Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-13
Memorial Services
(ContinNfd from Page Ninel


(continwed from Page Nins)
stricted. To the honor Of Judge
Whitehouse be It said that largely
because Of his ability az q trial Judge,
his tact and diplomacy, and his prac-
tical demonstration OF the need of
the court In order to facilitate liti-
cation. and correct that delay which
mad well nigh become q denial of
Justice. he raised the court to q high
place In the regard Of the bar. Its
jurisdiction was enlarged. and it
came to occupy that firm position in
the public mind which it has since
maintained. It vas a crucial but
successful experience, !.
When on March 80, 1890. the Hon.
Charles Danforth Of Gardiner passed
away after distinguished service of
70 years as an associate justice of
the supreme judicial court, Judge
Whitehouse was appointed his sue
cessor by Governor Burleigh, and
then began q service for the state of
Maine that for % years knew no
cessation. no abatement, no thought
OF personal sacrifice. Think what a
harvest OF material wealth those g,
years. between the age Of AZ and n,
might have garnered for him. with
all his legal learning, his richness Of
experience and his wide acouaint-
ance. had he seen fit to practice ar
the bar. Instead he devoted all his
taients and all his strength to his
uutles as a magistrate, in the set
tling OF private rights and the vim
dication of public wrongs, and the
people Of this state owe him q debt
OF gratitude which should never he
forgotten.
The work of judge at nisi prius
has no lasting memorial like that of
the appellate Judge in his printed
opinions Yet 1t is a task of the
hlgnest Importance. Here he comes
into personal touch with the parties
the witnesses. the jurors the coun-
sci ana upon each he makes his i'm
preston as he guides the case to a
just conclusion. In this CAPACITY
Judge Whitehouse was particularly
efficient. His experience of II wears
IN the superior court fully eouipped
MN Tor the same kind of work in
the supreme, and as he went about
on the circuit he became what might
De termed popular trial Judge in
the best sense Of that rather abused
term.
he always held the reins but he
held them SO deftly that there was
niue pulling at the bit. His merits
were obvious. He was keen of pers
ceptlon and swift OF decision. His
!nlnd worked rapidly but accurately.
facllty or decision admits of many
grades. Slowness is not an indis-
pensable element of sureness The
pullet speeds as unerringly to it's
mark as the arrow. Judge White
house had that type Of mind which
promptly grasped the legal point and
then as promptly followed through
to the logical conclusion.
And yet with this swiftness was
combined rare patience. The alert
intellect is apt to be impatient of the
one OF slower mold, and it Is diff
cult for some who have reached the
logical destination to wait for those
who are struggling on the way. Judge
Whitehouse was not Of that type. He
was patient and tolerant at all times
and with all people.
Another outstanding characteristic
OF Judge Whitehouse was his I'M
bounding charity, charity for the
SHINING and unfortunate, charity for
the young and struggling attorney at
hn 40 oh nit fo,
witness on the stand. His whole life
was the exposition Of the 18th chap
ter of list Corinthians, whether we
take the word charity as in the King
James version or translated as love
in the revised version. This quality
made every man his friend, and his
passing a personal loss to a wide
community.
And with this keeness Of percep-
ton, this promptness of decision,
this patience and this charity, was
delightful vein Of humor that had
a sparkle Of wit without it's sting.
This often relieved the tedium of a
trial and cleared the atmosphere of
the court room without lessening it's
dignity in the least. He was fond
of people, especially Of gatherings of
the legal profession, and his abound
ing good nature, his skill as recon-
tour and his quickness Of repartee
made him the ever welcome compan-
len. It is not strange that Judge
Whitehouse was deeply loved by the
bar of every county in the state, and
no loved them in turn.
This was beautifully illustrated
| just before he left us. called upon
him three days before his death,
little realizing that he was so near
the end He greeted me in the same