The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-07

bravery he received the medal OF homer ,
and was afterward brevetted n Briga-
d~ier-General S..ortly after this his
health failed and he went to Annapolis
Hospital. He failed to become strong
enough for duty, so he resigned and
went back to Owego.
In the fall of 1862 he felt strong
enough to go to the front again. and he
was appointed Colonel OF a negro regi-
ment. lie held this post until the sur
render of Lee. when he again resigned
and came to New York city as a mem
Der Of the law firm Of Benedict, Burr &
Benedict. He lived in Brooklyn with his
family then.
In the fall OF 1866 he was appointed
United States Attorney for the Eastern
District OF New York. His work In pre-
venting revenue tax frauds and convict
ing those guilty of them won him high
fame. To help his work lie drew up
and caused to be passed the conspiracy
act, whereby two or more persons guilty
of defrauding the Federal Government
can be punished by imprisonment. This
Law, with one slight change. stu stands.
Later. because 60, 900. 900 gallons of
distilled spirits was being sod and only
about $500. 900 gallons WI. paying "A
tax, he caused to b. passed n aw tax
ing EACH distillery for 80 per cent. Of is
capacity. This caused the disappearance
of many OF the fraudulent dsstillers.
In 1873 he resigned as United States
Attorney and gave himself up TO his pri-
vate practice.
In 1851 GOV. Cornell appointed him 10
all temporarily "A place on the bench OK
| the New York Court OF Appeals WHEN
Judge Andrews was assigned as Chief
Judge and he reluctantly accepted. He
sat for one year, during which he wrote
many opinions. the most important OF
which was in the well known Story VS..
the elevate railroad case in which the
court determined that the railroad COM
pany was bound to pay damages 10
abutting owners for injuries suffered by
the erection of an elevated railroad in
front Of their premises.
Cen. Tracy maintained an active con-
nection with Republican politics In
Kings county. and with Gen. James
Jourdan and SilRs II. butcher practi-
cally controlled the organization. The
trio OF leaders were known ~ the three
Graces." Gen. Tracy Was nominated for
Mayor of Brooklyn in 1851 on condition
that he would withdraw II he could unite
the warning factions, and after bringing
about harmony he retired IN favor OF
Seth Low.
Made Head Of the Navy.
Hts law practice and political work
engaged him until 1859, when President
Harrison appointed him SECRETARY of the
Navy. He was active in building the
battlcships Massachusetts, Indiana and
Oregon. and the first arnIored cruisers,
New York and Brooklyn. Al the close
Of the Harrison Administration Gen.
Tracy resumed his private practice in
New York,
Probably the mos, conspicuous lawsuit
I'm which Gen. Tracy took part was that
-. a.. ..I.1,,,al rl,n,-Ilnarhar trial IN
1876. He was one of the counsel in the
defence of the Rev. Henry Ward BeeCher.
His opening speech for Mr.. Beecher was
one OF his ahlest efforts and his cross
examination of witnesses was stamped
by an a~lertness. knowledge and per-
sistence that attracted much attention.
Gen. Tracy was a schoolmate of the
late Thomas G. Platt and they were al
ways close personal and political friends,
He was mead OF the law firm OF Tracy.
Roardman & Plat, but retired from the
firm in 1900 and became a member Of
Coudert Bros. Mr.. Platt. his former
partner. was Frank II. Plat, son OF
Thomas G. Plat.
one Of his most conspicuous services
was performed in 1895, when he acted
as chairman of the appointed
by Gov, Morton to draw UP "A charter
for Greater New York,
At one time he was a famous breed r
OF horses. hut upon becoming Secretary
Of the Navy he sold his stable for $40
600.
His energy remained with hin late IN
life. ON his eighty-tlfth birthday he
went to his law office at . Rector street
and put in a full day.
Gen. Tracy was a member of the
Military Order OF the Loyal Legion and
the G. A.. r., and belonged to the Union
League and Metropolitan clubs, or re-
cent years he had given up many OF
his corporation directorships.