The New York herald., 1920-12-06
FRANCISL.STETSON
0FLAW FAME DIES
Paralytic Stroke Ends Career
of Leading Corporation At
torney at Age of "A.
FRIEND OF CLEvELAND'S
Prepared Case for Samuel j,
TiIden's Legal Contest for
the Presidency.

Francis Lynde Stetson, senior MEM
Der of the law firm of Stetson, Jen-
nings & Russell, and one of the best
known corporation attorneys in the
United States died yesterday afternoon
at his home in 4 East Seventy-fourth
street He was "A years old.
Mr.. Stetson had not been in good
health since December, 1918, when he
was stricken with thrombosis, or blood
clot, followed by partial paralysis. He
had managed to attend to large part
of his business, however. and no
change was noticed in his condition
until early in the afternoon, when he
suffered another stroke, from which
he died in a short time.
1t was announced last night that
the funeral services will be held to-
morrow afternoon at o'clock, and the
interment will take place Wednesday
at Williamstown, Mass, near the col
Iege with which Mr.. Stetson was
closely associated during almost his
entire life.
Mr. Stetson. who was formerly law
partner of Grover Cleveland, intimate
friend and personal counsel of the late j.
Pierpont Morgan. as well as of the pres
ent head OF the Morgan banking firm,
was one of the leading lawyers of the
country, and but few men of his genera :
tior have exercised n more potent m
fiuence in New York. His capacity for
business was equal to his ability as an
attorney, and, although the exact size
of his fortune is a matter of speculation,
he was reputed to be among the wealth
lest members of the New York Bar.
During the last Administration of Mr..
Cleveland 1t Is related that party OF
New York Democrats. of the Tildcn-
Cleveland type. went to Washington and
asked the President to honor Mr.. Stetson
with some appointment that would APP
proximately recognize his merit Ac-
cording TO the story, Mr. Cleveland an
swereI: Gentlemen. you may go back
home with the assurance that II Mr..
Stetson would have accepted an appoint
ment in this Administration his friends
would not have lad TO ask 1t for him.
But the trouble with Stetson is that his
friends can do nothing for him"
Fought to Seat Tilden.
Perhaps Mr.. Stetson had the conf
dence and esteem of the Cleveland De-
moclacy' in this city to a greater extent
than any one else, and his character
commanded the respect of the other fac
tion Of his own party, as well as that of
the Republicans. Mr.. Stetson was
Grover Cleveland's friend and political
adherent long before the latter was
President.
In 1876 Samuel j. Tildcn was the
Democratic Candidate for President. be-
ing defeated by Rutherford B. Hayes,
his Republican opponent. by narrow
margin Mr.. Stetson always asserted
that Tilden actually was elected. and
he was one Of those who took an active
part in the contest which eventually
ended in the discontinue of his party
and the Tilden claims.
The vote in several OF the Southern
States was questioned and Mr.. Stctson
was put In charge of the legal fight
over the returns from Florida. lie pre-
pared the Florida case for the tribunal
created TO pass upon one of the most
momentous election cases in American
history. A lawyer of this city has said
OF that contest:
IL mean no disrcspect in that memoir
able occurrence when I say that " all
the cases had been prepared as Mr..
stetson prepared his II would nave Deen
better for the party. l don't say we
would have seated Mr.. Tilden, for ]
don't believe anything but force could
have done that"
Since 1894 Mr.. Stetson had been a
member of the law firm of Stetson, Jen-
nings & Russell at Is Broad street.
The firm is the successor OF one of the
most noted law partnerships in the
country-Bangs &c Stetson. After his
first term as President Mr.. Cleveland
became member of the firm.
Mr.. Stetson did not come down town
or go home by his timepiecc and there
were days when he was not seen at
his office at all. But those who kaew
him best learned that when he was
absent he was working elsewhere. IL
has been long time since he appeared
in court He was primarily "A corpora
tion attorney, and much OF the most
important railway litigation In the
United states has been dihectly or in
directly managed by him.
Prominent ns Churcbmnr.
For many years Mr.. stetson was a
delegate TO every Episcopal convention.
he was q warden of the Church ~ the
Incarnation End n jealous churchman.
u gas rather remarkable that such a
successful lawyer. and ono Who was 20
much In demand at clubs and social
functions. should have been so SLOW 20
speak. He was not a brilliant after
dinner speaker. nor was he recdgnizcd
as an orator. When he spoke in public
he prepared what he had to say In ad-
Continued on Ninth Page.
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