Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-02
WILLIAM 4. MOODY DIES
At HIS HOME IN HAvERH|LL
Forced by Illness to Retire From
United States Supreme
Court in 1910.
HARD WORK CAUSES COLLAPSE
Previously Had Served in Congress,
Then rs Secretary Of Navy and
Later Attorney General - Mapped
Out Antitrust Campaign.
tBy Associated Press.I

>HAVERHILI.. MASS. July Evil
liam H. Moody. former associate JUS
tice of the United States Supreme Court.
died at his home here at A. NJ. to-
day.
Illness forced William Henry MoodYs
retirement as associate justice in 1910.
ut the comparatively early age of fifty
seven years. Arduous service. notably
as head OF the Department of Justice
during the antitrust campaign of the
Roosevelt administration, and then four
years on the Supreme Court bench dur
ing which he was remarkably active,
resulted in nervous collapse which.
with a severe attack of rheumatism,
developed prolonged Illness.
He had represented a Massachusetts
district in Congress for seven years
prior to 1902. when President Roose-
Welt. struck with Mr.. Moody's Yankee
vigor and ability, made him Secretary
OF the Navy. succeeding John D. Long.
He was the youngest member of the
Cabinet at the time, but two years
later. when President Roosevelt trans
ferred him to the post of Attorney
General ho made himself known
throughout the country. Under his
supervision the antitrust campaign Of
the Roosevelt administration was map
ped out. The proceeding to dissolve
the Standard Oil corporation was large
ly evolved by him. and it was under
his direction that the bill asking for
its dissolution was filed in the Fed
eral courts OF Missouri late In 1906
1t was said he also took an active part
in preparing the proceedings for the
dissolution of the so-called tobacco
trust, but before the bill was filed Mr..
Moody left the department.
TAKES PLACE ON BENCH
AS SUCCESSOR TO BROWN
II was after Associate Justice Brown,
who had been suffering for years with
failing eyesigh,, was compelled to re-
tire from the bench, that President
Roosevelt offered the seat thus vacated
to his Attorney-General. AS a result.
Mr.. Moody took his place on the bench
December II, 1906.
While his service was comparatively
brief. no member OF the court is cred
tied with more opinions for the period
than he. Among the most important
Of his cases were the Knoxville Water
Company and the Consolidated. Gas
Company decisions. in which the court
took advanced ground on the restric-
ton Of the rights Of corporations in
the matter OF charges. and the first
enunciation OF the new doctrine was
entrusted TO Mr.. Moody.
Justice Moody was also the mouth
piece Of the court in the case of the
st. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad
Company VS.. Taylor. in which the pro-
visions of the safety appliance law were
upheld. and in the case of Twining VS..
the State of New Jersey, in which the
control Of the question of self-incrim-
ination in criminal proceedings was de-
clared to belong wholly to the States,
and in no respect to the Federal gov
eminent.
Mr.. Moody was born on a farm IN
Newbury. Mass. December g. 1858.
After his graduation from Harvard
College he studied law in the office OF
Richard H. Dana, author of 1.-TWO
Years Before the Mast" His skill as a
public prosecutor. first shown when he
was city solicitor OF Havernill. Mass,
won him the appointment as district
attorney OF Essex County. When the
Attorney-General of Massachusetts was
prevented by illness from representing
the State in the famous Lizzie Borden
murder trial. he selected Mr.. Moody to
take his place His conduct of the
trial attracted wide attention
Always interested in outdoor sports,
Mr.. Moody at one time was presid ent
OF the New England Baseball League
Until the several severe attacks of ILL
ness which marked the latter part of
his public career, he found his chief
recreation by walking, bicycling. horse
riding and golf. The latter part of his
life was spent quietly at his home in
Havernill.