New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-17
Noted Corporation Law
yer and Sugar Man Vic
tim of Pleurisy.
FINANCIER AND
PHILANTHROPIST
Leader of Big Business Counsel
lors, Widely Known for Chari-
ties ard Public Spirit.


day at his home, 30 East Both st. He
was eighty-fve years old October "a,
and was in vigorous health until
week ago, when he was stricken with
pleurisy.
Mr. Parsons was one Of the first
great corporation lawyers, and in the
years of his greatest activity was con-
sidered as without a peer in handling
the legal affairs Of corporate enter
prise His most important work was
done as general counsel for the Ameri-
can Sugar Refining Company, a post
he filed from the formation Of the
company until January I. 1910.
His burden as legal adviser for the
Havemeyer concern was no light one,
but he carried IL through various litl-
cations. which eliminated in his IN
dictment and trial, with others, three
years ago on the charge Of having
conspired against interstate trade.
The sugar trust" was incorporated
in 1891, year after the Sherman law
had been enacted. I'm 1892 the +. {.
knight Company, Of Philadelphia, and
other concerns were purchased. The
government then tried TO disrupt the
combination, and thereby gave Mr..
Parsons the chance to WIN one Of his
most remarkable victories. In this
knight case-one of the first actions
brought under the new law-he argued
successfully before the United States
Supreme Court in 1895 and obtained
favorable decision.
He became a director OF the Ameri-
can Sugar Refining Company, which
post he relinqushed a few months al
ter he assigned as general counsel:
Sitting aya director in the councils Of
which Henry o. Havemeyer was presi-
dent, his suggestions were considered
as important as those OF his superior.
Indicted for Conspiracy.
Following the decision in the knight
case. the trust" went serenely on I'M
I'll the weighing frauds were dscoy-
cred few years ago. Restitution was
forced, and disclosures resulted IN the
indictment for conspiracy of Mr.. Par
sons, Washington b. Thomas, who had
become president, and others. Before
the case came 70 trial the general
counsel and other important figures in
the trust" had been superseded and
the last links that bound the orgsniza-
ton to the old Havemeyer regime were
severed. Mr.. Parsons testified before
a Congressional committee in 1911, de-
Tended combinations, and insisted that
the remedy for monopoly was more
monopoly.
Then, early in 1912 came the trial
which would have broken the spirit
and physical strength Of many H
younger man. For two weeks the still
vigorous lawyer, his keenness un-
dimmed by his years, listened to the
assaults of the prosecution aimed d.
rectly at him. He was accused of
being guilty of instigating the rein
ing company's alleged breaking of the
tenth commandment, but he bore Up
until the time cane to give his YER
sion Of the case, protested when ms
attorney asked for a recess from the
ordeal and then left the stand in
glow.
you have heard of the man who
discovered the fountain of youth,
was his reply TO the congratulations
showered upon him; mot even an in
dictment like this can kill him.
But the end was not yet, and as De
Lancey Nicoll summed up for the de-
fence, referred 70 his long and hon
orable career. and asked the jury how
they could bring his gray hairs IN DIS
honor to the grave, Mr.. Parsons lost
his marvellous self-control. and shook
with sobs.
Then followed the tedious wait for
the Jury to bring in verdict. FOR
hours the vote stood eight TO four for
80 tia !
noritv were won over, but there was
gtiil one who considered the defend
ants guilty when the jury announced,
after thirteen hours, that it could not
reach an agreement. II was a dlsap-
monument 10 the defence. but Mr..
Parsons had expected a quick verdict,
and after tresome wait had yielded
TO fatigue and gone home.
The father Of Mr.. Parsons was an
FnqIishman. who had married daugh-
ter of Governor Ebenezer Clark of Con-
necticut. John Edward was sent from
his birthplace in this city to private
school in Rye, and later entered New
York University with the class OF le4s.
He became a member of the council or
the university in 1867.
After graduation he studied law with
lanes W. Gerard and was admitted 20
practice i'm 1852. Two years later he
formed a partnership with Lorenzo b.
Shepard. father of Edward VI. Shepard,
with whom in later years he became as
ISOLATED. II was about this time that he
held his only public Office, when for
about six months he was Assistant DIS
trlct Attorney.
Later. with ALBION ?. Man, the firm OF
Man & Parsons was formed and contln-
ued for thirty years. In 1890 the firm
of Parsons. Shepard e. Ogden was or
ganized. later becoming Parsons, Clos
son & McIlvaine.
Many Public Interests.
In recent years he devoted practically
all his time 20 philanthropic institu-
lions which he had helped for years:
He founded the Woman's Hospital and
was its president lie served also as a
trustee Of Cooper Union and the Bank
for Savings. A partial list Of institu-
tons in which he was interested in
cludes the General Memorial Hospital
the Sigma Phi fraternity, American
Geological Society. National Academy
o. Design, American Museum Of Natu-
raj History, Metropolitan Museum Of
Art. New York Cancer Hospital, Pres
byterian Board of Home Missions and
the American Bible Society.
In 1900 the Bar Association elected
Mr.. Parsons president, and he had also
been president OF the City Club. as well
as a member of the Metropolitan. Cen
fury, University, Players and Riding
clubs and the Downtown Association.
Mr.. Parsons married twice Miss
Mary Dumesnil Mcllvaine in 1856 and
Mrs. Florence Van Cortlandt Bishop in
1901. Former Representative Herbert
Parsons is a son, and there are four
daughters living. In memory Of an
other he gave widely TO Lenox churches
and charities. Burial will be in Lenox
after the funeral in the Brick Presby-