Evening star., 1935-03-06
94th Birth Anniversary Fri
day Will Mark Final Rites
for Jurist.
PRESIDENT WILL LEAD
NATIONS LAST HONOR
Gallant Battle With Lung Malady
Ends in Death Early
Today.

Oliver Wendell Holmes. grand old
man of American jurisprudence. is
dead-a victim of bronchial pneu-
monia almost on the eve of his oath
birthday anniversary.
The extraordinary career of the
revered patriarch of the law. who
fought for his country on the field Of
battle and for the rights of his fellow
man on the Nations highest bench,
came to a peaceful end at 2:l5 am.
today at his plain brick home at 1920
street.
On Friday his legion of friends and
admirers had planned TO celebrate
with him the passing of another mile
stone. not far removed from the CEN
tury mark. Instead. they will mourn
for him at a soldiers funeral IN
Arlington National Cemetery.
There, where are buried many OF
the warriors who fought beside him
in defense of the Union Chief Justice
Hughes and the other members OF the
Supreme Court will oficiate as hon.
orary pallbearers-in tribute TO one
who brought to their tribunal the rare
combination of profound learning, lib
eral thinking and sparkling Wit.
President Pays Tribute.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt Will
attend the military services in Az
lineton and Mrs. Roosevelt also will
90 to All Souls Church for the pre-
liminary rites,
The President, who had known and
admired Holmes for years, today de-
clared the Nation has lost ''one Of its
first citizens" On the first birthday
anniversary which Holmes observed
after his retirement from the Su-
preme Court four years ago, President
Roosevelt drove to his l street home
to felicitate him.
The Presidents tribute to Holmes
follows:
oliver Wendell Holmes. associate
Justice of the Supreme Court Of the
United States. retired, has left US.
THE Nation has lost one of its
first citizens.
we cannot minimize the grief of
his passing but We can find solace
in the thought that he was with US
for so long. His was a life of rare
distinction; soldier. scholar. author,
teacher. jurist and gallant gentleman,
he personified throughout his long
career the finest American traditions.
Influence Powerful.
Endowed with a keen and pierc-
ing intellect which was mellowed by
a kindly humor and understanding,
he had a powerful and beneficent in
fluence upon the Nation. Imbued
with the high sense of justice and
right, he believed in the peaceful
evolution of the new from the old.
He had a fine perspective of history
as continuous and living thing and.
with courage and logic believed in the
shaping Of government to changing
conditions.
THE people of America mourn the
death of the venerable and beloved
justice.
Mrs. Roosevelt and I had the high
privilege of his friendship for many
years. Our sorrow in his passing is
great"
Others of high and low estate ex-
pressed sentiments similar to those Of
the President
When the Supreme Court convened,
Chief Justice Hughes made the fol-
lowing announcement:
1T is my sad duty to announce
that our former colleague. Mr.. JUS
tice Holmes. passed away this morn
ing. Peacefully, painlessly and in the
fullness of time. came the inevitable
end-the close of a career of unique
distinction. as patriot. scholar. Judge.
We have lost great jurist and
noble friend.
'As mark of respect to his men,
ory. the court will now adjourn until
tomorrow, noon. We shall then re-
sumo the hearing of cases and at
tlfe close of the session tomorrow
the court will adjourn until Monday
next at noon in order that the men,
bers of the court may attend the
funeral services to be held on Friday"
All the members of the court were
present except Justice Van Devanter,
detained at home by slight cold.
Attorney General Cummings, who
had called at the Holmes residence
during the final stages of the vener-
able patients illness. said today the
country has lost "one of the most
distinguished and best-beloved person.
alities of our time"
THE broad sweep of his scholar
ship" Cummings stated. "and his
unfailing devotion to liberal tradition,
in law as in life, will make him ever
remembered"
Relatives at Bedside.
At the bedside in the high-ceilinged
second-floor room where the white
haired jurist breathed his last was a
sorrowful group of devoted relatives
and friends, including his closest liv-
ing relative, Edward Holmes of Boston.
DR.. Thomas A. Clayton, friend and
physician, commented that it was "the
most peaceful death ever saw" The
venerable patient seemingly just drop
ped of into a sleep from which there
is no rousing, it was said.
The end was announced at 2:20
am. by Mark Howe, youthful former
Continued on Page S, Column 81