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The New York Court of Appeals.

Samuel Hand. Samuel Hand, a distinguished Albany lawyer, the reporter of the court, sat a few months by appointment to fill a vacancy in 18—, but was not nominated for election. He gave good promise. He died much la mented, in 1886, at the age of fifty-two. See his opinion in Cowee v. Cornell, 75 N. Y.

91, on constructive fraud, as an example of his powers. Benjamin F. Tracy. Benjamin F. Tracy, at present Secretary of the Navy, was ap pointed in place of Judge Andrews, on the latter's appoint ment as Chief-Judge, in 188 1, and sat until 1882. He was a suc cessful judge, and is seen to fine advantage in Story v. New York Elevated R. Co., 90 N. Y. 122. William Crawford Ruger. The Chief-Judge was born in Oneida W1LLIAM County, N. Y., — which I believe has produced more distinguished men than any other county in the State, — in 1824, and received an academical education. He was in large practice at Syracuse, and was a moderate Democratic politician. He was elected chief-judge over his neighbor, Judge Andrews, in 1882. More than any other judge in this court, he adheres to the old method of writing opinions, of which ChiefJudge Davies was the best exponent, of de tail and elaboration, citation, discussion, and discrimination of many authorities, with a leaning on precedents rather than an evo-

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lution of principles. His opinions are, on the average, much the longest of any in the court. They are evidence of a great deal of patient research and careful thought, and I believe are generally regarded with the re spect due to the work of a sound and con scientious intellect. The chief is eminently courteous, and presides with dignity, pa tience, and fairness. His powers may be judged from Peoples. Davenport, 91 N. Y. 574, assessment and statutory construc tion; People v. Home Insurance Co., 92 N. Y. 328, taxation and statutory construc tion; Baird v. Mayor, etc., 96 N. Y. 567, on fraudulent contract of an officer of a mu nicipal corporation; Dwight v. Germania Life Ins. Co., 103 NY 341, a case of fraud on a life-insurance company; Laur v. Metropolitan Elevated R. Co., 104 N. Y. 268, on rights of lot-owner in street; People v. O'Brien, in N. Y. 1, on the constitutional C. RUGER, ity of the statute dis solving the Broadway Street Railway Company; Bedlow v. N. Y. Floating Dry Dock Co., 112 N. Y. 263, on rights to lands under water in New York harbor; and his dissenting opinion in Ed wards v. N. Y. & Harlem R. Co., 98 N. Y. 245. on negligence of the landlord in regard to the Madison Square Garden disaster. Charles Andrews. Judge Andrews was born in 1827, and re ceived an academical education. He studied and practised law in Syracuse, being mem ber of one firm for nineteen years. He was