beginning a man of mark, and as time went on he grew constantly in their confidence and esteem as an accurate and learned lawyer, a wise adviser, and a man of integrity and honor. The high consider ation in which the bar held him was well manifested by the fact that upon the retirement of Judge Lowell from the office of United States Circuit Judge for the first circuit, seven years ago, Mr. Merwin received the practically unanimous recom mendation of the members of the bar in Massachu setts practising in the Federal courts, for appoint ment as his successor. With his clear and quick apprehension and sound judgment, his solid pro fessional knowledge, his calm and intrepid habit of mind, his strong sense of justice, and his elevation of character, he would doubtless have justified their choice. He was a man of superior cultiva tion, fond of his library, and a discriminating and critical student of the best literature. The fruits of such reading, stored in an ingenious and vigor ous mind, with lively wit and a keen sense of humor, with exceeding refinement of character and conduct, and unfailing courtesy, made him a very interesting and attractive companion.
Andrew K. Svester, Associate Judge of the Fourth Judicial District of Maryland, died at Hagerstown March 19, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. Judge Syester was born on March 11, 1827, in Ber keley County, Va. He graduated from FranklinMarshall College at Mercersburg, Penn., in 1849, and the next year went to Hagerstown, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar in January, 1852. In 1853 he was elected to the House of Dele gates, and in 1854 was elected State's Attorney. He held this office until 1859. After the war he was a member of the Constitutional Convention, and five years later, in 1872, was elected AttorneyGeneral for Maryland. He was prominent in the trial at Annapolis of Mrs. Wharton for the murder by poisoning of General Ketchum at her home in Baltimore, and also took part in the murder cases of Plates and Lynn in Dorchester and Carroll Counties. He was elected in 1882 as Associate Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, succeeding Judge Motter. I. Neve-it Steele, a lawyer of national repu tation, and one of the most prominent men in Maryland, died at his home in Baltimore April 11.
Mr. Steele was born in Cambridge, Md., in 1809, was educated at St. John's College, Annapolis, and afterward at Trinity College in Connecticut. Owing to ill health, he was unable to stay to take his degree. In his eighteenth year he began study ing law, and in 1830 he was admitted to practice. In 1839 he was appointed by Attorney-General Josiah Bailey his deputy for Baltimore County, and was continued in that capacity until 1849. ^n 1849 President Taylor appointed him Charge d'Affaires in Venezuela. He succeeded in secur ing the settlement of heavy claims of citizens of the United States against Venezuela, and thereby gained considerable reputation. In 1853 Mr. Steele returned home, and engaged in the active practice of his profession.
Judge David Taylor, of the Wisconsin Su preme Court, died in Milwaukee April 3. He was born in Carlisle, N. Y., in March, 1818, went to Wisconsin in 1846, and was elected to his posi tion on the Supreme Bench in 1876. Judge Henry J. Stites, of Kentucky, died on April 3. He was born in Scott County, Ky., in 1816. He was admitted to the bar in 1841, and in a short time found himself in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice. In 1848, though but little over thirty years of age, Judge Stites was nominated as Presidential Elector on the Cass and Butler ticket, and made a vigorous canvass. In May, 1851, the present Constitution went into effect, and there was an election for ministerial and judicial officers. Judge Stites was elected, by a handsome majority, Circuit Judge of the Second Judicial District. There was a political majority against him, but political questions were to a great extent ignored. In 1854 the term of Chief-Justice Elijah Hise expired, and, declining to be again a candidate, Judge Stites was urged by friends of both politi cal parties to become a candidate for the vacancy. He was elected by a large majority, and took his seat on the Appellate Bench in September, 1854. He served out his term, and was Chief-Justice in the troublous times of 1862, in the midst of the Civil War. He was urged to become a candidate for re-election, but declined. Being a State's rights Democrat and a Union man, though op posed to the war, he suffered at the hands of the military on both sides. To avoid proscription and
