The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-05-15
Lawyers Pay Tribute
Memorial For Jurist
From Tuesdays Daily.

From Tuesdays Daily. ...
Memorial exercises In honor OF the
late Judge Charles A. Willard of the
federal district court were held at
the opening session OF the present
term of that court In the Mankato
federal building late this afternoon.
The court room was well filed with
officials, attorneys. members of the
petit jury and others, making an az.
gregation of about one hundred. Judge
Page Morris of Duluth presided. 9th.
ers present were ]. M. Dickey of st.
Paul, assistant United States district
attorney; William II. Grimshaw of
Minneapolis, United States marshal;
George w. Wells of st. Paul, deputy
United States marshal; Charles L.
Spencer, clerk of the United States
district court; William j. Conway of
st. Paul, court crier:. Carl E. Brede-
son, Mankato, deputy clerk; Ben VIII
liams, w. ii. Anderson and John r.
Bowen, bailiffs. There was also a
good representation OF the Mankato
members of the bar. including Judge
A. r. Pau. Jean A. Flittie, B. C.
Taylor, s.. b. Wilson, Judge Lorin
Cray, III. l.. Schmitt, John ]. Regain
and others.
A memorial of the Blue Earth
County Bar association was read by
Jean A. Flittie. There were also adj
dresses by Judge Cray, MIR. Wilson
and Mr.. Schmitt. telling things that
they knew from personal contact with
the late distinguished jurist. The
memorial was as follows:
Memorial by Association.
May Il please the Court: On
behalf o. the Blue Earth County Bar
association the undersigned commit.
tee has prepared and now begs
leave to present TO this Court
memorial OF the life and public serv-
ices OF the Honorable Charles A.
Willard. late judge of this court,
who died In the city of Minneapolis,
this state, on the 18th day OF March,
1914. in the discharge OF his duties.
Charles Andrew Willard was
born in st. Johnsbury, Vermont,
May /. 1857. He was graduated
from Dartmouth college in the class
OF 1877. Two years thereafter he
gained his degree in law at the Bos-
ton Law school and Immediately be-
gan the practice of his profession
at his home town. In 1882 he came
to Minnesota, locating in the city
of st. Paul. Three years later he
moved to Minneapolis where he re-
manned an actiyS member OF the legal
profession till 1901 when he was
appointed an associate justice of
the supreme court OF the Philippine
Islands. Resigning this position
after a three years service, he re-
turned to Minnesota TO re-enter the
practice of the law. But one year
later he was again called to the
Philippines and served four years
more as an associate justice of the
supreme court. From. 1887 to 1901
he was law lecturer on the sub
ject OF bailments at the University
OF Minnesota. While in Manila he
learned the Spanish language and
re-wrote those portions OF the Span
ish code which were retained in the
Americanized version.
"He was a delegate from the Phil.
ippines TO the republican national
convention in 1904. On July 2. 1909,
he was appointed Judge of the
United States district court by his
personal friend, President Taft.
"He is survived by his widow,
who was Miss Charlotte Hastings
OF Minneapolis and two sons. Josiah,
IL years old. and Paul Hastings. 9
years old, and William J. Willard,
a brother, Of Sommerville, Mass.
Judge Willard was an eminent
and learned jurist, esteemed alike
by the bench and bar. AS a pre-
siding magistrate In the trial of
cases. he was fair and fearless. He
never spared himself but taxed his |
powers 10 the utmost. II Is per.
haps not too much to say that he !
fell a martyr TO his sense OF duty. |
He never shirked and gave TO all |
matters that came before him the
closest and most careful considera, |