Milford chronicle., 1959-07-03
JAS. r. MOrfOrd Is
Victim OF Heart Attack


four years as attorney general were
marked, among other things, by the
famous Blue Laws Cases, had been
active on the side of the majority
of the Bar Association in efforts to
compel banks to stop practicing
law.
Broad-shouldered confident, COM
handing, Mr.. Morford carried per-
suasive manner into a courtroom
where his resonant voice and his
careful speech brought immediate
respect from judges, litigants and
observers. He tried all kinds of
cases through the years and his
most recent triumph in a criminal
action was that of his defense of
former Magistrate Samuel j. Hat
ton who was tried in April, 1856,
and acquitted of a charge of filing
false reports with the state trea-
surer.
Mr.. Morford was born in Will
mington on August II, 1898. His
parents were the late William H.
and Ella P. (Ward) Morford. He
was educated in the Wilmington
public schools, the Dickinson
School of Law and the George
Washington University Law School.
During World War / Mr.. Nor
ford served as an ensign in the Ma
val Air Service.
After the war Mr.. Morford was
chief of the insurance claims unit,
Bureau of War Risk Insurance, in
Washington from 1919 to 1921. The
next year he became associated in
law practice in Wilmington with
the late Josiah Marvel. This was
followed by long association also
with the late Josiah Marvel, Jr., in
the firm of Marvel and Morford.
Subsequently, Mr.. Morford was as
ISOLATED with William H. Bennett
hum, III, and others in practice,
leading to the formation Of the new
firm early this year,
Mr.. Morford's interests included
the American Legion in which he
had served as commander of Della
ware Post, No. 1 the Veterans of
Foreign Wars, the Masons includ-
ing the Delaware Consistory; the
National Aeronautics Association.
In 1941 he was named executive Of
ficer for the wing command of Del
aware in the then new Civil Air De-
tense unit.
During the last political cam
paign Mr.. Morford, who rad been
steadfast but silent Republican in
recent years, spoke out for Januar
D. Bove, Jr., the COP candidate for
attorney general. Mr.. Bove won.
In 1856, Mr.. Morford was one of
100 acknowledgements lawyers
who defended the Supreme Court
of the United States which was I'M
der attack for certain interpreta-
tions of the Constitution.
In his latest case to reach decis-
ion, Mr.. Morford was on the win
ming side in an opinion handed
down by Superior Court Judge An
drew D. Christie. The decision in
volved an Interpretation of court
rule STIMULATING that suits may be
dismissed if more than two years
have elapsed since the death OF a
litigant without substitution of a
proper party.
MT. MOIAOIQs MdAlAC0 SWAOCS
leaves two children by his first wife.
They are James r. Morford, Jr.,
and Mrs. Hugh M. Figgatt, Jr., of
Oyster Bay, Long Island. His first
wife, whom he married In 1917,
was the former Claire A. Rhoads.
His second wife, whom he married
in 1899, is the former Elizabeth E.
Meigs. There are seven grandchil-
dren.
Mr.. Morford's family said We'd
nesday night that there will be no
viewing. There will be memorial
service, to which friends are in
vited, Friday morning at IL, at the
Chandler Funeral Home. In lieu
of flowers, the family requests that
contributions be made to the Free
Ambulance Service of the Volun-
teer Firemen's Association.