The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-07-04
SIMPLE BURIAL
HELD HERE FOR
JUSTICE H|TZ
Famed Jurist'S Wishes Needed
BY Family; No EmbaIming,
No Religious Services

Justice William Hitz, associate
justice of the United States Court
of Appeals for the District of Co
lumbia.
A man with thousands of
friends over the Nation, Justice
Hitz was buried early today in the
Rock Greek Cemetery beside his
mother, Mrs. James C. Hitz, by q
halfdozen close friends and men,
berS of the family.
His headstone, like that of his
mother, is a large, rougn.hewn,
jagged piece of rock from a hill
side in Deer Isle, Me-, his summer
home.
No Religious Rites
Earlier, short services were held
at the home in the 1900 block of
Van Buren, st. N. w. John Lord
O'Brian, former Assistant Attor-
ney General of the United States
and a friend since their Harvard
days, came down from Buffalo to
read a few favorite poems and a
family prayer.
There was no religious service,
no bank of flowers against the
casket, no pallbearerS.
Frederick and William Hitz, jr.,
strong-bodied sons of the famous
jurist, aided two undertakerS in
carrying the casket to the hearse.
The hearse then left the home
for the cemetery. It was a half
mile on its way before the family
followed. It was the judges wish
that there be no oStentation, for
he wanted to be buried in keeping
with the simplicity he so rigidly
practiced.
Detectives Attend
The family, Mrs. Hitz and the
two sons. his fellow members on
the Court of Appeals, Mr.. O'Brian
and two detectives formed the pro-
ceSSion.
Two groups of young boys each
threw firecrackers into the street
as the procession passed them.
In the cemetery the small
group stood at a distance while
the two sons again aided in
carrying the coffin to it's rest
ing place. They watched silently
as it disappeared into the earth.
Mr.. O'Brian began a prayer:
Lord God, we return to you
today q character dear to
every one of US. -"
His voice quavered as he con-
tinued. The prayer completed,
the group dispersed. A beloved
man had been laid to rest.
His friends understood his
wish that they send no flowers
(there were but a few flowers
on the casket) and that they
not hold formal funeral. His
friends of the bar will hold a
memorial service later.
Barristers' Tribute
The barristers yesterday adopt
ed a resolution of sympathy over
the death of "a jurist distin-
guished for his ability and learn
ing and possessed of the highest
character and virtues"
Judge Hitz died yesterday of
heart ailment. He was 63 years
old. Without embalming, he was
placed in a coffin by his sons.
His great-grandfather came to
Washington as a consul general
for Switzerland about 1917. Judge
Hitz was born here April 81, 1879.
He was educated at Harvard and
the Georgetown University Law
School. Admitted to the bar in
1899. he practiced law before be-
ing named to the District Supreme
Court by former President Wood
row Wilson.
Judge Hitz was noted for his
dry wit, his dignity on the bench.
his simplicity of character and
the privacy of his personal life.
He reached national promi-
hence in the oil scandal cases,
when he presided at the trials of
Harry F. Sinclair and Albert M.
Fall, who were found guilty of
fraud.
OF his conduct of the oil cases,
the old New York World said at
that time:
what the nation needs is
fewer constitutional changes
and more judges like Judge
Hitz."
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