Evening journal., 1916-02-12
PORTRAIT COLLECTION
FOR Federal Court
Retiring District Attorney
NieldS Presents Group
Paintings Of Prosecutors
JUDGE BRADFORD
LAUDS OFFICIAL

AT the opening VI lue ctooioh "N 49,
United States District Court yesterday
afternoon. John p. Nields, whose term
as United States District Attorney Tor
Delaware expires tomorrow, presented
a group picture Of former court OIL
cials and other memoranda to the
court. At the same time Federal Judge
Edward G. Bradford paid high trib-
ute to the retiring district attorney.
When court opened Mr.. Nields said
he desired to make a motion and to
supplement it with a word. He then
asked permission TO have the clerk
Mace in the files Of the court this
memoranda:
A group p icture Of the United
States attorneys from the founda--
ton of the government until
1899. except the photograph OF
Perry Steward Johnson, United
States attorney 1S49-1S53.
Photograph OF Caesar A. Rod
nev. attorney general Of the
United States, under Presidents
Jefferson and Madison, being a
copv of an oil painting hanging
at "Cool Spring" painted by OTIS.
Photograph Of Richard Bas-
sett. a Circuit judge, appointed
by President John Adams.
Three volumes of typewriter
comics OF indictments returned
during his tenure Of office.
Tbe group picture OF the federal
,rosecutors referred to consists OF
photographs Of the following anu
their terms Of Office, as follows;
George Read. I'd, 1888 to loloi
George Read. Sd, 1916 to 1891 James
A. Bayard, 1887 to 1S43; William n.
Rogers. 1S43 to 1S49; Thomas r.
Bayard. 1853 to 1855; Daniel M. Bates
1S55 to 1861: Edward G. Bradford
1861 TO 1866; John L. Pratt. 1865 to
1889: Anthony Higgins, 1863 TO 1875;
William C. Spruance. 1876 to 1880 ;
John G. Patterson. 1880 to 1883; Al
exander B. Cooper, 1883 to 1891; Be
niab Watson. 1891 to 1894; Lewis Z.
Vaudegrift, 1894 TO 1899.
OF this number, Mr.. Cooper is the
only one living.
II was through the efforts OF Mr..
Nields that pictures of the district
Judges from the time OF the organiza-
tion OF the Federal Court to the pres
ent we're hung in the Federal Court
room.
In making his motion before the
court. Mr.. Nields said, in part;
INV term OF office expires on Sun
dav next. on October 4. 1902. your
Honor designated me the United
states Attorney for this district 10
su temporary vacancy. on October
Z. 1903, l was duly commissioner
United States Attorney for this dis
trict, and have since then held tna'
office. a period OF something over 9
dozen years, which is substantial
slice in a mans life. The opportunity
Of public service incident to holding
this Office for more than dozen years
7 regard as an unusual opportunity
The privilege OF acting as a prosecut-
ing attorney in this court where your
Honor has presided | regard as a
rare privilege. ] desire TO express my
annreciation Of the constant and un-
failing kindness of Mr.. William G.
Nabaffy. clerk OF this court, and ol
MIR II. c. Mahaffy, the deputy. I de-
sire To acknowledge the loyal coop
Grafton of the marshals OF this dis
trict. Marshal Short, Marshal Finn
Marshal Townsend and Marshal FAIRY
and their deputies. I desire to make
a like acknowledgment OF the CO
operation Of the postmasters, Post
master Jester and POSTMASTER
English. And also OF the United States
postonice Inspectors assigned TO this
district. Inspector Maxwell and In
spector Plummer. and the numerous
Federal agents from every branch o
the public service who have been as
signed tC this district and cooper
ated with me i'm the discharge OF m,
public duty; all honest, capable an'
efficient men. have greatly appre
ciated and enjoyed my office. TIT
memory Of il will always be with me
have no other business"
Judge Bradford's Reply.
Judge Bradford replied; MI
Nields. on behalf of your successor
IN the Office of United States attorne.
for the District of Delaware. the cour
desires to thank you for your geneI
Gus and appropriate donation. Thi
action on your part on the eve of you
retirement from the office you havl
SO long honOred and adorned is grace
full and most acceptable, and will cor
tinue TO be appreciated after all of u
and our children have departed hence
cannot permit this occasion TO pas
without some brief reference to you
long and remarkably successful ca
reer as a United States attorney 70
Delaware; your incumbency of tina
Office having contributed so largely 4
the firm, prompt and intelligent &C
ministration of justice, and especial
OF criminal Justice. in this district. b
your efficient and honorable discharg
OF official duty you have made IN
community your debtor.
"a vacancy having occurred in tn
Office which you now hold, il gave IN
much pleasure. having known yo
personally, as we'll as your family, {
appoint you. on the fourth day of o.
tober. 1902. 20 exercise the duties {
attorney of the United States for tn
District of Delaware until the yacanc
should be filed. Thereafter, on th
fifth day of October, 1908, Preslder
Roosevelt appointed you United State
attorney until the end of the next SCI
sion of the Senate of the Unite
States. and on the seventeenth day {
November, 1908, for a term of tou
years. Thereafter. President Roos
welt. ON tie tenth day Of Decembe
1907. appointed you for an additions
term of four years. And finali.
President Taft. on the thirteenth da
Of February. 1912, appointed you fo
an additional term cf four years Du
ing your long incumbency Of thi