF GRIEF JUSTICE
FULLER.

In fu!filment of the oft-exprcssed
wish that he might end his long life III
the very room where his wife brealhed
her last, six years ago, the venerable
chief Justice of the United States
Melville w. Fuller, died suddenly OF
heart disease in Sorrento, Me-, early
Yesterday morning, aged II years.
With the justice when he died were
his daughter Mrs. Nathaniel Francis, OF
Washington; his granddaughter, Miss
Aubrey Francis. and Rev. James f.
Freeman. of Minneapolis, Il neighDor
and friend OF the family. Justice Full
Ter had not shown any symptoms OF
illness. Sunday he attended the
Church OF the Redecmcr (EpiscopaD.
When Justice Fuller retired Sunday
night he was in excellent spirits, and
not the slightest indication that there
was serious trouble with his heart was
observed.
Mrs. Francis was awakened about
$40 clock by Il feeble cry from her
father. Upon looking at him and
hearing his words, Il am feeling very
ILL.," she realized that he was III Il
serious condition. DR.. Phelps hurried
over the three-miIc stretch Of road in
an automobile, but failed to arrive be-
fore his patient had passed beyond the
reach Of medical aid.
Death came very peacefully, and he
retained his faculties until the end, rec
ognizing those about him.
Chief Justice Fuller had been sum-
NOR resident of Sorrento for II years.
He went there from Chicago on June
% last, and since that time had been
staying at the Mainstay, as his sum
mcr home WIS called.
The funeral services will he held at
the Church OF the Rcdccmcr tomorrow
afternoon. Intermcnt will be ut Chi
cago, probably on Friday.
Melville Weston Fuller, chief justice
of the United States Supreme Court,
was born in Augusta, Me-, Feb
rrlary II, 1888. He received his
early education in Augusta and
later attended Bowdoin College,
where he was graduated in 1888.
After graduating young Fuller
studied law in Bangor, Me-, and later
attended lectures atthc Harvard Law
School, and was admitted to the bar IN
1855. In 1886, he moved TO Chicago,
where he practiced law till 1855. Chief
Justice Fuller was lifelong democrat.
while in Illinois he took prominent
plrt in politics, being member OF the
5 ate constitutional convention in 1867
and member of the legislature from
1864 to 1865. He was Il delegate to
the democratic national con entlons OF
1868. 1872, 1876 and 1880. On April
so, 1889, he was appointed by Presl-
dent Cleveland chief justice. The ap-
pointment was confirmed on July 20,
and he took office on October S. As he
had served through the session Of the
Supreme Court for the present year,
his % years on the bench were prac-
tically complete. giving him the. third
longest term in the history Of that tri-
bunal. Chief Justice Waite, who was
succeeded by Fuller. served IA years.
Mr.. Fuller's first wife was Calista O.
Reynolds, whom he married in 1855.
On May 80, 1866, he married Mary Z.
Coolbaugh, daughter of William Cool
laugh, in Chicago. His second wife,
" was born in Burlington, Ia, on
August 10, 1915, died on August H..
1904, at her summer home in Sorrento,
Me. Six married daughters and a son
survive the chief justice, one of the
daughters (Mrs. Jane Fuller Francis)
bo,-;n, haon with him when he died.