Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-03
LAMAR, APP0|NTEE
OF TAFT, IS DEAD
Associate Justice of Supreme
Court of United States Dies
at Home in Washington.
PRIMARY CAUSE OVERWORK
One of Few Members Named for
Highest Bench by President Of
Opposite Political Faith.


Rucker Lamar. associate justice of the
Supreme Court of the United states.
died at his home here tonight after
IN Illness Of several months. He was
fifty eight years old. and had been on
the Supreme Bench four ycars.
The immediate cause Of death was
gradual heart failure. fastened by in
hammation of one of his lungs which
had threatened to develop into pneu
monia. The attending physician said.
however. that the primary cause was
due from overwork.
Exhausted by last years term of
court. Justice Lamar went to White
Sulphur Springs. w. Va, in June. He
improved Until Septcmber, whcn Il clot
in an artery caused him to lose the
use for n time OF his left arm aud leg.
1t was some time before he recovered
from this attack, but when he returned
to Washington In October he planned
to return to his work on the bench IN,
February.
About week ago the Justice con-
tracted n cold His weakened heart
was unable to bear the added burden
of this inflammation. About Q clock
this morning his condition was noted
to be critical. In the afternoon, after
recognizing his wife and two sons,
Philip and William. he dropped off to
sleep. Gradually his respiration grew
less frequent until at S o'clock tonight
he gave Il long sigh as OF relief and
was dead.
ISTERMENT WILL he AT FORMER
HOME IN AUGUSTA, GA.
Arrangements for the funeral were
not completed tonight. but the burial
viii take place ut Augusta, Ga. for
many years the home of the Justice.
The funeral party will leave Wash
ington for Augusta on Tuesday af-
ternoon at o'clock.
Had Justice LANAI lived until to.
morrow noon, he would have com
pleted four years service on the Su-
prcme Court bench. During the en-
tire period he was regarded as one Of
the hardest workers ever on the bench.
and his opinions were excellent speci-
mems of diction.
About the time Justice Lamar re-
turned to Washington last fall n move.
ment was started to have Congress
.cGislnte so as TO enable MIN to retire
on full play. At that time, Secretary
Lane. of the Interior Department, ana
Solicitor-General John W. Davis were
mentioned in discussions of his possi-
BILE successor. 1t Is believed that Pres
idSt Wilson will act at once In dll'ng
the vacancy because Of the important
cases now awaiting consideration be-
fore full court
The court Will meet at noon to-mor
row and Will adjourn immediately nm
I'll after the funeral
APPOINTED ny PRESIDENT
OF OPPOSITE FAITH
Associate Justice Lamar had the dis
tinction of being one of the few mem
hers OIL the court appointed By n Prcs-
deht or opposite political faith. Presi-
dcnt Taft appointed him In 1910, with
ohly Two nrecedents for such action.
those OF Justices Jackson and I.urton.
Justice Lamar was born I'm Fuckers
Vile. Ebert County. Ga, October "a
1921. HE attended tho University OF
Georgia and later Bethany College
where he was graduated in 1871 He
attended the law school at WASHINGTON
and Lee University. and was admitted
to the bar at Augusta. Ga. in 1878 He
lived at Augusta until appointed to the
supreme Court Bench
stock. he was one of the few men
whose family had previously had n rep
resentattve on the bench. The Justice
was cousin to Associate Justic- l.. o.
c. Lamar. of mississippi. who served
on the bench from 1855 to 1893
He was honored by his State with
many positions for which his learning
and ability as lawyer fitted him.
81 III pf hn
House Of Representatives. and in 1892
was appointed by the Supreme Court
OF Georgia as one of the com missioners
to prepare code OF laws for the
State. which code was adopted by the
General Assembly In 1895. Hc was
again honored on January l. 1901. by
appointment to fill an unexDired term
as associate justice Of the Georgia SUI
preme Court. and was elected to tho
same position at the ensuing election.
in 1905 he resigned to resume the
practice OF the law.
SENATE WITHOTT DELAY
CONFIRMED NOMINATION.
In the practice of the law. he largely
represented railroads and other big
corporations. and yet. in the day of
antipathy to corporation lawyers his
integrity was so highly regarded that
the Senate without delay confirmed his
nomination.
Early In his service on tho Supreme
Court Rench no became recognized as
one OF the most powerful members
His opinions we,c finished works of
logic. Applications for rehearinga
were rare in cases decided.
Coming to Washington M n man little
known beyond his State. his rise In
public estimation as member Of the
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