The Washington times., 1916-01-03
SUPREME COURT
PAYS TRIBUTE TO
JUSTICE LAM AR
High Tribunal Adjourns as Mark
Of Respect to, Memory Of
Associate.
BURIAL TO BE IN AUGUSTA
Body viii Be Taken South To-
morrow, Accompanied by
Escort Of Honor.

When the United States Supreme Court
met at noon today. after two weeks
recess Chief Justice White announced
the tribunal would adjourn until Thurs
dav out Of respect to the memory Of
Associate Justice joseph Rucker Lamar.
who died last evening. Associate JUS
tice Lamar passed away at $50 o'clock
at his home at 1851 New Hampshire
avenue. following an illness Of several
months from a paralytic stroke. COM
plicated by a heavy cold he contracted a
week ago.
Members Of the Supreme Court named
to accompany the body to its last rest
Ing place at Augusta. Ga. tomorrow.
are Associate Justices Willis Van De-
Nanter. Mahlon Pitney and james Clark
McReynolds.
No funeral services will be held in
Washington. At Augusta the Rev. How
ard Cree is to conduct a brieff service
Wednesday morning. Mrs. Lamar and
the two sons of the DISTINGUISHED jurist.
Philip and william Lamar. will go to
Augusta on the same train with the
The arrangements for the transporta
lion OF the party are being made by
Frank Key Green, marshal Of the
United States Supreme Court.
Messages Of Coincidence.
Messages Of coincidence were received
from scores of prominent turists and
other public men and many friends OF
the late Justice Lamar in private life.
President Wilson sent message OF
coincidence to the family. AS y young
man the associate justice had been a
Richmond Academy.
- For several days the condition of Ju2-
tice Lamar had been regarded as criti-
cal. He suffered a paralytic stroke last
phur Springs, w. Va. He was brought
10 Washington. and since that time had
been confined to his home.
His physician. DR.. James g. Mckay,
thought he was on the road to recovery,
hut week ago he caught a severe cold.
This contested the lungs and weakened
his heart. Friday and Saturday he
grew better, and 1t was thought the
crisis had passed. Late yesterday aft
ernoon he suffered a relapse. and inedi-
him.
At noon yesterday the patient entered
in a state of coma. Before that he had
been been tall talHnE p. and Laughing Ions wsn his
Philip Lamar. and his physician. lie
succumbed. according to Or. Mckay. to
gradual heart failure.
Went On Bench In 1911.
Associate Justice Lamar became a
member of the Supreme Court early
In January, 1911. He was appointed
oy President Taft on the December
l? preceding and was confirmed by
the Senate on December II. 1910.
Before Mr.. Taft's inauguration and
following his nomination and election,
he spent considerable time in Augusta,
Ga. There he met Mr.. Lamar. who had
been an associate justice of the supreme
80 49, L,,s IT.
account of bad health. Justice Lamar
was then. practicing law. specializing
in general practice" as he termed it,
A friendship soon sprang up between
the President-to-be and the Georgia
lawyer, whose reputation had already
State. 1t was reported at the time that
the acquaintance and friendship be-
tween the two men was nurtured on the
II links, and when the appointment of
mar TO the highest bench was an
unced it was presumed he was
;olfing justice"
I never had a golf stick in my hand
my life exclaimed Justice Lamar
hen informed of the public belief that
was an enthusiast over the game
hieh engrossed Candidate Taft and
resident Taft.
Law Only Diversion.
When Justice Lamar came to Wash
ington he said he had no diversions
outside of the law. His associates say
the statement was pretty accurate.
Justice Lamar was a man of quiet de-
meanor studious and little given to
frivolities of the times. He was not.
however, austere nor unsociable. lie
was an altogether iikeable individual
peth as lawyer and a Judge, and
MS friends were OF the lasting sort.
There Is dearth of anecdotes con-
cerning Justice Lamar. When he came
to the Supreme Court of the United
states he smilingly confessed he didn't
know any anecdotes about himself. and
about Justice Lamar outside of those
relating to his constant application to
work.
Only once was Justice Lamar led
away from his judicial career. He
served from 1885 to 1889 as a member of
the Georgia legislature, and this was
due more to his interest in law reform
than in politics.
Justice Lamar contributed much to
the legal literature of his State, being
author of "Georgia's Contribution to
Law Reforms" "A Centurys Prog
rs5s n LsWf" " ,he History Of the Or
other works. He was member of a
special commission to revise the code
OF Georgia in 1898.
Justice Lamar was born in Ruckers-
VILE. Ga, October IA. 1857. He was
educated at Bethany College. Washing
ton and Lee, and the University OF
Georgia. He began TO practice law in
Augusta in 1879. and in 1903 was APP
pointed an associate justice OF the
supreme court of Georgia. He returned
to private practice within three years.
Striking Expressions.
The opinions OF Justice Lamar abound
in striking expressions. OF which the
following are examples
The great physical laws of the uni
verse are witnesses in every case. and
cannot be impeached by the feeble voice
/ OF man even though he may be
spe akinE under the sanction of an
losth."
"The right to be at large without right
10 act would be but to live in a prison OF
attended bounds. The liberty which is
Guaranteed by the Constitution means
ar moro than freedom from servitude." "
"In pleadinGs. epithets and hard words
re not sufficient to make out a case OF
aud when relief Is asked because of its
tistence."
To- I &c hNyt h