The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-02
dte 80.
DtAIilI,, :. "''.S TO
ATTORNEY BACON
Former Public Service Com
mission Chairman Had
Pneumonia
ONE OF VERMONT'S
KEENEST LAWYERS

Recently Formed Law Partnership with
Harvey & Whitney-Da Dartmouth Grad
uate, Man of Marked Ability, Ia
bored for Brattleboro's Welfare.
Robert Colburn Bacon, "A, formerly
chairman of the Vermont public service
commission, member of the law firm OF
Bacon. Harvey Whitney and one of the
keenest members of The legal fraternity
in Vermont. died about 5 O'Clock this
morning Of double pneumonia in his
home at so Western evenne. The an
nouncelnent OF his death came unexpeet-
edly to most of the townspeople, as it
was generally supposed that he was re
covering from an attack of Influenza
Attorney Bacon went to Montreal last
week on business for the law firm OF
which he was q member, returning Satllr-
day. On his return he was moi feeling
well, and next day his illness was pro
nouneed TO be influenza. He was not as
wen Monday, and that night he had
temperature OF l031a, but on Tuesday
his condition vas improved and at noon
he had only half d degree of feser That
night he became worse again and yester
day forenoon pneumonia developed IN
one lung and in the afternoon the other
lung became affected. Last evening he
had a very high respiration and his ply
sician, DR.. Harry p Greene, stated that
he had only a fighting charge for recoy-
/. cry.
| he was born in Washington, D. G.,
March 4, 1874 a son of R. a and Joseph
| me lColburnl Bacon Later he lived in
| Springfield lYt.l with an uncle. his par
| lenss 5asirty died, and whiie living there
ATTENDED Dartmouth college. After grad
luating from Dartmouth ne attended the
| Boston university law school. He then
came to Brattleboro and studied in the
law office of Waterman. Martin Hit
and then took course in the New York
1 law school and was admitted TO the Yer
mont bar in 1899.
In 1901 Mr. Bacon and James F. Hook
ier of Brattleboro, who had graduated
from the Yale law school. formed part
nership continuing until June. 1904. when
lit was dissolved. Mr.. Bacon then ccntin-
ued the practice alone several years, re
tanning offices in the Ullery building
\ Mr.. Bacon was elected a member Of
the board OF village bailiffs in the an
nual village meeting in May, 1904, and
at once thereafter became village at
torney. In the Republican county con
vention in 1906 he was dominated for
state 5 attorney unanimously by accla-
nation, and was elected for the two
, year term He proved a fearless pro.
scouting officer and made friends in all
PARTS .,f the county. In 1911 he was
- H. =
Hampshire Power Co. Of -.laine.
l. Gov Allen NJ. F'e.cner appointed Mr..
, Bacon member and chairman of the
, Vermont public service commission in
. July. 1918, 70 succeed G. d. Watson
Eof St Albans, but IN November. 1914.
| he resigned and was appointed 70
! finish the original sixyear term, to end
',Feb /. 1919 1t was explained at the
time that his resignation was a step
TO obviate complication that might
arise under the statutes.
81 consider Mr. Bacon a very able
attorney, declared Governor Fletcher
at the time of Mr.. Bacon s resignation.
Gin fact one of the ablest in the
: state, and he added; "There are one
or two other positions which he may
have if he will accept them
Mr.. Bacon expressed q preference
however, for the work he was then do
! ing and he was re-appointed chairman
:, of the public service commission. His
Office for some years was in the Ainaf
lean building, and later in the Wilder
building Last November he rendered
his resignation as a member OF the
commission 10 return 10 private prae
tiee and formed partnership with
/ hJohn y. Harvey and Harold Il. Whit
: nev in the former Clarke G. Fits Law
, offices, and the firm name became Bacon
Harvey & Whitney
: Attorney Bacon was associated with
/, the late Attorney Fits ia some of tbs
!. latter's important cases. and he dem
, oiistrated his ability in justice, county
, state and United States courts anC
). had appeared before the supreme coar'
of the United States. Among the minor
Offices which he had held were those q
Iiustiee of the peace and town gram
Juror
He was "a member of columbiai
lodge, No. So, F. and A. NJ. Fort DUN
mer chapter, No. -, Royal Arch Ma
I sons, Beauseant commandery, No. /.
Knights Templar, Wantastiquet lodg
Eof Odd Fellows, Quonektieut tribe q
e Red Men, the Vermont Wheel ciab, al
o OF Brattieboro, and the Order of tn
Elks.
let On Oct Is, 1900, Mr.. Bacon Marie
o Miss Georgianna f. Cook of Brattlt
r boro in Christ church fEpiseopaD i
Springheid, Mass, Rev. John Cotto
Il Brooks performing the ceremony b
.. sides his wife Mr. Bacon leaves on