Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-15

atoms by way Of introduction to the
| work This little book is an index to
his methods, and the work upon 1t was
undoubtedly the inspiration which led
to his monumental work on municipal
corporations which was given to the
world In 1872. Moreover it was the hrst
thoroughly annotated copy of the writ
ten laws produced in this state and one
of the first in any state.
Coming to the supreme bench he
| became a member Of what has been
called the old Court composed beside
| himself Of Judges Wright, Cole, Lowe;
and these four We're the men who
| brought the court into prominence and
placed it among the leading tribunals
Of the country. 1t is generally con-
| coded that the state never had
stronger court than during this Pc
| riod, and 1t is everywhere agreed that
Judge Dillon added great luster to the
| work Of that tribunal. So much has
| been said regarding Judge Dilon's work
upon this bench that nothing more
need be added. His opinion, 303 in
number, appear in Volumes Is to % in
elusive of the Iowa Reports.
my chief purpose IS TO consider his
| life from little different angle and
to present something Of the human side
of the man. Before serving his full
| term. but after a reelection, Judge
Dillon was appointed, in the fall of 1859,
| by President Grant. United States cir
cult judge for the Eighth judicial cir
| cult, which position he held with great
credit for ten years, when he voluntar-
| lily resigned and moved to New York
City where he lived al the time OF his
death. During his term on the circuit
| bench he continued his literary efforts,
| publishing the reports Of his own cir
cult court, four volumes, If ! remem-
| Der correctly; and ne also during this
| period became a lecturer in the law
| department Of the state university at
Iowa City, his subjects being federal
practice and medical jurisprudence.
Three Of the sitting members OF THIS
bench sat at his feet and listened to mis-
illuminating lectures. During this same
period he prepared and delivered a
number Of addresses some OF which
have been published-all showing deep
research, broad culture and great &C
curacy. In preparing his work on mu-
nicipal corporations he examined and
carefully read every decision OF every
court in this country bearing upon the
subject, a most unusual performance
and vet typical Of the nan. On going
to New York he became law lecturer
in Columbia College, and also gave lee
ture courses at Yale University, the
latter Of which have been published
under the title of Laws and Jurispru-
dence of England and Alneric1-a most
, Illuminating and interesting discussion
, and defense of our legal system with
special reference to itsErowth and der
} ivation and a forecast 1T tho future
Quotation was made from Dillon
showing his conception of The future OF
the law, and also a quotation showing
his fondness for the state in which NJ
> spent his childhood and young man
; hood; and then this quotation Of the
dedication Of his published lectures:
The years of professional studies
circuit journeyings, ana judicial Eitin
erancies. whereof this book Is in some
measure the outcome, as we'll as tn
time required for its preparation, have
been taken from your society and com
panionship. The only reparation pos
sible is to lay these imperfect fruit
upon your lap. AS to you. indeed, the.
, Justly belong, this formal dedication
: serves alike to accredit your title ant
to manifest my grateful sense OF obi
cation and affectionate regard.
This was, of course, addressed to hi
wife. who went down with Frencl
liner on a voyage across the ocean
! few wears ago. In writing of his home
a domestic ruin, with its light gone ou
: he quoted:
e o palace desolate!
: O house of houses, once so richly light
= o palace empty and disconsolate!
e Thou lamp. Of which exiting uished ]
the light.
t 0 palace, whilom day, that now ar
e night.
s Thou oughtst to fall, and I to die, sine
!, she
n Is gone who held up both in sover
n eighty"
:. Writing to an old friend during tn
b closing years of his life Judge Dillo
Y said:
: THE closing inquiry in your lettel
: whether it Is not time for us to leaV
Y, off courts, the law and the turmoil an
# burden of professional life, opens
Is question which constantly recurs SER
o ously demanding solution, but on
= which IS too large to enter upon her
e I hardly know what is best to do.
p some times gloomily think that old ae
il lis almost an unmixed misfortune, an
y that there is nothing Cor one OF
= years to do but keep drifting on an
l. on. till fate settles what the man ca
m not himself decide. Idleness, TO IA
ID would be intolerable and as much as
) love books, I fear If left with the
is only, 1 should feel as Gibbon expresse
h It that I would be alone In Paradise
And having referred to Gibbon, pc
If. ] haps the conclusion of his delight
Of autobiography best expresses my ON
or feelings. enjoy the 'aurumnal felicit
ne of life, but reluctantly have to obser'
lis that two causes, the abbreviatton
g. time and the failure Of hope with n
at the former rather than the latter) TIM
Oh with a browner shade the evening
Sc life' But I am not unhappy and ha
to no dread Of the future, and as Land
.se says or Pericles. ON ready when t
e. time comes to extend my hand to t
wa urn and take without reluctance
BIS hesitation what IL the !ot Of all:
LIS In closing his tribute to Judge d
led Ion, the chief justice said:
he "These Incidents and quotafio
10. throw a flood Of light upon the ttr
,ar character Of the man whom we hon
ge, today, and while a most imperft
Dr. tribute to an old preceptor they mi
m be made to do duty as an expression
md my regard for one Of the create
use 1urists Iowa has ever produced-Aim
10 who would have graced any benck
18th author OF great renown, a lecturer a
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