Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-25
LESLIE G.. CORNISH
CONTINUED from Pane Qnal

reluctance at Withdrawing was ex-
pressed in the words, "*%this is no
easy step to take after a congenial
service OF eighteen years upon the
BENCH" And this sentiment found
echo in the hundreds of tributes
from his colleagues of the bench and
bar who had come to honor, respect
and revere the Chief Justice.
Reluctantly Accepted
In his reply regretfully accepting
the resignation, Governor Brewster
said: wholly aside from the
myriad personal bonds of affection
for you that the citizens in all Sec
tons OF our State proudly and pro-
perry boast is our recognition of the
dignity, the graciousness, the judi
cial attitude, and the legal pro-
foundity that have characterized
your long and distinguished service
upon the bench"
The active and public life of the
late Chief Justice has been full. 1t
Is his associates of the bench and
bar. who have been best able to
appreciate his service to the courts,
his high sense of the sancity of JUS
tfce, his ability and itegrity which
made him preeminent as a jurist
and for which exalted position he
mad every necessary qualification.
Yet there are other thousands of
neighbors, fellow citizens. associates
in other interests and citizens of the
State and Nation who have looked
to his life and character as an in
spiration. They have known his
human qualities, his great sympathy
and understanding, his loyalty to
every great interest and his friend.
illness and sterling character.
Survived Wife a Year
His wife died about year ago
and the only near relatives which
he leaves are three nephews, J..
Colby Bassett of Boston, George X.
Bassett of Winslow. and Justice
Norman L. Bassett of Augusta. The
funeral services will be conducted
from the home at AZ Green street on
Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Leslie Colby Cornish was born in
Winslow on the Kennebec river,
October 8, 1854, the son OF Colby
Coombs and Pauline Bailey (Simp-
SOM Cornish. He secured his A. B..
from Colby college at Waterville in
1875 and his service to his Alma
Mater in his later life has been a
beautiful expression of a noble mans
loyalty. He attended Harvard Law
School 1S10-S0; was honored with an
l.. l.. d. by Colby In 1904, Bowdoin
College 1918; University of Maine,
1920.
Admitted to Bar In 1880
He was a member of the Maine
Legislature of 1878, and was admit
ted to the Maine Bar in 1880. He
was a member of the State Board of
Bar Examiners for five years, was
associate justice of the Supreme Ju-
dicial Court of Maine 1907-17 and
was appointed Chief Justice, June
rs, 1917, serving with distinction I'M
til i'll health forced his resignation,
March /, 1925.
notwithstanding the professional
demands upon his time and attention
he has served as a trustee of the Au-
gusta Savings Bank since 1892, and
as it's president since 1905. He long
was actively interested in the affairs
of the Lithgow Library, being a trus-
tee since 1883 and president of the
Board since 1904. His interest in
his college increased with the years
and at the time of his death was
chairman of the college Board OF
Trustees and has served as trustee
of Coburn Classical Institute since
1901. He has been active in the di-
rectorate of the American Unitarian
Association and was president of the
Maine Unitarian Association 1917-1S
He was president of the Maine So
ciety, Sons of the American Revolu-
tion 1902: member of the Amer
lean Academy of Arts and Sciences,
1928; The Maine Historical Society;
Phi Beta Kappa; Delta Kappa Epsi-
lon. He has been lifelong and
staunch Republican. And these are
but some Of the many interests and