Evening journal., 1918-05-20
JUDGE BRADFORD
RETIRES; NOW Il
YEARS ON bench
contInusd from Flrst pare

- gathered here 40 express our feelings.
There are present representatives OF the
three bar associations of The state Of
Delaware"
Mr.. Ward then introduced Alexander
-t B Cooper. who was spokesman for the
state Bar Association. as well as the
Bar Association Of New Castle county
Mr.. Cooper's Tribute.
= Mr.. Cooper said In part
- BY the recent death Of our distin-
guished friend. Colonel Benjamin Nieds
my advancing years have placed me. in
point Of time. at the head Of the Ions
roll OF lawyers now 10 active practice
In this State. For this reason. perhaps.
as we'll as by reason OF my long and
pleasant acquaintance and friendship
- with Judge Bradford-for more than
1fty years. have been requested 90
say few appropriate words in behalf
OF the bar Of this state and district.
In approaching the performance Of
=" the duty thus assigned me, feel much
embarrassment as 60 what ! shall say
and how ! shall say &C. II is difflcut 20
e. extol the qualities and virtues OF one
whom YOU know and admire without al
the same time exposing yourself TO the
criticism Of good taste or OF indulgins
IN nattery. This Is particularly so when
the immediate subject Of your thoughts
happens to be one Of your hearers.
There s consolation. however, in the
= thought that al times, and this is one
or them, the Withholding of the public
enunciation Of Just praise may he iustl
flied where the facts upon wh ich II is
based are fully known to the public and
are fully set forth in his own record.
The records Of this court, in the many
dincut cases he has tried and decided
and his judicial opinions as published IN
the nnNNnniVnI rUnnrle nf Federal
90 this district, show the works and the
fruits Of Judge Bradfords hand better
than I can express them No words oi
mine can subtract OF add 20 them. They
speak for themselves
II have thought IL would he inter
esting IN this connection and on this
occasion for me 90 refer briefly 10 the
fact. that the District Courts OF the
United States lthen thirteen in NUMBER
were created Under The provisions Of
the Constitution OF The United states
by an Act ~ Congress passed on Sep
tembor a. i1S9 Cunning Bedford Jr.,
was appointed lhe first District Judge
I'm Delaware by President George Wash
ington ~ september 26. 1850. He con-
tinued in o1lce until March i2. 1912.
and WAS succeeded by John Fisher Of
Sussex county. Judge Fisher was ap-
pointed April 23 1912 and continued in
ONCE until ANIiI -n. 1879. JIG HiNRA iiAll
rin his profession and in his personal
character He was notably quick at
repartcc. and full Of Wit and humor.
70 Is said that upon one occasion after
ne had moved 10 Dover that friend or
tlls Vas speaking 10 him of the mar
velOus wisdom OF solomon. and he re-
iOlned oh, yes. solomon no doubt was
a wonderfully wise man In his day and
o. generation. but were he this day living
tin Kent county he would not have been
here twelve month before Isaac Davis
Cvho was a sharp. shrewd business
man Of the town would have held his
judgement bond Tor an he was worth
and a little more Willard Hall fol-
lowed Judge Fisher. lie came TO Della
ware from Massachusetts 10 April 1893.
travelling the whole distance on horse
hbsck. He was appointed Judge In May
1923. upon the death OF Judge Fisher
Judge Hall performed the duties OF his
'ofilce with great ability for more than
.f0riy-eight years. until December, 1871,
t,Nhen he resigned He was then In the
tninety-nrsi year Of his age and nlled
ffun the measure OF an upright man and
n perfect Judge I speak not Of the
many other fields OF usefulness In
which he labored and brought forth
abundant fruit Judge Hall was sue
fcceded by Edward g. Bradford the dis
fingillshed father OF the present Judge.
Judge Bradford was appointed on Be
j oember r. 1871, and died on January
i6 1884 leaving behind him the record
OF an able. upright and impartial Judge,
Leonard F. Wales, who at the time
was one of the associate Judges OF the
state was appointed 10 nm the vacancy
TINS occasionad on March 20 1884. lie
continued In Office and faithfully and
satisfactorily performed his duties until
January 1897. lie was succeeded by
our friend. the present Judge Bradford.
on May A. 1897. and entered upon the
performance OF his dgties on May q,
following
vAs a compendium Of what ] have
tnst said. it win be noted that through
out the existence Of nearly i29 years,
the District Court NJ the United states
for The District OF Delaware has been
composed OF only sig judges This is
somewhat remarkable when We consd-
rar tho average ength of hiiman life and
rs uncertainties. 70 Will also be noticed
ihy the average student Of the judicial
Fislory of our state that these six
judges in their respective days and gen
crltions were an justly ranked among
tho most learned and able lawyers and
Judges 0f Tie Slate. True they were
not an fashioned In the same mould.
THEY differed. as human nature will
position and cast Of mind Yet when
rihe full test of. each Of them Is made
IKE find them az emlnently qualified TO
tvear the Judicial erminc and 10 admin
lister Justice according TO the law OF
lthe land.
Judge Bradford. word 10 YOU. IS
~ have already suggested it would not
10, IN good taste for me 10 speak to
7, on upon this occasion IN words OF
lhgh compliment or naiiery. and
lfhall not attempt 70. however much
imay wish, but do desire. sir, 10
lrIDress 70 YOU cmphaticslly and truth
fully what believe 10 be the opinion
Ci esch individual member Of the Del
ltNa-l Bar. and II IL this: That in your
3oag and faithful service upon the
bench which you now occupy. and
lfrlm which you are about to volun-
fariy retire, you have more than up
l0eld and sustained the good name. high
lcharacler, legal ability and Judicial flt-
ness OF any Of your distinguished pre-
dscsssors.
you have had a most laboriovs. try
ing and eyentful career upon the bench
Naarr