Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1888 — CHIEF JUSTICE WAITE DEAD. [ARTICLE]

CHIEF JUSTICE WAITE DEAD.

He Passed Aw ty tn Washington, Friday, Unexpectedly. The Hon. Morrison R. Waite, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, died at his residence in Washington, D. C., at 6 o’clock Friday morning--While indisposed for a week no fears of his death were entertained until almost, the last moment. He attended a reception on the evening of the 17th, and returned home so ill that a physician was called. He improved in a day or two. His trouble was in the nature of pneumonia. His daughter and son were with him when be died. His wife was in California, whither she went a week previous. He will be buried at Toledo, Ohio. The Sapreme Court and both Houses of Congress adjourned as a mark of respect. The President wa» very much shocked on learning of the event. Quite an intimacy had sprang up between the two officials since the President’s term began, and the latter had often been heard to express himself in terms of the highest praise of the Chief Jns ice’s character and ability.

Morrison Renish Waite was bora at Lyme, Conn., Nov. 29,1816. His father was Chief Justice of the Sapreme Court of Connecticut. Morrison entered Yale college in 1833 and graduated at the age of 21 with honor ih a class which included Wm. M. Evarts, Edwards Pirrepont and others since distinguished. He was admitted to the bar at Maumee City, 0., in 1839, and soon moved to Toledo. He was a successful prac-’ titioner. He was one of the Geneva Award Commissioners. He was appointed Chief Justice in 1874, abont a year after he had been admitted to practice in the Federal Sapreme Coart. Caleb Cushing had been rejected by the Senate for the position. He was eligible to retirement in 188&af a salary of SIO,OOO a year but preferrd active service. He was married in 1840 to Amelia Warner, of Lyme. He leaves an estate valued at $200,000. The House Committee on the revision of laws has decided, by an almost unanimous vote, to report a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution for the election of United States Senators by the direct votes of the people. The Honse Territories committee will report a bill for the organization of the of the Territory of Alaska.