The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-10-18
JUSTICE HARLAN DEAD.
DEATH CLAIMS OLDEST MEN,
BER OF SUPREME COURT.
Venerable Jurist Bids Farewell To
Life Surrounded by Family In
Washington Home-Ill Lees Than
Week-Notable Career in Poll
tics and Church.


Washington. Oct. 15.--"Bood- bye.
I am sorry I kept you all waiting so
long With these words. Associate
Justice John NJ. Harlan. of the Su-
preme Court OF the United States.
acclaimed the greatest constitutional
authority of the day. once con-
spicious figure in national and Ken
lucky Republican politics, and long
q leader In Presbyterian councils.
passed away early today. He had
been III less than a week.
The famous jurist will be buried
In the National Cemetery. at Arling-
ton. or at Rock Creek Cemetery here.
following a service next Tuesday. at
the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church. Of which he was an active
member. The Supreme Court will
take formal action on his death
Monday and adjourn Immediately as
q mark Of respect.
IL was while on the Bench Nom
day that Justice Harlan first felt the
attack Of bronchitis. He asked then
for such simple remedies as were at
hand. out remained on the Bench.
BY Tuesday considerable fever was
manifest. On Wednesday ne was
markedly weaker and his condition
grew worse. although II was not un-
derstood at the Supreme Court that
his condition was at all alarming.
Yesterday he seemed a little better.
His son. John n. Harlan, Of Chica-
90. lawyer. was summoned here,
however. and another son, DR.. Rich
ard c. Harlan. travelling in Europe.
was notified. Last night ne grew
worse and death came at sis o'clock
this morning.
His death was a great shock to his
judicial associates. They had not un-
osystood the extent OF the Illness.
- had had come hronsh,al assctisns
Tor nearly ten years. resulting In
some degree from his custom of GO
ing about Washington In all sorts of
weather. and Of usually making the
Journey to and from the Court on
the platforms OF street cars. regard
less OF rain or cold.
Justice Harlan's great ambition
was to serve until next June when
he would have exceeded the service
Of any other man who sat on that
bench. As II was his service was
longer than that of any other Justice
except Chief Justice Marshall and
Associate Justice Stephen q. Fields.
Fields was the longest service 81
years. months and 10 days; Mar
shalPs % years. months and 6
days; Harlan's 33 years. 10 months
and days. Justice Story was on
the Bench SO years. . months. 20
days. These are the only Justices
who have served their country on
the Bench for more than a gen.
Grafton.
Justice Harlan left a widow and
hve children. Four OF the children
were at his bedside: The included:
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
James s. Harlan. John Maynard rar-
Ian. OF Chicago and the Misses Laura
and Huth Harlan. who live at the
Harlan residence here. The third
son. the Rev. Richard ID. Harlan.
formerly president OF Lake Forest
University. is touring Europe.
The career OF Justice Harlan was
unique In the development OF an
ordinary country politician into one
OF the greatest legal intellects OF the
day. Justice Harlan was Otter ac-
claimed the greatest constitutional
authority Of his day. IL was the late
Justice Brewer who said OF him:
II believe ne retires at night with
one hand IN the Constitution and
the other on the Bible. safe and
happy In a perfect faith in justice
and righteousness"
Justice Harlan has the signal dis
tinction OF going down To posterity
as Justice whose dissenting opin-
ions were more widely known than
those In which he Joined with the
majority OF the Court.
With the death OF Justice Harlan
the opportunity is given President
Taft to select during his single term
OF office Ave members OF the Su-
preme Court Bench. or majority.
In addition. President Taft has NAM
ed the Chief Justice OF the tribunal.