Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-30
United States Court Holds
Night Session Out Of
Respect to Oskaloosan
FRIENDS GATHER
TO HEAR EULOGIES
Lawyers Tell of Traits of
Character of Decedent;
Soldier and Statesman

Many friends of the late Major John
Fletcher Lacey Of Oskaloosa, gathered
In the federal court house last even
ing to honor the memory of the we'll
known lawyer, statesman and soldier.
Numerous nice expressions eulogistic
of the deceased Iowan were made by
his fellow members Of the legal pro-
fession and fellows In arms. The exer-
cises were solemn and impressive;
serving to emphasize the many traits
of character, and endowments of mind
and person that the we'll known form
Ell congressman was possessed of, and
the high feeling or regard with which
he wak held by friends and acquaint-
ances.
Eulogies of the departed Oskaloosan
were pronounced by men Who had
practiced law with him at the bar;
men who fought and marched with him
during the strife in the early sixties
when north and south were pitted
against each other; men who op-
posed him politically but admired
him as man in a. way that
showed the appreciation Of we'll or
dered life and the desire to honor one
who earned his fellows honor and
esteem.
There were among those who spoke
his praise q neighbor from his own
home city and fellow lawyer. A form
or political opponent from another city
was to have spoken and through con-
fusion of the time set for the exer-
cises was forced to leave the city after
making the trip here, because his ar
rangements had been made for the al
ternoon and the night was engaged
elsewhere. A fellow lawyer, but of OPP
posite political faith residing in Of
tumwa, added his words of eulogy for
one with whom he honestly differed.
but admired to the point that he
sought the counsel and cherished the
friendship of the decedent. A fellow
lawyer of Osceola whose friendship
covered q great many years and who
paid glowing tribute to the man In
John F. Lacey. An Ottumwa lawyer
friend whose acquaintance with the de-
parted began In 1870 and grew into the
ripest and warmest friendship, paid
his mead of regard to the various traits
of character that made Major Lacey
stand out prominently among men. A
fellow in arms-a major in another
Iowa regiment who was much in Major
Lacey's company during the sixties,
dwelt at length on John F. Lacey the
soldier, and recounted his military life.
Lastly, the court paid it's tribute in a
few words Of eulogy that brought
out certain traits of the man; the law
yer: the soldier; the statesman and
humanitarian as we'll as the patriot.
Dewitt Tenders Praise.
Many little incidents both OF hum
orous character and Of kind to illus
trate the many phases Of Major Lacey
were recounted by those who spoke,
His fellow townsman James Dewitt Of
Oskaloosa, told of John F. Lacey, the
lawyer; the public spirited citizen Of
whom city vas proud. He referred
t. his wonderful literary attainments
and his penchant for always being
busy. The speaker said that the de-
cedent never stopped work; that he
found his rest and recreation in q
change of occupation one of which was
literature in which he was very learn
ed. He stated that the word of Major
Lacey, the lawyer, when given in
agreement to fellow lawyer, was as
good as any mans bond and was &C
cepted az such by his fellow practi-
TONERS at the bar.
No Political Accident.
John W. Lewis paid glowing trib-
ute to the memory Of his departed
friend whom he said he knew for a
quarter of a century and learned to
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