USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y. > Part 159
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Wm. C. Orr. Win. E. Osborn.
Adrian V. Martense.
Richard Marvin.
Albert H. Osborn.
Henry W. Osborn.
Andrew L. Martin.
Philip D. Mason.
Wm. J. Osborne.
P. W. Ostrander.
Joseph HI. Marvin. Daniel Marvin. Charles P. Mason.
Alex. U. Mayer. B. P. A. McCarty.
Jolın L. Overfield.
William F. Owers.
W'm. A. Mathias.
Albert G. MeDonald.
Wm. S. Paeker.
Justus Palmer.
Alfred R. Page.
Asa W. Parker.
James A. Palmer.
Win. Parsons.
John C. MeGuire.
Fred'k S. Parker.
Samuel M. Parsons.
Jas. W. MeDermott. F. G. McDonald. Robert MeFarlan.
William H. McKee. John MeKenna. Spencer G. MeNary.
Robert Payne.
Oliver N. Payne. James F. Pearee.
James F. McGee.
Geo. W. Mend.
James E. Pearson.
Geo. W. Pearsall.
Michael F. MeGoldriek.
S. M. Mceker.
Geo. A. Pcase.
Thos. E. Pearsall.
Henry M. MeKean. James McKecn.
Peter Meney. Jaeob C. Meinzer.
John W. Peckett, Jr. Wm. Peet, Jr.
HI. P. K. Peck.
Alexander McKinny. M. James McLanchlin. Win. E. McTighe. David D. Mecker.
Theo. N. Melvin. Joseph B. Merket. Benjamin Merritt.
Buel D. Penfield.
Howland D. Perrine.
Andrew J. Perry.
Albert L. Perry.
J. C. Perry.
Albertus Perry.
O. F. G. Megie.
William S. Mills.
John Petterson.
Chauncy Perry.
Win. Mehlrum.
Cornelius E. Minor.
Albert J. Philip. Timothy Perry.
John Phillips. George W. Piekney.
James L. Phelps.
Augustus Merritt.
James Moffett.
Henry A. Meyenborg.
James W. Monk.
Henry C. Place. Fred'k A. Platt.
Edgar J. Phillips. James F. Picree. Charles Place.
C. W. Pleasants.
Williard S. Pladwell.
I. Hull Platt.
Peter P. Pope. Isaac B. Potter.
('has. H. Polloek.
Francis T. Magill.
Frank N. O'Brien.
James O. O'Connor.
Nicolson P. O'Brien.
Herbert S. Ogden.
P. J. O'Hanlon.
Albon Man.
J. Lawrence Marcellus.
Andrew J. Onderdonk.
Edward F. O'Reilly.
Josiah T. Marean.
William K. Martin.
Fred'k R. Orr.
Stephen M. Ostrander.
Charles HI. Otis.
B. J. MeCafferty. Harry MeCloskey. Daniel McCrane.
Francis MeElroy. J. M. McGee.
John S. Patterson.
Chas. J. Patterson.
Joseph M. Pearsall.
John P'. Peekett.
Wm. W. Pearson.
Win. Peet. Walter Pell. John Pell.
S. L. M. Meeker, Jr.
Henry Metzinger. John B. Meyenborg.
. W Is. Malen. 197 Fulton street, admitted to the Bar of Albany, N. Y., in 1470, practiced In New York City from 1864 to 1970, at which the lie removed to him present location; was elected Justice of the Second District Court In 1×72.
John V. Lamarche.
Geo. S. Lampard.
John T. Langan.
Edward B. Lansing. Ir.
Thomas S. Moore.
Charles A. Moran.
Robert A. Morrison. Nathan B. Morse. Geo. E. Mott. Alfred E. Mudge.
Chas. R. Lee.
Henry M. Leverich.
James Morrough. Chas. A. Murphy.
John Linsky.
Arthur Murphy, Jr.
H. C. Murphy, Jr.
John B. Lord.
Abraham Lott. J. Z. Lott.
Richard W. Newhall.
W. S. Niles.
David T. Lyneh.
Wm. R. Lyneh. Jardine Lyng.
J. J. Lynes.
Charles L. Lyon.
Theodore S. Nye.
II. C. MacKrell.
James F. Macshane.
Abraham S. O'Brien.
Frederiek W. Obernier. Frank O'Brien.
Alex. MeCue.
Robert Merehant.
Francis L. Minton.
HIenry A. Moore. Benjamin S. Moorehouse. John P. Morris.
