Milford chronicle., 1920-01-02
SUDDEN DEATH OF
JUDGE CHURCHMAN
OCCURRED AT AN EARLY HOUR ON
SATURDAY MORNING AT HIS NONE
In WILMINGTON.

Judge Philip Quigley Churchman ol
Wilmington Municipal Court, died
SATURDAY, December 27th. 1913, al his
home in Wilmington He lad been ill
for several weeks but for a few days
before death he apparently had been
getting better In fact, The judge him
SELF announced only The day before
Christmas Eve to some friends thai
he intended to put in at least one day
in court before going 90 rle shore for
recupeTatiOn
Overwork was the cause Of Judge
Churchman's breakdown several weeks
ago. in the opinion OF Mrs Churchman
and others. This was his first Illness
to amount to anything Christmas day
the Judge had sufficiently recovered TO
eat heartily with his family. Retiring
at the usual hour, seeming much bet
ter. his wife was alarmed when sum
.moned BY his own voice 20 his bed
side in the morning AZ 40 O'Clock.
The Judge told her that he had SUI
fered a stroke of paralysis. Mrs.
Churcbman tried to convince him he
was in error but he seemed sure and
i'm a few minutes the spark OF ne
had passed out IL Az happened so
quickly that Mrs Churchman was
stunned The nurses were present
and the family physician arrived
shortly after in response TO summons.
Had Developed Municipal Court
The deceased was paid a high COM
pliment by members OF che bar Wnen
they said he deserve credit for build
ing up the Municipal court to its pres
ent state OF efficiency which recent
Hesitation had made possible. This
court was regarded by the par as lack
ing in many things ultil Judge
Caurchman, aided by the new laws
reorganized il and got il going his
way He was the framer Of the non
support law passed only a few years
aeo. He watched It's enforcement much
Ike a parent would The development 4
OF a child He spent many Saturday
afternoons in the probation Office when
the throng of wives and mothers call F
ell TOR their weekly allowance AS the +
framer OF the law. Judge Churchman .
was determined that its provisions
should be enforced. This law provides
that fathers shall support their minor
children regardless. and thar nus
bands must support their wives unless
they have grounds for divorce.
Judge Churchman'S decisions were
respected by an undivided bar. He
was referred TO by one lawyer as a
good lawyer of the old school, who
decided every case upon the legal
merits as they appeared TO him. Judge
was born in Wilmington
December 29. 1864. "a son Of William
II. and Elizabeth Qmgley He was
educated at Rugby Academy and grad
uated from Swirthm0re College in
1854. He studied law under e. 5.
Senator Anthony Higgins ard was adj
mitted to the bar in 1889
EX-G Governor Hum appointed him
Judge OF City Court i'm 1901. after the
Senate had refused TO con-
firm Edwin r. Cochran Jr a Demo-
-rat. who had previously been appoint .
ad by Governor Tunnel Judge Coch-
ran carried the case TO the Supreme
Court and his appointment was sus-
.aiued
Ii 1870 Mr.. Churchmau was noml-
lltej by then Governor Pe1newii 20
le resident Judge for New Castle Z
.oanty to succeed Judge Daniel O.
Hastings. who had resigned OppOs.
ion developed in he state Senate and
,r. Churchman Withdrew his nomi1-
,hon
Herbert l. Rice then pg3lhonotary q
e New Castle county was appointed =
'esident Judge. and Mt Churchman g
vas appointed by .ae Gov nor TO dA
he prothonotary yacgncy He h.ie1 "
hat office until Oc.obei b. -s12, Taa4
Governor Penuewil tpfl.--ed aim g
uJge of the Munic ~ Gi.r- TO s4c- =.
eei Judge Cochran, term eA V
hed
Judge Churcnman wa al I've IN Lle %
3apuhlican CLUB ana ef-l as chair
lan OF the Republican sl Commit l.
ee in 1902 He vas coua,ei for ths q
ieueral Assembly in 1898 ad 1909. Y
Judge Churchman was married u
qe6 to Miss Margaret g Cunning "
am OF Philadelphia, ea0 survive
i'm, with her daughter As. Charles '
Yinkler. u
The funeral was held ia- Tuesday 2
fternO0n