Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 05.pdf/522

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Editorial Department.

THEKE has been at least one jury trial in the United States Supreme Court. It took place at the February Term, 1794, in the case of Georgia v. Brailsford. Chief-Justice Day presided, and is reported as laying down some very incorrect law. He is made to say that the jury are to determine the law as well as the facts, and then proceeds to tell them that the facts in the case are all agreed, that the only question is one of law, and upon that the whole court are agreed. Where so much was agreed, it does not clearly appear why the case was left to the jury at all. The accuracy of the report is questioned by Judge Curtis in The United States v. Moore, i Cur. Cir. Ct. 23 — Law Reporter.

ficrent Drarlja. EX-JUDGE RICHARD LUDLOW LARREMORE, a well-known member of the New York bar, and for more than twenty years a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, died on September т 3th. Judge Larremore was sixty-three years old He had been in failing health since he resigned from the bench, nearly three years, ago. He was born in Astoria, L. I., Sept. 6, 1830, and was graduated from Rutgers College, at NewBrunswick, N. J., in 1850. He studied law in the office of Robinson, Betts, & Robinson, and was admitted to the bar in New York in 1852. He was a Commissioner of Education from 186c to 1864, and from 1868 to July, 1870, serving as president of the board during the last year of his service upon it. Mr. Larremore was a member of the Constitu tional Convention of 1867, and served on the Committee on Education and Literature. He received the degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of the City of New York in 1870. In 1870 he was elected a Judge of the Court of Com mon Pleas on the Democratic ticket. In 1876 Governor Tilden assigned him to duty as one of the Judges of the Supreme Court in the place of Judge Van Brunt. Judge Larremore was reelected for another fourteen years' term in 1884 on the Tammany ticket, but served only seven years, resigning in 1891 on account of ill health. For two or three years before he resigned he was

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Chief-Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, suc ceeding Judge Charles P. Daly. ISAAC G. GORDON, ex-Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, died on Sep tember 4th. He was bom in Lewisburg, Union Co., PaDec. 22, 1819. His father, Zaccheus Gordon, was a native of Northumberland County. His family was originally from Scotland, but the Judge's grand father, having removed to Ireland, they were known as Scotch-Irish. When a boy Judge Gor don learned the trade of a moulder, but having one of his feet accidentally injured by molten metal, he relinquished the work, and being of a very studious disposition and with a taste for classical and scientific pursuits he applied himself to study; and with the aid he received at the common school, and one term in the Lewisburg Academy, he acquired, by dint of indomitable perseverance, a liberal, classical, and scientific education. In 1841 he entered the law office of James F. Linn, of Lewisburg, continued his studies two years, anil was admitted in April, 1843, to practise in the courts of Union County. That year he removed to Curwensville, Pa., opened an office, and soon afterward entered into partnership with George R. Barret. In 1846 he located at Brookville, became a partner of Elijah Heath, and continued in that business relation until Judge Heath removed to Pittsburg in 1853. In 1860 and 186 1 Judge Gordon represented the district composed of Jefferson, Ciearfield, Elk and Me Kean counties in the State Legislature, and was Chairman of the General Judiciary Committee during his second term. In 1866 he was appointed by Governor Hartranft President Judge of the judi cial district formed of the counties of Mercer and Venango, taken from the Eighteenth district, and served until the next general election. He con tinued his practice at the Jefferson County bar until he was elected to the Supreme Bench in October. 1873, and acquired a wide reputation as a learned and able advocate, apt in the trial of causes, full of resources, and exerting great influ ence over juries. His full term of fifteen years as Justice of the Supreme Court expired Jan. r, 1889, lie filling the position of Chief-Justice at that time; and he retired, possessing the confidence of the bar, of the Commonwealth, and the people to an exceptional degree.