12:3
BENCH AND BAR OF BROOKLYN.
Theophilus D. Powell. Edwin A. Pratt.
Francis W. Pollock.
R. J. Shadbolt.
John Sessions.
Calvin E. Pratt.
Oscar F. Shaw.
Thomas G. Shearman.
Isaac M. Pratt.
John D. Shedlock.
Geo. P. Sheldon.
John D. Pray.
A. C. Shenstone.
Edward M. Shepard.
John Prentice.
J. W. Shepard.
James A. Sherman.
Samuel F. Prentice.
Aug. M. Price.
Michael Shields.
Edward S. Pride.
John D. Prince, Jr.
John H. Shields.
Walter F. Shibley. Herbert Shipman. Wm. E. Shields.
Albert W. S. Proctor .* Roger A. Pryor. H. F. Pultz. Harrington Putnam.
Fred'k F. Purdy.
John U. Shorter.
Herman H. Shook .*
James W. Purdy.
J. Shrady.
Herbert Shook. Jos. A. Shoudy.
Wm. Quayle. Nevins J. Quinlan.
David J. Ramsdell.
Louis C. Raegener.
Wm. A. Sloan.
Henry W. Slocum.
Wm. H. Randall.
Sands F. Randall.
Albert Smith.
Alexis C. Smith.
Henry S. Rasquin. Fred'k W. Rebhann. T. A. Reeves.
Daniel W. Reeve.
Arthur H. Smith.
Charles C. Smith.
Alonzo T. Reeve.
Edgar P. Smith.
Freling H. Smith.
Wm. F. Reilly.
George H. Smith.
George Smith.
Daniel S. Remsen.
James J. Smitlı.
Herbert C. Smith.
George G. Reynolds.
John C. Smith.
Michael A. Smith.
J. Swift Richards.
Thomas W. Smith.
Thomas Smith.
Henry L. Rider.
John C. Smith & Son.
Wm. B. Smith.
James Ridgway.
Henry Snell.
John B. Snedccker.
Joseph S. Ridgway.
A. A. Spear.
Ilenry S. Snow.
Emerson L. Riggs.
E. L. Spencer.
Pascal T. Southern ..
Theodore Ritter.
Edward H. Spooner.
P. V. R. Stanton.
Erwin I. Spink.
James L. Robinson. Willard E. Roby.
John F. Roberts. John J. Roche. Fenton Rockwell.
John M. Stearns.
Chas. M. Stafford.
Francis C. Roche.
Geo. W. Roderick.
Oscar H. Stearns.
Charles M. Stabler.
N. McGregor Steele.
Geo. H. Starr.
Joseph Steiner. James S. Stearns.
Wm. W. Stephenson.
John M. Stearns, Jr.
Edward H. Stickland.
John A. K. Steele.
Wm. R. Ronalds.
Henry Rosenthall. J. S. Ross.
Frank Storrs.
Thomas E. Stellman.
Joseph H. Strauss.
Gerard M. Stevens. Thos. E. Stillman.
Frank Rudd.
Edward B. Stringham. Demas Strong.
John H. Stitt.
Wm. Sullivan.
Allen N. Stoddart.
Wm. M. Summers.
J. Edward Swanstrom. Fred. G. Swasey.
Walter Q. Strong.
John W. Sweeney.
Eugenc T. Stuart.
Wm. A. Swcester.
Sidney B. Stuart.
Halsey A Sweezey.
Wm. R. Syme.
Edward F. Taber.
Franklin W. Taber.
Edward T. Taggard. Wm. H. Taggard ..
J. Fred'k Tapscott. Henry Taylor.
John A. Taylor.
Herbert H. Taylor.
Noah Tebbetts.
John Taylor.
Asa W. Tenney.
Thomas J. Taylor.
Frank Thayer.
David Teese. Charles A. Thics.
Henry E. Teller.
Samuel D. Thomas.
D. D. Terry. Danicl B. Thompson. t
Edmund R. Terry.
Robert B. Thompson.
Ludwig Semler.
Edward H. Seeley.
Garrett P. Serviss.
Robert Senftner.
* A. W. S. Proetor, 397 Fulton street; admitted to the Bar, May 24th, 1875, eommeneing practice in Brooklyn soon after.
t Richard Rowland, 122 Court street; admitted to the Bar of New York City, 1861; practieed in Brooklyn since 1865. # Charles H. Russell, 219 South 9th street; admitted to the Bar, 1868; was member of New York Assembly in 1880-81; Member of Senato, 1882-83.
