El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-03
SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE IS DEAD
President to Act Promptly
in Naming Successor to
Late Justice Lamar.


Washington, D. c.. Jan. President
Wilson is expected promptly to name
a successor on the supreme bench of
James Rucker Lamar. associate justice
Of supreme court of the United States,
who died at his home here early sun
day night after an illness of several
months. He was So years old and had
been on the supreme bench for five
years
The immediate cause of death was
gradual heart failure. FASTENED by in
Illumination of one Of the lungs which
had threatened to develop into pneu-
mOnia The attending physician de-
clared, however. that the primary cause
was overwOrk, due TO the arduous
duties of q member Of the supreme
court and as commissioner of the
United States in 1914 to the mediation
conference between the United States
and Mexico at Niagara Falls
Exhausted by last years term Of
court, justice Lamar. went to White
Sulphur Springs. W. Va. in June He
improved until September when a clot
in an artery caused him to lose for
a time the use Of his right arm and
leg 1t was some time before he re-
covered from this attack but when he
returned TO Washington in October he
planned to return TO his work on the
bench in February.
Cold Fastened Death.
About a week ago the justice con-
tracted a cold His weakened heart
was unable to bear the added burden
Of this Inflammation
About 9 o'clock Sunday morning his
condition was noted to be critical. The
system had ceased to throw off the
normal pOisOns. In the afternoon, after
recognizing his wife and two sons,
Phillip and William, he dropped off to
sleep. Gradually his breathing respir-
alton grew less frequent until at $3.50
Sunday night heagave long sigh, as
Of relief, and was dead.
Buried Mt Augusta, Ga.
The burial VIII take place at Augusta.
Ga, for many years the home OF the
justice The funeral party will leave
Washington for Augusta, Tuesday at
D. m
Had justice Lamar lived until noon
today he would have completed five
years on the supreme court bench
Prompt appointment Expected.
About the time justice Lamar re-
turned to Washington last fall a move
ment was started to have congress
legislate so as to enable him to retire
on full pay At the time. secretary
solicitor general John W Davis were
mentioned in discussions of his pos
sible successor.
Appointed BY Taft.
Associate justice Lamar had the dis
unction of being one of the few mem
dent Of opposite political faith Presi-
dent Taft appointed him in 1910 with
only two presidents for such action,
those OF justices Jackson and LurtOn-
Justice Lamar was born in Fuckers
villes Ebert county, Ca. October II.
1851 He attended the University of
Georgia and later Bethany college.
where he was graduated in 1877. He
attended the law school at Washing
ton and Lee university, and was ad-
l.
1878 He lived at Augusta until ap-
pointed TO the supreme court bench
He was one OF the few men whose
family had previously had represent
alive on the bench The justice was
a cousin TO associate justice L O. c
Lamar. Of Mississippi, who served on
the bench from 1883 TO 1888
Held State HOnOrs.
He was honOred by his state by many
positions for which his learning and
ability as a lawyer fitted him First
he was a member of the Georgia house
Of representatives. and in 1892 was ap-
pointed by the supreme court Of Georgia
as one Of the commissioners TO prepare
q code Of laws for the state. which
code was adopted by the general as
sembly in 1895 He was again hOnored
on January !, 1901. by appointment to
fill an unexpired term as associate JUS
tice Of the Georgia supreme court and
was elected TO the same position at the
ensuing election In 1900 he resigned
TO resume the practice of law
Early in his service on the supreme
court bench, he became recognized as
one Of the most powerful members
His opinions were finished works OF
logic Applications for rehearings were
rare in cases decided
Coming to Washington as a man lit
tie known beyond his state. his rise in
public estimation as a member Of the
court, led president Wilson to select
him as the principal commissioner for
the United States in the A b c. media
ton at Niagara Falls in 1914 between
the United States and Mexico over con-
ditions in the southern republic-