New-York tribune., 1922-09-17
Justice keogh.
Horlored by Bar
OF w estcIlester
Tweniy-seven Years of Serv-
ice ON Bench Exaolled
i'm Resolutions: Will
Retire Next December
Praises His Associates
Recalls Brilliant Lawyers
Who Upheld Traditions of
Profession i'm Early Days

h.r and personal friends of Supreme
Court Justice Martin j. Reogh congre-
GATED on the wide lawn fronting his
home in Pelham Bay Road, New Ro-
~ba,le. Yesterday afternoon to witnes
tha presentation of a set of engrossed
-asolutions by the Westchester Bar
sssociation. The ceremony was in COM
nnomorat;on Of Justice Keogh's twenty
seven years service on the Supreme
Court bench.
delegations were present from Rock
,and Orange, Putnam, Duchess and
Westehester counties, making up the
otb Judicial District. Justice Keogh
,eceived his visitors on the lawn, aid
n nv the members OF the family.
George Fl. Taylor, president of the
Westchester County Bar Association,
presented the resolution in short ad-
dress. other speakers were former
.Justice Isaac n. Mills of the Appellate
Division, Supreme Court Justice Nor
schauser of Poughkeepsie, William j.
Kelly, of Brooklyn, and ]. Addison
Young, of New Rochelle. John NJ. Dig
aer also spoke in behalf of the Bar
Association
In responding to the presentation
Judge Keogh said he wab proud of the
friendships he had formed in his long
term of service on the bench, and
added:
"For twenty-seven years as a Judge
] have lived and worked among you
The light that beats down upon the
bench made clear to you almost every
act of my life. When / came to West
chester County ] found here lawyers,
nGny of whom might be called great
There were Edwin Wells, Calvin Frost
0dle Close, William H. Robertson and
Francis Larkin. each representing
different type of mind, but all repreS
sentng the high character which casts
an enduring luster on the Westchester
har Immediately following these came
Isaac n. Mills, of high character and
profound learning.
"Ihat first scene in the old court
,eos at White Plains has never faded |
from my memory. The courtroom was
e-cyded, and in front stood Francis
Iarkin, strong in mind and Drawn. Be
blnd him and almost crouching at his
feet lay black boy charged with mur-
der. He was looking into the face of
the man Mnom he regarded almost as
Ills savior On the happy day of my
unanimous denomination / said in
soaking 10 the joint convention that
tie honcr came from political. allies
and generous political adversaries. Now
after twenty years of service on
the bench | am happy to see the same
old friends standing by my side. A
man who loses his old friends is un-
worthy of new ones.
81 promised that during my new
term would strive, as l had done dur
worthy Of the peoples trust-that l
ing the old one. to prove myself
would be a justice of the Supreme
Court for the whole people, upholding
justice and mercy no matter how
ieebly they might be defended, oppos
ing injustice and cruelty no matter
how powerfully they might be advo-
uted and regardless of who the suitor
raybe, or under what sun he may have
bsef born.
Z had no enemies to punish, no en-
zites to crafty, no reprisals to make,
aud if the roll of lawyers of the 9th
judicial District were called | would
not find a man on it whom | have not
trusted, nor one who has shown him
self unworthy of my confidence.
! hope in the years to come this
mutual confidence and respect which
has distinguished the relations between
bench and bar of the SecoLl Depart
ment, will grow stronger aad closer as
they pass, and that l may be blest to
the end in possession of your respect
and confidence.
81 know that judges of the Second
Department were far better lawyers
than I am, and that many of them
carried down from precedent to prece-
dent, the great principles of the COM
mon law in reasoning, which will cause
their decisions to endure for all time
such judges were Cullen and Bartlett
The TWO great chief judges of the Court
OF appeals, but | am sure that not one
OF them was happier or got more pleas
ure out Of his work as q judge than
did
mo Judge ever had more delightfu!
ana charitable associates or more
trustworthy bar than / have had to
work with. From full heart than;
you, every one. If during the remain
Ger OF my life 1 can ever be of use to
any one of you who may find his bur
cen too heavy to carry, it will give me
great happiness to help him over some
rough spot in life's journey"
Judge keogh was graduated from
New New York University Law School in
1910, and, as valedictorian of his class,
made an address at the Academy OF
Music on international law. From that
sme ne has lived in New Rochelle.
Next December he will retire from the
limit.
During twenty years practice at the
oar Judge Keogh defended almost
every man charged with murder il the
Sfst degree. Not one was convicted.
simplicity was the keynote of his pro-
.teaure IN trial of case. He used
me shortest words available and never
i spoke from notes. He was sparing of
gesture and the tones of his voice were
impressive
justice Keogh is a Democrat in dis
tlct that is overwhelmingly Repub-
ncan' In November, 1895, he received
sgasought the nomination for Justice of
.s as supreme Court on the Democratic
.l sekeI and though all the candidates on
sae Republican ticket were elected he
vas vas elected on the Democratic ticket.
~ the end of his first term he was
UNANIMOUSLY nominated by both parties
70 succeed himself.
apart from his work in the judiciary
asustlee Keogh found time to launch
we New Rochelle Peoples Forum where
f,3e spme of the foremost men of the
.nited States discussed vital questions
ana their deliberations attracted at
vsshtion from coast to coast. Judge
sseogh also founded the Westchester
asga Aid Society which gave aid and
counsel
'oastao-Coasi Dirigihle