Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05
J. Harry Covington,
Former D. T.. Jurist,
Dies al Home Here
Was Named Chief Justice
OF District Court by
President Wilson

J. Harry Covington. II, former
chief justice of the District Supreme
Court and head of one of the larg-
est law firms in the city, died at his
home, 1890 Wyoming avenue NV,
yesterday afternoon. A cold con-
tracted earlier in Chicago became
serious last Saturday.
Mr.. Covington represented the
first Maryland District in the House
for six years and served as District
Court chief justice for four. He re-
signed from the bench in 1918 to
found with Edward B. Burling the
law firm now known as Covington.
Burling, Rublee, Acheson IL Shorb.
District Court Adjourns.
District Court. in general session
this afternoon, paid tribute to the
memory of its former chief justice
and then offlcially adjourned out of
respect to his memory.
John S. Flannery, prominent local
attorney, speaking on behalf of the
bar, of1icially announced the death
of the former chief justice and rec
commended that the court adjourn.
Justice Jennings Bailey, oldest
member Of the District bench, who
presided, said he had high respect
for legal ability of the late chief
justice.
Responding to Mr.. Flannery's ad-
dress, on behalf of the court, Justice
Jesse C. Adkins said Justice Gov
ington's congressional experience
was of great help to the court. for
to him was largely due the credit
for the remodeling of our court
house. which began during his term.
Judge Covington's sudden and
untimely death is real grief to us
all, and is a distinct loss to this
community and to the administra-
ton of justice"
Active in All Law Branches.
Active in every branch Of inter-
national and domestic law during
his private practice, Mr.. Covington
took part in litigation which is
credited with molding Jurisprudence
for the entire country. While in
Congress he was chairman Of the
House Interstate Commerce Sub
committee which drew up the act
establishing the Federal Trade
Commission.
A native of Talbot County, Md,
Mr.. Covington was educated in the
public schools Of Maryland at Mary
land Military Academy and received
his law degree from the University
of Pennsylvania in 1894. He was ad-
mitted to the Maryland bar the year
of his graduation and began practice
at Easton.
Elected to House.
Mr.. Covington was elected States
attorney of Talbot County in 1908
and to the House in 1909. After
serving in the Sixty-f1rst, Sixty-sec-
ond and Sixty-third Congresses. he
resigned September 30, 1914, when
President Wilson appointed him to
the District bench.
During his term as Chief Justice
he taught law at Georgetown Uni
versity. After Mr.. Covington re-
signed the judicial post to enter
private practice. President Wilson
appointed him for a year term on
the Railroad Wage Commission.
He was a member of both the
District and the American Bar As
sociations. President of the Alfalfa
Club in 1929, he had been men,
Der of the Board of Governors for
the last IL years.
Warden at st. Johns.
He was a member of the Boards
of Directors of Kennecott Copper
Corp, Union Trust Co. and Con-
tinental American Life Insurance
Co., and a Junior warden of st.
Johns Episcopal Church. His clubs
also included the Metropolitan,
Burning Tree and Chevy Chase.
Mr.. Covington is survived by his
widow, Mrs. Ethel K. Covington; a
son, j. Harry Covington, Sd, men,
Der of his fathers law firm, and a
daughter, Mrs. Lewis Clark, whose
husband is in the diplomatic service
stationed in Ottawa, Canada.
Funeral services will be held at
10 am. tomorrow at the home, with
burial in Easton. There will be no
honorary pallbearers.