Evening journal., 1921-06-30
QUITS AS CLERK
AFTER 81 YEARS
Continued on Page Five

connected with thlS court. Iouay |
marks the end OF eighteen years |
service as its clerk. was young |
both in age and experience when 1 1
was appointed deputy clerk OF the /
Circuit and District Courts for this |
district. My predecessor, Major $. /
Redmond Smith, after a prolonged I
illness. resigned his office on June |
80, 1903, and / succeeded as clerk OF /
the Circuit Court through appoint !
ment by Circuit Judges Acheson /
Dallas and Gray. and as clerk Of the |
District Court through appointment /
by District Judge Bradford. In ad- /
dition I held the Office OF United
States Commissioner for this district
for four terms. from July, 1908 to
November. 1919, through appoint
ments by Judge Bradford with the
approval Of the attorneys general Of
the United States. / have also re-
ceived from time to time from the
Circuit and District Judges in the
Third Circuit appointments as Spe-
cial Master and Special Examiner
in equity causes and as commissioner
in admiralty.
with propriety 1 think may say
that / have tried to bring 10 each
office all the fidelity, zeal and ef-
ficiency within my power, always
with the thought Of absolute loyalty
to the court, having at heart its dig
nifty and authority. Notwithstand-
/ ing this purpose on my part, what
ever measure OF success 1 have at
tanned must. in large degree. be as
cribed 10 the inspiring influence OF
the men with whom / have been
brought in daily contact by reason
OF the opportunities which the hold
ing Of these Offices has afforded me.
Avoiding detail, 1 desire to express
my deep appreciation OF their aid
and assistance, without which / feel
that / could not have had the same
measure OF success. Words fail with
which adequately TO acknowledge
my obligations to your predecessors,
Judges Wales and Bradford. and my
appreciation Of your own kindness
and consideration to me. To each 1
owe much for the confidence re
posed in me. I desire to acknowl-
edge the courtesy and kind consid-
Grafton always shown me by the
practitioners in this court. My re-
lations with them have been Of the
most cordial character. am also
indebted to the United States at
torneys for this district. Messrs.
Watson. Vandegrift and Byrne. now
deceased. and Messrs Cooper
Nields. Curley and Hughes. as we'll
aa "a tho r,arehafa of thfo Ffetvfof
Messrs. Mahany, Lannan. Short.
Finn and Townsend-an OF whom
are now -Marshals Fairy
and Money. and their several depu-
ties. for their earnest cooperation
in carrying on the work Of the
courts. Ny brother, Henry c. Ma
haffy. Jr., joined me in the work OF
the clerks Office over twenty-five
years ago. and has been my chief
deputy for the past eighteen years.
I desire TO acknowledge my deep
appreciation Of his constant. un-
failing kindness and OF his loyalty
towards the court and to me in the
duties OF this Office. The other as
sistants in the clerks office. present
and past. and agents OF the United
States from the several govern
mental departments have all con-
tributed largely TO such efficiency as
may have been present in the per-
formance OF my duties
81 have sincerely appreciated and
enjoyed the privileges and duties Of
the Office. Also. 1 have a strong
sense Of pride and gratitude in the
many recollecuons that shall carry
with me-"
Mr.. Ward. speaking for the mem
bers Of the bar. offered regrets at
/, the loss Of Mr.. Mahaffy as clerk of
the court. and at the same time con-
. graduated him on his admittance TO
, the bar. He voiced the appreciation
Of the gathering for the assistance
and courtesy given by the resigning
officer and stated that It was not
! measurable in money
I'VE owe Mr.. Mahafy a debt OF
, obligation for his uniform courtesy
! and his uniform assistance" said Mr..
r Ward. "Many condolences were in
, his keeping, and never was one be-
J trayed. Although we regret the res
ignation from his position. never did
a man come to the Delaware bar
with a warmer welcome" he con-
! cluded.
] Judge Morris also offered his con-
I gratulations, along with several trib-
utes to his fidelity in Office. Judge
Morris remarks in full follow:
'Mr- Mahaffy. it is with keen per-
sonal regret that 1 accept your
q resignation aa clerk NJ fhia cour+
5 You have been in the service Of this
b. government one-fourth OF the time
t since the Inauguration Of Washing
r ton as its President. The ending OF
a service Of such duration cannot
pass unnnoticed by this court. As
clerk you have occupied an inn
portant public office. In the per
formance OF its duties you have had
ever In mind that you held in your
keeping as a public trust a position
Of the sovereign power of the United
States You have realized that the
very essence Of free government con-
sists in considering a public Office
as bestowed for the good Of the
country and not for the benefit Of the
incumbent. You have been aware
that this is a government for tn,
people; that 1t was established in Z
place, at a time and under circum
stances peculiarly fortunate ant
without a parallel and that n oui
government fails popular govern
ments must be pronounced impossi
bic and individual liberty will perisl
from the earth. You have believe,
that tho ueofufnQaa and ,arpot,,ft,