The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-01-21
JUDGE J. L. MARTIN DEAD
United States District Judge Dropped
Dead Thursday While Boarding

Montpelier, Jan. la--United States
District Judge James L. Martin, IS, OF
Brattleboro, died suddenly OF heart
disease at 7:i0 o'clock this morning in
the Montpelier a Wells River railroad
station. He was hurrying from a
street car to the railroad station a
short distance away, when a pallor
came over his face and he fell back
ward TO the ground Death ensued
within two or three minutes.
Judge Martin came here Tuesday to
hold naturalization court. Yesterday
he presided over a similar court in
Barre, and today he was going to st.
Johnsbury for the same purpose. The
train on which he was to go leaves
the Montpelier a. Wells River station
at $40 o'clock. Judge Martin thought
he was 10 20 on Central Vermont
train and so went to the Central YER
mont station, expecting TO leave at
s:45.
United States Marshall Arthur p.
Carpenter of Brattleboro, and Clerk
Frederick s. Platt Of Rutland, who
were TO 20 with Judge Martin, went to
the Montpelier & Wells River station.
As train time approached and Judge
Martin did not arrive they suspected
that he had made a mistake and tele-
phoned TO the Central Vermont sta
ton. locating Judge Martin there.
Judge Martin at once boarded a
street ear, arriving at the Montpelier
& Wells River station just as the train
arrived. Clerk Platt and c. Def. Ban
croft met the street car TO take Judge
Martins baggage, and they were has
tening to the train when the fatal
stroke came. Mr.. Carpenter had al
ready boarded the train.
As quickly as possible Judge Martin
was carried into the station and DR.,
julius Dewey, his brother-in-law, and
DIR. William Lindsay were summoned,
but life was extinct when they arrived.
The body was taken to the home OF
Fred A. Rowland on State street,
where Judge and Mrs. Martin had
been staying, Mrs. Martin being a
sister Of Mrs. Rowland.
James Loren Martin, 6S, was born in
Landgrove, in Bennington county, SIX
miles from South Londonderry, Sept.
13, 1876. He was the fourth son OF
James and Lucy Gray Martin, his
father being farmer and prominent
man in his section of the state, serving
in both branches of the legislature and
as town clerk. Judge Martin was born
in the house where his father was
born.
Brought up on the paternal farm, he
was thoroughly Injured to habits of
industry and independence, and at the
age of IA was presented $40 and the
control of his own time, which consti-
tuted his sole outfit with which he
faced the future. He worked his way
through school and when not in
school engaged in the bracing toll of
chopping wood by the cord and in
peeling bark for tanneries. At inter-
walls he read law and in 1867 he enter
ed the law Office of Judge Hoyt H..
Wheeler, then Of Jamaica, whom he
was destined to succeed as United
States Judge. In 1868 he entered the
Albany law school, finishing his stud
les there in May, 1869.
Admitted to the Bennington county
bar at the June term, 1869, Mr.. Martin
opened an Office in South Londonderry
in the fall of the same year. Until
September, 1879, he practiced profess
sionally without any associate, and
then formed a partnership with Addi-
son +. Cudworth of South London
derry, who is still a practicing lawyer
of that village. That partnership con-
tinued year.
In January. 1882, with j. 6. Eddy.
now of Sioux Falls, S. d., as an associ-
ate, he purchased the law business OF
the late Charles N. Davenport Of
Brattleboro, and moved to Brattleboro.
In 1883 he formed a partnership with
Eleazer l.. Waterman, now one of the
superior judges Of Vermont.
Judge Martins public political ca
reer began with his election as repre-
sentative from Londonderry in the leg
islature Of 1874. He served on the
committee of education. In 1876 he
was returned to the Legislature from
Londonderry, serving as chairman OF
the committee on elctions and as a
member of the judiciary committee.
He was sent a third time in 1878 and
was chosen speaker OF the house on
the second ballot. In 1880, being re-
turned for the fourth time, he received
the compliment of a unanimous cleo
ton to the speakership. Such an event
had never occurred before in the his
tory Of Vermont. In 1882 he was
again returned and the popular appre-
citation Of his services was tsrther sig
nified by third election to the speak
ership.
He represented Brattleboro in the
legislature Of 1892, but declined to be
a candidate for speaker He was
made chairman Of the Judiciary COM
mitfee. and was second on the ways
and means committee. He was APP
pointed state tax commissioner in 1883
and again in 1892.
Judge Martin became active in Re