Evening star., 1948-09-27
Judge Robert E. MottingIy Dies.
|On Bench Here for % Years
CoIorfuI D. c. Jurist
Coined Attention in
EorIy Red TrioI

EorIy Red Trial
Funeral services for Robert E.
Mattingly, 50. outspoken Municipal
Court judge here from 1919 to 1912,
were held today at Tucson, Ariz.
Judge Mattingly, originally ap-
pointed to the bench by President
Wilson, died in Tucson Saturday.
He had been living there since
his retirement from the bench be-
cause of Ill health.
The veteran jurist, who was born
in South Washington, was Demo-
cratic leader here before his ap-
pointment. But he was renamed to
his post by three Republican Presi-
dents. Each time he was Endorsed
by many District civic and legal
groups.
In June, 1886, Judge Mattingly
was the center of a controversy
when he fined two persons for dis
tributing Communist literature near
Grifflth Stadium. During the
stormy hearing, the judge asked
one of the defendants If she were
a Communist.
Urged Dissidents to Leave.
After a protest by defense coun-
sci that political beliefs were not
an issue, Judge Mattingly replied,
IF you don't like our system of
government, you ought to leave
the country" The United States
Court of Appeals later ordered a
new trial.
On another occasion, the judge
branded the old Washington Tran
sient Bureau as a "harbor for
thieves" and said persons staying
there take up more of this court S
time than known criminals whose
presence here is expected"
Judge Mattingly often denounced
violators of the prohibition act and
traffic offenders, although he also
sometimes criticized police for hand
ing out too many parking tickets,
and for unnecessary arrests"
i He was once authority for the
statement that many prisoners
aren't really bad and it doesn't hurt
to turn a few of them loose once in
awhile
Accounts of Age Vary.
Judge Mattingly was well known
for his habit of observing his birth
day, September IA, by sending ice
cream to the newspapers, court
attaches and prisoners awaiting trial.
Always reticent about his age, he
invariably referred to each birthday
as his "forty-flfth." Several differ
ent versions of his age can be found.
The Associated Press reported from
Tucson that he was 50. Friends in
Washington gave his age as various
ly as SO and "a. Who's Who in the
Nations Capital gives his birth
date as 1871, which would make him
II. A clipping from The Star Of
July 3, 1912, quotes the judge as
saying he was born in 1870, which
would make him 78.
The jurist also was noted for the
number of marriages he performed.
When he retired he estimated he
had officiated at more than 1000
ceremonies.
I've married an English baron,
and a granddaughter of Abraham
Lincoln to a Southerner," he was
quoted as saying.
Once he was called from a base
ball game at Griffith Stadium to
perform a ceremony. After pro-
nouncing the couple man and wife,
he hurried back to catch the last
inning of the game. it was said.
Judge Mattingly lost his left hand
in a hunting accident when he was
13 years old.
His family said an old muzzle
loading shotgun exploded during a
trip which he had chosen In pref
erence to a trip to a Saturday
matinee with his father, the late
George E. Mattingly.
Despite loss of the hand, he mas
tered the use of a typewriter "and
could go as fast using one hand as
most people can using two
Born on "The Island"
The son of a postal clerk, Judge
Mattingly was born in the section
known as "The Island" This area
was between old Tiber Greek, a
stream then flowing along the ap-
proximate route of Constitution
avenue, and the Potomac River.
He attended the old Jefferson
school at Sixth street and Virginia
avenue S.W., and studied law at
Georgetown University, graduating
in 1894.
/ After serving as stenographer and
clerk in the law division of the old
United States Bureau of Pensions,
he entered private practice.
He was supervisor of the census
here when named to Municipal
Court to succeed Judge Milton
Strasburger.
Judge Mattingly attended most
national Democratic conventions
from 1896 until his appointment as
Judge.
Nominated John R.. Mclean.
| At his first convention, he NOM
Iinated John r. Mclean OF WASH
ington for president. At this con-
|vention, held in Chicago, William
Jennings Bryan was first named by
the Democrats as their candidate.
In 1912 at the Baltimore conven-
ton, Judge Mattingly supported
Speaker Champ Clark. At that con-
vention, he was said to have in
CURED Mr.. Bryan's wrath by NOM
mating the famous orator for vice
president.
Judge Mattingly married the for
mer Miss Julia Cameron OF WASH
ington in 1901. She died nine years
later. He married the former Miss
Gertrude Shelton in 1920. She Is
his only immediate survivor.
Active in Civic Groups.
A strong advocate of civic organ
izations as "the only way District
residents can make their wishes
known" he belonged for many years
to the Midcity Citizens Association.
He was a member OF the Oldest