Theodore Thieler.
Wm. R. Thompson.
Chas. G. M. Thomas.
James J. Thornley.
Albert N. Sabin.
Guernsey Sackett. Arthur C. Salmon.
Washington Sackman. Francis G. Salmon. N. B. Sanborn. Wm. C. Sanger.
Zabdiel S. Sampson. John W. Sanderson. Arthur M. Sanders. Wm. J. Sayres. Henry J. Schenck.
Edward L. Schad. Edwin C. Schaffer. N. Pendleton Schenck.
Charles S. Schleier. Herman W. Schmitz. Jacob C. Schoener.
Hugo J. Schleier. Henry H. Schoonmaker. Alex. Schoonmaker. John C. F. Schrann. Fred'k Schwartz.
Geo. H. Schoonmaker.
John G. Schumaker.
Wm. E. Scovil.
Rufus L. Scott.
James M. Seaman.
Wm. H. Stillwell.
Sanford H. Steele.
Walter G. Rooney. Daniel J. Ross. Peter T. Ross. Samuel Rowe. Richard Rowland. t
Merwin Rushmore. Charles H. Russell.t
S. Perry Sturges.
James H. Storrs. Baldwin F. Strauss.
Joseph Russell. Michael Russell. Charles Rusten.
Henry M. Russell.
C. D. Rust.
P. S. Spencer.
A. J. Spencer. Frank Sperry.
S. A. Rockefellow. Thos. H. Rodman. John Roesch. John P. Rolfe.
Thomas H. Rodman, Jr.
James J. Rogers.
John Rooney.
Jacob Rosengarden.
Edward P. Simms.
Adolph Simis, Jr.
Lawrence F. Quinn.
Chas. S. Simpkins.
Geo. L. Simonson.
Francis P. Sladc.
James E. Skilton.
Harvey W. Raynor.
Artemus B. Smith.
A. F. Smith.
James W. Smith.
Jesse C. Smith.
Wm. P. Rhodes.
James H. Remington. Frank Reynolds. John Reynolds. George R. Rhodes. Bushrod F. Rice. Chas. A. Richardson. Chas. W. Ridgway. James W. Ridgway. John Ridley. Edward F. Riley. Benj. T. Ripton.
Roger A. Pryor, Jr.
William A. Shinn.
Benj. Douglass Silliman.
James H. Pratt. Joseph M. Pray. Charles Prentiss.
Robert Ross.
Geo. W. Streeter.
James Taylor.
* Herman H. Shook, 261 Broadway, New York; admitted to the Bar at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., May, 1867; commenced and has continued practice in New York City sinee that dato. t Daniel B. Thompson, 38 & 40 Court street; admitted to the Bar, at Pitts- burgh, Penn., 1866; established in Brooklyn in 1868.
1974
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
A. R. Thompson, Jr.
David Thornton.
Jacob Walters.
Chas. D. Warner.
George Thompson.
David A. Tibbull.
Fred'k A. Ward
Frank Waters.
Walter Thorn.
James W. Tighe.
Gerald Wardrop.
Wm. T. Welch.
James J. Thornley, Jr.
Wellington Tillotson.
Win. H. Waring.
Henry P. Wells.
W. Chas. B. Thornton.
William HI. Tilton.
Talman J. Waters, Jr.
Oliver J. Wells. Jerry A. Wernberg.
James G. Tighe.
R. E. Topping.
Fred. W. Watkin.
Munroe B. Washburn.
Edward W. West.
Robert F. Tilney. Henry F. Tobin. J. Todd.
James Troy.
N. D. Wells.
Harmon B. Whitbeek.
M. II. Topping.
Thomas II. Troy.
Robert L. Wensley.
James White. Jolın J. White.
M. L. Towns.
Wm. B Trellis.
Chas. W. West.
Frank B. Traey.
Alfred W. Turner.
Chas. N. Wheelwright.
S. Stewart Whitehouse.
J. P. Troy.
Wayland Turner.
Henry M. Whitbeck.
Win. L. Whiting.
Michael Troy.
Smith Tuttle.
Thomas White.
Chas. M. Whitney.
Wm. C. Trull.
John R. Tyler.
Samuel S. Whitehouse.
Foreman Whitney.
Louis S. Turner.
Edgar Whitloek.
M. D. Wilber. Geo. Willcox.
Ruben H. Underhill.
