The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-03-22
Prominent Dead Jurist is Re-
membered by Older Resi-
dents of This City.

NSllAo VI IIllo SIlJs
Death has taken Nicholas f.
WorthlngtOn, OF Peoria, H.. who
many years ago was fellow law
practitioner with John J. Davis. Of
this city, whose funeral took place
Wednesday Judge WorthinKtun
formerly lived here but went to III
lnols more than thirty years ago.
He married Miss Elizabeth Fowkcs.
sister OF Mrs. Russell f. Post and
Mrs. Mary G.. Coo Twin. OF this city
The Peoria Journal Of March ] 8 gives
the following account OF his death
and sketch OF his life:
Hon. Nicholas f. WOrthingtOn is
dead.
This announcement will be read
With genuine feeling Of regret not
only through Peoria. but all cen
trail Illinois Will shed silent tear
at the passing of the distinguished
jurist.
News OF his death Mt his home at
1874 Flora avenue at $50 o'clock
Tuesday night. was not unexpected
by members OF the family. and cit
liens generally. for 1t had been long
known that the aged citizen was
slowly. surely and steadily sinking
that death would soon claim him.
II is doubtful II any man in Peoria
was held In higher esteem or more
( generally and generously respected
than "NIck'"WorthIngton, as he was
ffamIlIarly known
HIa end was peaceful and came in
the presence Of his beloved wife and
his daughter. Mrs. Edward Clark. Of
this city, together with her husband.
For two months he had been bedfasi.
and with the age of SO years. 1t was
known that lie was making his last
fight and that In the end he must
lose.
Liked by An.
For more than half n century he
/ had been an honOred resident OF
Peoria. and many times had the
voters shown their confidence In him
by electing him TO positions OF trust,
In each one OF which he was true TO
the duties imposed His early career
Of school teacher fitted him for the
duties Of his later life. He was sent
to Congress from the old Tenth con-
gressional district in spite Of the fact
THAT 1t was heavily Republican dis
trlct.
His greatest honors were won on
the bench, where he held the position
OF circuit Judge as long as he wished
to remain. He positively refused q
denomination by the Democrats last
juno. and 1t WAS shortly after his re-
tirement that he commenced to fail
rapidly. Though his step was totter-
ing in his latter years on the bench
his mind lost none of its kepnness,
nor was his legal vision impaired In
the least. Six years ago he was sig
nally honored by the voters of Peoria
by non-partlsan election without
opposition
Before his election 10 the bench b.
was prominently considered as n can
didate for tile Democratic nomlna,
tl0n for governor.
''Silvrr TOnglIed Orator"
1t was before his election TO Con
gress that he won the title of 1.-The
silver tongued orator" that chung "a
him to the last. When in his prime
there was no ADLER orator than
Mick" WOrthington in the entire
state of Illinois and he was always in
demand for political and other
speeches. His fame in this regard
was Justly earned.
As testimonial to his eminent
fairness and legal acumen 1t can bc
stated that 1t was rare indeed that 4
declsion of Mr.. Worthington was
ever changed by the Illinois supreme
court. He knew tho law, and when
attorneys wanted decision on the
law alone they wanted Mr.. Worth
ington to pass on the matter His
belief in justice was most notice
able attribute. He held that the law
was as much for the unfortunate de-
PENDANT brought before him as 1t was
for the state that prosecuted.
1t has often been said Of Mr..
Worthington that on the bench no
knew no friend. no foe-he knew
only the law, and that law he con-
strued as he saw 1t regardless OF who
j 1t hit.
or the bench Mr. worthlngton
was a cOngenial wholesouled gentle
man 1t WIS pleasure TO mect-a
man who numbered his friends by
thousands.
He was a close student. persistent
reader. All through his life this was
one OF his striking characteristics.
When not busy he could almost In
varlably be found in his chambers
reading latest court decisions. mag
azines or the daily newspapers. Fe
kept posted on all matters.
Aids Strike Arbitration.
One of the most notable services
Judge Worthington performed dur
ling his public life was as arbitrator
in the famous Pullman strike. which
held Chicago in it's grasp for period
threatening TO become menace to
the state. Judge Worthington WAS
appointed a member OF this arbltra-
ton commission by President Cleve-
land. who was a personal friend OF
the Judge. The president had arous-
ed the opposition of Governor Alt
geld who had objected to the federal
government taking hand In the set
tlement of the strike. The service
the Judge rendered on this arbitra-
ton commission won for him place
in the history OF the state as an arbl-
traitor.
During his service on the bench
Judge Wcrthington displayed an OPP
position to capital punishment and
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