Putnam patriot., 1929-07-18
Death of Noted Jurist Occurs
 At Home in Mount Vernon
Presided Al Several Trials of Nation
 Wide Interest

Isaac Newton Mills. native of Thompson, former justice of the sup reme court of the state of New York, died shortly after three o'clock Sun day morning at his home on White Plains road. Mount Vernon, N. Y. Judge Mills was in his 79th year. He had been seriously i'll since last De cember when an infection developed following minor operation.
 Despite the protests of his physi- elan and family he had continued to practice from his sick bed and 1t is believed that this hastened the end. His temperature rose Co 105 last Wed nesday and from that time on his family had given up hope for his res eovery. His wife and fcur children were at his bedside when ne died
 The funeral service was held Tues day afternoon at 3:S0 o'clock with religious and masonic rites. The ser vice was from the First Congrega- tional church of Mount Vernon fol- lowed by burial in St. Paul's ceme- tery. All of the justices of the sup reme court and it's appellate division LII kIt Ntft IAAAAA0A AANtAAAA NhAA AtAH c,uded among the honorary pail bear CTS.
 Born In Thompson
 Justice Mills was born on the Mills family homestead in the Brandy Hill section of the town of Thompson, September 10, 1851. He was the fifth and last child of Colonel Isaac Eli Is and Su3an Elizabeth tArnold) Mills, each parent being of old New England stock His early education was obtained in the Brandy Hill dist riet school. where he remained until he was fourteen years old. After leav- ing the district schools he attended several neighboring private high schools. which were ef comparatively short duration. One was in Putnam, ] kept by Joseph Lippitt; another at ] Thompson Center kept by Mrs. Fan nie Newell; another for short time kept by Henry $. Parker.
 At the age of seventeen he entered Providence Conference Seminary at East Greenwich, R. l., where he gra- duated al the head of his class and received the salutatory appoint ment. In 1869 and 1870 he taught a district school at Cananicut Island in NaTaRansett Bay. in 1870 he enter ed Amherst college.
 He was an outstanding student m college aad took prizes in Latin, l Greek, physics, physiology and public debating He was graduated valedic- torian Of his class having the highest rank therein During his junior year he was one of the editors of "The Amherst Student"
 Studies Law
 The following year he took up the study of law at Columbia' and wa. , graduated two years later, 1876, witt the degree of LL B. He was admitted to the bar the same year and begar the practice of law in Mount Nernof and New York. He was married tho same year to Miss Cara Maria Burn ett O. Webster, Mass. They made their home in Mount Vernon, where Mir. Mills became the senior member cf the law firm of Mills & Wood. In the fall of 1883 he was elected judge of the Westchester county court as a Republican. although at that time the county was democratic. In 1889 he was re-e 'ected.
 At the end of his second term, 1895. he withdrew Co resume his pri- vate practice and remained inactive in politics until 1900 when he was elected to the state senate. At the end of the one year term he again re- sumed his private practice and cen tinued in practice until 1907 when he was appointed justice of the su- preme court for the 9th district.
 l. was in 1909 that Justice Mills handed down one of the most famous decisions. Harry K. Thaw had ob- tained a writ of habeas corpus from Mattewan and the hearing was before Justice Mills. It was widely predicted that the Thaw money and influence would win him his freedom on the writ. These predictions were erron- oous. Justice Mills found Thaw still insane and. in lengthy opinion, re- fused the writ and sent Thaw back to the asylum. expressing the opinion that insanity such as Thaw was said to be afflicted with-paranoia--was incurable
 In Sensational Trials Among the Stfled ilNNal Ni t"lH S11 ! tice Mills participated in were Wal ter s. Ward case. Ward was charged with murder and Justice Mills as has counsel was credited with win ming Wards freeom. He was also counsel in the famous Stillman di- vorce case representing Mrs. Anna 1 r. Sti lman against James A. still man. This case ended abrutly in 1926 when reconciliation was affected. He also served as counsel for Kip Rhylander to his petition for annul- meut of his marriage.
 By 1911 Justice Mills had made such reputation as a jurist that Amherst college conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor Of Laws. In 1915 be became associate justice of the appellate division of the supreme court and served until 1921.
 His Affiliations
 He was g member of the Associa- tfrry nf fha Nar of tho flfv of New