Silas A. Underhill.
Henry Wilber.
Henry C. Willeox.
Daniel G. Wild.
Sidney Williams.
Andrew J. Valentine.
Benj. E. Valentine.
Egbert Van Beuren.
David C. Van Cott.
A. H. Van Cott.
Alfred Vanderburgh.
Joshua M. Van Cott.
Chas. Y. Van Doren.
Alfred Vanderwerken.
Adolphe Vanrein.
Philip L. Wilson. F. S. Winchester.
Henry Winans.
H. D. Van Orden.
Theodore Van Tassel.
Adrien Van Sinderin.
Francis H. Van Vechten.
Chas. II. Winslow .*
Franklin E. Woodford.
Leopold Woiger.
Gerard B. Van Wart.
Merit M. Van Wert.
Caleb S. Woodhull.
Stewart L. Woodford.
Aug. Van Wyck.
Jacob S. Van Wyck.
Wm. D. Veeder.
Thomas Verren.
Charles W. Voltz.
J. Voorhees.
Alexander H. Wright.
L. A. Wray.
Cliristoplier C. Wust.
Ernest C. Wurtemberg.
Richard Wynkoop.
Wm. F. Wyckoff.
Arnold HI. Wagner.
Louis A. Wagner.
Thomas II. Wagstaff.
Daniel T. Walden.
A. H. Yerks.
Thomas H. York.
W. Howard Wait.
Alfred I. Walker.
Howard Walden.
Samuel Walker.
Geo. W. Zener.
Gustav Zimmermann.
Russell Walden.
Anthony Walter.
Geo. T. Walker. Richard Warburton.
Wm. C. Wallace.
Geo. P. Walton.
Win. J. Walsh.
Sidney Ward.
* Chas. H Winslow, 16 Court street, graduated from Columbia Law School, 1877; admitted to the Bar the same year, establishing himself tn Brooklyn.
Ix concluding the Bench and Bar of Brooklyn, we cannot re- frain from saying, that to those whose lives form a part of it, others might have been added of equal interest; but, as we have already exceeded the limits of our allotted space, we are obliged to make some omission.
Whatever opinion may be entertained of our work, one thing is eertain: we leave it with an increased respect for the Judi- ciary and the Bar, and we have the vanity to think that the few rays of light we have been able to throw upon it have de- monstrated in some degree its claim to a superior position in legal history.
We have spoken reverently of its deecased members, and frankly of its living ones. We do not belong to that class who linve a trembling fear of speaking well of persons, lest they should be obnoxious to the charge of undue enlogy. We believe it is proper and just to speak of a man's good qualities and of the accomplishments which he really possesses. We have dealt only with the public character of our subjects as judges and Inwyers, having little to say in regard to them as private in- dividunla. Still we hesitate not to say that any man who has adorned the Bench or the Bar, who has, na a judge or lawyer, won the esteem and confidence of the public, is entitled to have
that esteein and confidence properly expressed, in and out of history.
"But since you mean to be impartial," says the critic, "why not speak frankly of men's fruits? " We can answer only by saying: we onee read of a traveler who had a singular penchant for visiting antique churches, eathedrals, and edifices abounding with beautiful works of art, but he always disregarded the grand frescoes of Angelo, the elegant altar-pieces of Horberg, the Ma- donnas of Raphael, the graces of Corregio, and the architectural grandeur about him, seeking instead charnel-houses, recepta- cles of the dead, gloomy chambers and monastie eells. When asked why this singular preference, he replied: " Amid so much perfeetion, beauty and elegance, I am anxious to learn how much corruption there is to be found; how muel that is revolt. ing. I have a singular love for such things that I cannot resist; a love that throws everything else into the shade. Besides, I dislike descriptions of what is called 'the beautiful,' 'the artistic ' and ' the grand;' it has too muell eulogy in it. I have no fear of being over-enlogistie in my descriptions."
We confess our attachment for that writer who, with due ap- preciation and proper judgment, describes the beanties and inerits lie sees. L. B. P.
J. Schenck Williamson.
Thos. H. Williams.
Geo. W. Wilson.
J. Stuart Willis.
John II. Wilson.
William Wills.
Thadeus Wilson.
Henry G. Wing. John Winslow.
E. W. Van Vranken.
David Van Wart.
Aaron Woodman.
Thenford Woodhull.
Lawrence Worrall.
John A. Woods.
Zachariah Voorhees.
Benj. F. Tracy.
Wilbur F. Treadwell.
