New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-06
JUDGE DILLON dies
IN HIS SD YEAR
Well Known Jurist and
Lawyer Succumbs to
Attack of Grip.
EARNED DISTINCTION
AS GOULD'S COUNSEL
An Authority on Municipal Cor.
porations, He Helped Con.
solidate Greater City.

John F. Dillon, former Judge, author'y
on municipal corporations and counsei 10
Jay Gould, died yesterday in his eighty
third year at the home OF his daughter
in-law, Mrs. John +. Dillon, West To
ST. An attack of grip caused death.
A native Of this state. Judge Dillon
started his career in the West and did
not return here until he reached middle
age. One son survives him. with MS
daughter-in-law and her three children.
He was born in Montgomery County,
n. Y, on Christmas Day, 1881. and was
educated at Iowa University, and begin
ming medical practice Immediately AFTER
his graduation. Six months or II were
enough and he took up law. TWO years
of study gained him admission to the
bar, and few weeks later he was maze
Prosecuting Attorney OF Scott county
with a salary of $3.50 year. on the
strength OF which he got married the next
year. At the age of twenty-seven ne was
elected Judge OF the District Court OF the
18th District OF Iowa. He served for many
years on the bench. getting an appoint
ment from President Grant as judge or
a United States Circuit Court. He wrote
several books. including Municipal Cor
poratlons," 1.-THE Removal Of Causes
Municipal Bonds" and four volumes Oh
Circuit Court reports.
In 1879 he became professor OF real es-
tate and equity jurisprudeRce In the La"
School of Columbia University, where he
served for three years.
Aa that mart OF MS
career which made his name most
familiar TO the general public. He opened
an office for the practice OF law IN New
York, and was retained as general coun-
sci for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, the
Texas Pacific Railroad and the western
Union Telegraph Company. He was mus
the chief legal adviser OF Jay Gould when
that master Of finance was at the height
OF his extraordinary career and, OF
course, acted in the chief lawsuits In whicn
the Gould corporations became involved.
He was also engaged In many other cases
! in which corporations and corporation law
were concerned.
! He was closely identified with some
! important municipal interests OF this city,
/ being one Of the commissioners who pre-
pared the original charter OF the city on
the consolidation OF the various munici-
palities into Greater New York. lie was
/ for a time personal counsel for Bro D
I Coler. when the latter was Controller oil
the city, and as such made powerful
! attack upon the Ramapo water CON
spirators and their attempted raid upor
the city treasury.
Judge Dillon had a suburban home a.
Far Hills, near Bernardsville, y. j.. be
sides a house In this city. He was a mem
Der OF the Union League. University
LAWYERS and other clubs. He was
member of the Institute of international
Law. the Association for the Reform anc
Codification of the Law OF Nations the
Bar Association OF the City OF New YORK
the State Bar Association and the Ameri'
can Bar Association. of the last of which
he was president in 1892.
He suffered a grievous bereavement IN
July. 1898. His wife and daughter, Mrs
oliver, had sailed for France on tn'
steamer Bourgogne. That vessel was
wrecked near Cape Sable, and nearly oOl
passengers were lost, among them Mrs
Dillon and Mrs. oliver. Judge Dillon was
al the time confined TO his bed with a
broken leg, but he insisted upon getting
out at once and going TO Halifax. There
he chartered a steamer. and FOR seVeral
DAYS cruised about the spot where the
steamer had gone down, searching Tor
the bodies OF his wife and daughter
which. however. were never found.