Evening star., 1954-10-10
Justice Jackson Dies at 81;
Stricken by Heart Attack At
Wheel Of Car on .. c. Street
Noted Jurist
Had Rapid Rise
Under New Deal
By Robert K. Walsh

Supreme Court Justice Robert
n. jackson died suddenly yes
terday after being stricken by a
heart attack at the wheel Of his
automobile while on q shopping
trip.
A spokesman for the Court
said the Justice was driving
away from the Sears, Roebuck
B. Co. store at 4500 Wisconsin
avenue NV. when be suffered
the seizure.
He managed to drive to the
home of his secretary. Mrs. Elsie
Douglas, at the Berkshire Apart
ments, 4201 Massachusetts, ave-
nue NV, where he collapsed.
Mrs. Douglas called his per-
sonal physician. DR.. Hill Carter.
Justice Jackson died at 11:45
am, q few minutes after DR..
Carter arrived.
News Delayed Four Hours.
Although the 62-year-old ju-
rist died shortly before noon,
there was no public disclosure
until more than four hours later.
The announcement was made
through the Supreme Court press
Office, which said members OF
Justice Jackson's family were
too shocked to notify the court
Immediately.
President Eisenhower, mourn
ing Justice Jackson's death, said
In Denver that "his exceptional
legal talents and devotion to the
public good will be sorely missed
by all citizens of our country"
The news was relayed to Gen.
Eisenhower at the Cherry Hills
Country Club in Denver. where
he had gone for a round Of golf.
Justice Jackson's unexpected
passing caught official Washing
ton by surprise and there was no
immediate speculation as to
possible successor. Presidential
aides in Denver said the Presi-
dent likely would wait until he
returns to Washington to pick
a successor. Present plans call
for him to return late next
week.
BY tradition, the name Of At
torney General Herbert Browneil,
jr. came Immediately to the fore,
since the head of the Justice
Department is almost automat-
ically in line for Supreme Court
appointment when q vacancy
occurs.
Some associates of Mr.. Brow
nell were inclined to feel, how
ever, that Gen. Eisenhower
might prefer to keep him in his
present post, where he serves as
one of the principal consultants
of the White House.
Possible Appointees.
Following Chief Justice Vim
sons death on September 8, 1858,
and prior to Chief Justice War
ren's appointment as his sue
cessor, several names were men,
toned in speculation about pos
sible Eisenhower appointees to
the Supreme Court.
Among these were Gov.
Thomas e. Dewey of New York,
Federal Circuit Judge John j.
Parker of Charlotte. N. c., and
Chief Justice Arthur T. Wander
bilt of the New Jersey Supreme
Court.
Gov. Dewey is relinquishing the
New York governorship after
three terms this year and has not
disclosed his future plans except
to say that he was retiring from
public life.
Justice jackson, a member OF
the Supreme Court for IA years
and a former attorney general.
was renowned internationally as
the chief American prosecutor Of
top Nazi war criminals at the
Nuremberg trials
He was with his eight col
leagues on the bench last Mon
day when the court opened its
new term.
For several weeks last spring
Justice Jackson was in the hos
pital here because Of a heart
seizure. He returned to the bench
on May II. however, to be pres
ent for the reading of the tribu-
nails unanimous decision against
public school segregation.
Active Through Term.
He remained active until the
end of the term. During the
summer recess he indicated to
reporters that there was moth
ing to rumors that he might
resign from the court this year.
An Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court since his ap-
pointment by the late Presi-