Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-01-21
JUDGE JAMES |.
MARTIN MEETS
SUDDEN DEATH

Montpelier, Jan. H.-Judge James Loren
Martin Of Brattleboro. United States
district Judge for Vermont. died sud-
denly this morning just before eight
o'clock at the Montpelier & Wells River
railroad station on Main street. He was
about to board the train for st. Johnsbury
with Frederick S. Plat, clerk Of the Uni
ted states court in Vermont. Owing to a
misunderstanding az to the time Of the
train ne had been hurrying to the station.
Just as he reached the platform he fell
over backward. dying In about FIVE min
utes. He was on his way to st. Johns
bury to hold a naturalization court.
Judge Martin had been a guest here of
Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Rowland. while
holding the naturalization court on Tues
day. Mrs. Rowland and Judge Martins
wfe's are sisters
Judge Martins death leads to a serious
complication in the suit of Spring and
the minority stockholders of the Rutland
railroad versus p. w. Clement and the
majority stockholders, involving three and
half million dollars. Several volumes Of
testimony We're taken, and Judge Martin
had announced that he would give his de-
OF several months for someone else to
digest this testimony.
Dr. Julius Dewey and Health Officer
William Lindsay of Montpelier were sum
moned to attend him. but did not arrive
until after his death. The remains were
taken to the home of Fred A. Rowland.
James Loren Martin, 6s years Of age,
was born in IAndgrove. six miles from
M dorr
fourth son Of James and Lucy Gray
Martin He was born In the same house
as his father and on next to the same
| day of the year Brought up on the
paternal farm at the age of IA he was
presented $40 and the control of his own
time and with this he started to make his
| own way in the world He worked his
way through school by chopping wood
by the cord and peeling bark for tan
neries. At intervals he studied law. In
| 1867 he entered the office of Judge H. H.
Wheeler and continued his studies as
opportunity permitted until the next year
when he entered the law school at
Albany N. Y. and graduated from
there in May. 1863
He was admitted TO the Bennington
county bar at the June term, 1869, and
|
fall or that Year. For 10 years he
practiced law alone and then entered a
partnership with A. E. Cudworth, who
is still a practicing attorney In that
town This partnership was continued
for only one year In January. 1882 with
J. G. Eddy, now of Sioux Falls, s. D.,
he purchased the law business Of the
late c. n. Davenport and conducted It
Co.
Martin & Eddy. Later George B. Hit
now dead. was admitted to the firm and
in a few years a new firm consisting
of MIR. Martin and F. l.. Waterman. now
superior court Judge under the name
of Waterman & Martin. was formed
Judge Martins public official career
began with his election as a representa-
tive from Londonderry in 1874. He was
returned in 1876 and IN 1878. In this tern,
he was chosen speaker of the House or
the second, ballot, When returned for the
fourth time in 1880 he was given the
fattering compliment Of a unanimous
election to the speakershp. His fifth
election in 1882 resulted In his agar
being elected speaker and on the secont
ballot
He represented Brattleboro in the Leg.
islature in 1892 and declined to be q
candidate for the speak ership. He serve,
that term as chairman of the judiciary
committee and was second on the com
, mittee on ways and means. He was ap
pointed State tax commissioner in lSS
and again In 1892.
Judge Martin became active in repub
lican politics and in 1897 President VIII
liam Mc kinley in whose interest Judg
Martin had taken most prominent par
: in the State appointed him United
States district attorney for Vermont
While holding this office he was espe
: cially aggressive against the Illegal i'm
t migration of Chinese over the Vernon
border. completely wiping out the bust
ness that had flourished for years. Fo
this work he was highly compliments
by the department OF justice.
He as serving his third term Whel
in October, 1906. the late Judge Hoy
, II. Wheeler. in whose office Judge Mar
tin had first studied law having retired
as United States judge, President Thco
dore Roosevelt appointed him to that of
flee. During his tenure of this office hi
reputation grew rapidly and he call
ed upon to preside at some exceptional,
important cases and in all of them hi
fairness and legal acumen We're widel
and most favorably commented upon. II
y presided at the famous sugar fraud case
= in New York in 1910 When he concluded
the reading of his charge to the jur.
every lawyer on both sides congratulate
him. In this trial. marked by its bitter
y ness, In which the most persistent fight
r ers OF the bar of New York We're en-
gagged. not a single exception to hi
4 charge was noted, an unprecedente
4 thing In such an important case
n Judge Martin was a partner In the lun,
. Der firm OF Holden & Martin Of Brattle
c boro and In the reorganized Hooker, Cor
r ser & Mitchell company, manufacturer
. of overalls and garments He was 70
s years a member Of the prudential com
O mittee of the Incorporated school distric
He was president of the board of trustee
of the First Eniversalist society of Brat
boro Savings bank and an incorporation {
bpro savings bank an an incorporation c
the Rrattleboro Trust company, He ha
held directorships In the Central Vernon
Railroad company, the Vermont Mutus
!. Fire Insurance company of Montpeie
!. and the American Fidelity company c
g the same city
l., Judge Martin was married twice, HI
|. first wife was Miss Della f. Howard
q to them but none of them In living. Mr.
4. Martin died December a. 1881. On Jar
s. uary ~, 1894 he married Miss Jessie Lille