New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-07
Seventy-six Years Old
Judge in State Courts
Twenty eight Years.
FIGHT WITH CROKER
COST HIM OFFICE
Represented City At Historic
Events-Was Famous as an
After.Dinner Speaker.

Justice Joseph Francis Daily, who was
on the bench in this stare for twenty
eight successive years, died yesterday
a, his summer home in Yonkers. He
was seventy-siI years old.
Justice DAILY was the bitter zoe OK
Tweed and Croker. His refusal 10 ae-
cept the dictates Of the latter Tam
many leader cost him his denomination
to the Supreme Court Of New YORK IN
1898. He was a Jealous Catholic ana
an earnest advocate Of Home kule lot
ireland.
Accompanied by his mother and
brother Augustin, who later became
widely known as theatrical manager
and playwright, Justice Daily came TO
New York from Roanoke, y. G, In 1888.
He was educated in the public SCHOOLS
and entered the law Offices of SilIa ".
and Robert B. Roosevelt in 1850. he
was not admitted to the bar for seven
years.
Fought Tweed.
Before the opening of his long judi
cial career Justice Daily was active IN
public affairs and IN the advocacy OF
important municipal reforms. He was
a te1sl adviser of the Citizens Assoc
citation, and as sucn vas instrumental
in achieving the overthrow OF the
Tweed ring. As early as 1850 ne sp-
peared before the Governor TO urge
the prosecution of corrupt public ON
cials.
In May. 1870. when Justice DAILY was
twenty nine, he was elected by tne
Democrats to the Court or Common
Pleas Fourteen years later he was re-
elected by an overwhelming majority
a distinct compliment, IN view OF the
fact that he and his associates were
the only successful candidates on tne
ticket. In 1890 he was chosen Chief
Judge of Common Pleas by his asso-
ciates. and upon the consolidation Of
that court with the Supreme Court in
1894 he was assigned as presiding
justice Of the Appellate Term.
Refused Roosevelt.
Upon his retirement from the bench,
after his clash with Croker. Justice
Daily refused an appointment as sur
rogate Of New York County by Gov
ernor Theodore Roosevelt, but accept
ed. few months later. commission
the unihcation Of the school system OF
the state. The same year he was an
unsuccessful candidate on the Fusion
ticket for the Supreme Court. Tam
MANY throwing her power into the ball
ance to bring about his defeat In
June. 1900, President Mckinley ap-
pointed him a member Of the commits
sion created to compile and revise the
law Of Porto Rico.
Justice Daily appeared many times as
New York City's representative on oc-
casions of international Importance.
As president of the Catholic Club he
welcomed TO this country Lord Russell
of Killowen, Lord Chief Justice OF Eng
land, and as a trustee OF the National
Federation Of America he delivered the
address of welcome TO the Earl OF Ao-
erdecn when that distinguished states
man visited the United States in 1892.
Fond Of Literature.
At the quadricentennial celebration
of Columbus's landing IN America he
was chairman of the joint committee
of the Catholic Historical Society and
the Catholic Club.
Justice Daly was a writer of vigor-
Gus English, deveting much time TO
literature He owned one OF the finest
Libraries of first editions in the city.
His wit and fame as an after-dinnsr
speaker were as traditional as Mr.. De-
pew's.
With Augustin Daily. Edwin Booth,
Lawrence Barrett, Joseph Jefferson.
General William T. Sherman and 9TH
ers Club in 1889. He also held mem
ers' Club in 1889. He also held mem
bership in the Bar Association, South
crn Society, American Geographical So
ciety, New York Law Institute, Ma.
tional Conference OF Charities, United
States Catholic Historical Society,
American-Irish Historical Society,
Ozanam Society, Friendly Sons Of 81:
Patrick. Municipal Arts Society and
the Reform Club. The degree OF
IL. D. was conferred upon him by st.
Johns College in 1888.
Justice DAILY was married 70 Emma
Robinson Barker in 1879. She died In
1886. leaving two sons and a, daughter.
In 1890 the justice married May
Louise Smith.
Arrangements for the funeral are
not vet COMPLETED