The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-07-23
POWERFUL FIGURE
IN THE Law GONE
CONTINUED from first page. J

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the best talent in the eastern part of
the country, including such men as L. j.
Phelps, A. +. Walker and F. A. Brooks
of Boston. MIR. Fifeld was finally up
held in all his substantial points and the
litigation ended in 1888, the reorganiza-
ton of the road taking place and leaving
! IL in the hands of his clients.
It was no ordinary legal battle but one
of a complicated series of controversies.
No comment could be more compliment
tary than that made by an eminent SUI
preme court Judge who remarked: His
characteristics as a lawyer are his clear
perception of the salient points of his
case and his terse presentation of them
in the form of comprehensive state
ment"
| During his 80 years with the Central
Vermont Railway company no important
action was taken without his advice.
Even in the last few years the officials Of
| the road have often come to him for his
| tory and advice as to the early career Of
the railroad, and for many years he drew
large retainer fee from the company.
But with all these important matters
before him he had time to conduct other
successful litigation for his clients, and
| in 1879 he was successful for Governor
| Fairbanks in the L8moille Valley rail-
road litigation. In 1887 he made an elab-
crate argument before the United States
| interstate commerce commission on the
construction of the interstate commerce
act and, overruled in his principal point,
| he took the case to the United States
court Of appeals and was sustained.
Upon the death of Judge ID. A. Smalley
he was urged to accept the appointment
to the vacancy but withdrew from the
candidacy to continue the handling Of
the Central Vermont litigation. he is
ranked with Lucius b. Peck and Andrew
Tracy Of former generation and was
the peer of any attorney in Vermont.
| In 1869 President Grant appointed Mr..
| Fifeld United States district attorney
and Mr. Fifeld served through reappoint.
ments until 1880, when he resigned be-
cause Of election to the general assembly
from Montpelier. During his service as
district attorney many important cases
came under his prosecution, including
| that OF General ONeill and other leaders
OF the Fenian raids against Canada in
| 1870. The men were tried and convicted
| for violation Of the neutrality laws OF
the United States Mr.. Fifeld was one
of the most efficient district attorneys
ever appointed in this state.
On Jan. H. 1890 Mr.. Fifeld was APP
pointed by Gov. E. G. Smith as United
States senator from Vermont to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Justin
S. Morrill,, but Mr. Fifeld declined the
appointment He declined largely on ac-
count of the fact that his wife was in
what appeared to be fatal Illness.
Shortly after Mrs. Fifeld's death, Mr.,
Fifield severed his connection with the
Central Vermont railroad and relin-
quished professional and public engage
ments. Although he recovered his health
he did not again enter into the active
field Of his profession but in the latter
years he had been called upon to give
advice in many railroad matters. During
the last years of his life he kept in touch
with the affairs Of the day and spent
much time in his large library.
Not only did Mr., Fiheld refuse ap-
pointment to the United States Senate,
but he declined to run for the lower
house of Congress. in 1884 he was
delegate to the Republican national con-
vention and the same year was elected
president of the Vermont Bar associa-
ton. For some years he was trustee
of the University Of Vermont.
Mr.. Fifield was married Jan. 4, 1865,
to Lucy, daughter of Erastus Hubbard
of Montpelier. Three daughters were