Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 07.pdf/551

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The Green Bag.

nizing no inferior and no superior, he was noticeable for his appearance. His frame was massive; his figure imposing; his face handsome and majestic, betokened the stu dent by the full eye, beardless chin and high forehead. His honors and dignity impressed all alike but never overawed even the young est. He appeared young down to the close of his public life. In 1849 he was made a trustee of Bowdoin College. In 1850 he was appointed Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence at the same College, performing the duties for nearly fifteen years. The same year he re ceived from his Alma Mater the degree of LL. D. He died at Norridgewock, August 23, 1 869. At the following September term of the Supreme Judicial Court, the bar of Som erset County, Danforth, J., presiding, attended memorial exercises in honor of his death and presented resolutions fitting to the occa sion. They declare that his eminent learn ing, his power of analysis, his sound and solid judgment, and his clear and accurate discrimination were equalled only by the breadth and comprehensiveness of his intel lect, and by the purity of his character as a magistrate and citizen. Judge Danforth followed with a eulogy which will remain as a perpetual memorial and touching tribute to the virtues of his honored and revered friend and teacher. All of his associates upon the bench have passed away and but a few of his contemporaries remain at the bar. By them he is remembered with affection and great respect. It is his written opinions, however, which evidence his knowledge of the law and strength as a judge. They are characterized by strength rather than by ease of composition and by soundness of conclusion than rapidity of reaching results. To the profession they are a living source of authority, adding harmony to the growth of the law. To the younger members of the bar who practiced before him, his majestic form,

bland countenance and almost paternal man ner coupled with his great and distinguishing love of justice and long, successful life upon the bench, will ever constitute a beau-ideal of the " good judge." JOHN APPLETON, the sixth Chief-Justice, was born at New Ipswich, N.H., July 12,1 804; was graduated at Bowdoin College in 1822; was admitted to the bar in 1826; appointed on the bench of the Supreme Judicial Court in 1852; became Chief-Justice in 1862, and retired at the close of his sixth appointment in 1883, having been at the bar twenty-six years, and a member of the bench thirty-one years, — an active professional life of fiftyseven years in all. If we look beneath this brief summary of an unusually long legal and judicial life, we shall find it filled up with events full of in terest and labors rendering it noteworthy in annals of the law. John Appleton was well born. He came of an ancestry whose lineage carries us back to Norman ancestors, of knightly rank in feudal ages, then appearing later on in the person of Samuel Appleton as a Puritan immigrant, a "godly, noble, enterprising ex ponent of civil and religious liberty," taking the Freeman's oath May 25, 1636, in the colony of Massachusetts. He died in 1670, at Rowley, leaving a son bearing his name, who served with the rank of major in King Philip's war, and conspicuous also in politi cal affairs. Under the leadership of Samuel and John Appleton the town of Ipswich voted, in reference to the order of Governor Sir Edmund Andros : " That considering said act has infringed upon our liberty, as it is contrary to the acts of His Majesty, by vio lating the statute law of the land, which de clares that no taxation shall be laid unless with the consent of the people; they do therefore vote first, that they will not choose a commissioner, and decide that the Select men shall not lay such a tax till it is deter mined on by the people." This has been