Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-27
JUDGE CHURCHMAN
DIED SUDDENLY At
HIS HOME TODAY
He Was Recovering From Long
Illness When Stricken
With Paralysis.
OVERWORK HAD
CAUSED BREAKDOWN

Judge Philip Quiglcy Churohman, of
the Municipal Court, died this morning
very suddenly ct his home, 2113 Wash
ington street He had been at home, i'll
for some weeks. but the Improvement in
his condition, especially IN the past few
days, was such that it was expected that
he would be back on the bench IN short
time. In fact the Judge himself announced
only the day before Christmas Eve 10
some friends that he intended 10 put IN at
least one day in court before gong To the
shore for YeCIIperatlon.
The news of Judge Churchman death
spread through the Public Building early
this morning, taking many completely
by surprise Deputy Judge Aaron Finger
held court as usual, IN compliance with
the law, requiring certain cases to be dis
posed of, but out Of respect to the memory
Of the departed lurist, continued all r.
port cases for one week The court will
be drapcd IN mourning The news came
as . distinct shock to members of the
Young Men S Republican Club. who twice
elected the Judge "a their president.
The club viii probably scnd . large dele
CATION Ia the funeral
OvCrwork was the cause Of Judge
Churchman's breakdown, several weeks
ago. in the opinion Of Mrs Churrhman
aud others Tins was his first illness 10
amount To anything Mrs Churchman
recalled that on November 3 her husband
rad IL cascS calendarct IN the Court If
General Sessions in order tn attend t.
these nc had to call in the deputy Judge
~ take his plarc on the city bench, The
STRAIN of these TRIALS 20 told on judge
ChurChman chat Mrs Churchman IN
SISTED upon hIm taking a long rrst. uhich
was also urged by the family physIcian.
01 his way home on 4 street car the Judge
was suddenly stricken with 3 vomiting
spell and had to bc carried from the con
Neyaucc into his home Mrs Church
man was with him al thr timc Special
lists were called from Philadelphia % con-
s,lt with the family physician and they
continued ~ tie end 70 give attention -
the paucnt.
Two nurses we're in attendance al the
tame Christmas Day the Judge had
sufficiently recovered 70 cat heartily with
hts family He WAS apparently still I'M
proving only yesterday Retiring st the
usual hour last night, he still seemed
better and Mrs ChurChman VAS shocked
when summoned by his own SnIcc 20 hiS
bedside this morning at Gas o'clock
The judqc told her nc had eufTcrel stroke
~ y,arAlysiS Mrs Churchman tired to
convince hm hc Was In error Blt he
seemed SURE and II a few minutes the
spark OF life had passed out Ii sll hap-
Tsencd 90 quickly tha. Mrs Churchuan
,sas stunned The nurses were present
and thr family physician arrived shortly
alter IN response % i summons
HAD DEVELOPED MUNICIPAL roU1sr
The deceased was paid high cornpii-
ment today hy members Of Inc bar hen
hex sald he deserved credit for building
mp the Municipal Court toits present state
oi efficiency. which recent legislation hal
made p.sSshlc Tins court Was regarded
hy the bar as lacking IN many things until
Judge e hurchman, aided 10y the ncw laws
reurgAmzed II and got ii gong his way
He was the Trainer Of the non-support
Law. pass! only . few years ago He
watched rs enforcement much ike {.
parent would the development of child
tie spent many Saturday afternoons in
the probation Office when the throng Of
wives and mothers called for their weekly
allowance AS the Trainer Of the law Judge
Churchman was determined nat IT. pro
VISIONS should be enforced This Law pro-
vides that fathers shall support Their MINOR
children regardless. and thai husbands
must support their wives unless they have
grounds for divorce
Judge Churchmsn 5 decisions werc re
spected by m Undivided bar lie was to-
day referred 70 by one lawyer u 3 good
LAWYER OF the old school who decided
every case upon the legal merits sc they
appeared to him Judge Churchman 5 de
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