Edward E. Wells.
Geo. S. Wheeler.
Daniel D. Whitney.
Clas. II. Williams.
Zimmermann & Jaeobbs.
1. whathet
LEGAL BIOGRAPHIES.
HON. JASPER WILLETT GILBERT.
IT is not always that the ablest advocates make successful judges. In the majority of cases the advocate becomes a deeply interested partisan, living in the life of every cause, often the most momentous part of his client's life, imbued with his client's anxiety, glowing with his resentments, hoping and struggling for his success, until the end; therefore, unless a man is peculiarly constituted, he will, despite his desire to be perfectly unpre- judiced, find it difficult to avoid a partisan interest in the excit- ing trials over which he presides. His experience, too, in the conduct of cases enables him, almost at a glance, to see the right and the wrong of the case, and it is difficult for him to avoid a feeling of irritation at the efforts of that which he deems the wrong side to succeed; while he who comes to the Bench less experienced in the struggles of the Bar, is more apt to be free from the evils we have described.
We do not mean to be understood that the skilled and ac- complished advocate does not make an accomplished judge, or that a lawyer inexperienced in the collisions of the Bar is always sure to be successful on the Bench. Legal history abounds in names of judges whose career at the Bar was limited; of these we may mention Chief Justice Marshall, Judge Story, Bushrod Washington, Judge Parsons, Chancellor Walworth, Eseck Cowan, William L. Marcy, who never entered deeply into the contests of the Bar, never having any taste for the excite- ments of the forum. These men rank among the most illustrious American judges.
On the other hand, in our own State there are many men whose names are bright in judicial history, who went to the Bench from an exciting and brilliant career at the Bar, and in them the advocate was at once lost in the erudite, calm, im- partial and courteous judge. Among these were Chief Justice Ambrose Spencer, Greene C. Bronson, Josiah Ogden Hoffman, Chief Justice Sanford E. Church, James C. Smith, Martin Grover and George F. Danforth; and to these we may add the name of the distinguished jurist whose legal and judicial career we are now to write-Hon. JASPER WILLETT GILBERT-who, from an ardent and successful career at the Bar, was elevated to the Bench, where his judicial abilities and natural adaptation for the place he occupied was soon recognized and acknowledged by the Bar and the public.
JASPER W. GILBERT was born at Rome, Oneida County, New York, January 15, 1812. His paternal ancestor in this country was Jonathan Gilbert, who, at an early period in Colonial his- tory, settled at Hartford, Connecticut, where he died about the year 1750.
Judge Gilbert's father was Marinus Willett Gilbert, named for Colonel Marinus Willett, with whom his father served as an officer in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
Several years before the birth of his son Jasper, Mr. Gilbert became a resident of Rome.
After a preparatory course in the common schools, young Gilbert became a student at Lowville Academy, where he re- mained a considerable time. He afterwards became a student at Watertown Academy, where he made rapid and successful progress in his studies.
The industry, talents and quick perceptions of the young man gave promise of future usefulness in one of the learned professions. As he early indicated a preference for the Bar, on his leaving the Academy at Watertown, he commenced a regular
training for the occupation of a lawyer in the office of Abraham Varick, of Utica, New York. He had then hardly attained his majority. After remaining with Mr. Varick something over a year, he entered the office of Hon. Frederick Whittlesey, of Rochester, New York, then one of the most eminent characters in the political and civil history of the State. It was with Chancellor Whittlesey that young Gilbert completed his legal studies; this was in 1835. He was called to the Bar at a General Term of the Supreme Court at Utica, in July, 1835, tak- ing his degree as an attorney at law under the eyes of those great historic judges, Chief Justice Savage, Associate Justices Nelson and Bronson; at this time he was only 23 years of age. Young as he was, he at once opened an office, in Rochester, N. Y. Self-reliant, studious and ambitious, he attained the reputation of a rising and successful young lawyer.
That he had read his profession with diligence, that he had mastered its great profundities, is easily inferred from the pro- gress he made in it. We shall not stop to consider whether he possessed much of what is called genius or not; that he did possess those intellectual qualities which lead to success, is certain. Like most young lawyers, particularly at that period, he entered ardently into politics; giving his allegiance to the now historic Whig party. As he wielded a ready and vigorous pen, he also became eminent as a contributor to the journals of that day.
Rochester was incorporated as a city in 1839, and young Gilbert was appointed its first Corporation Counsel; lie there- fore enjoys the reputation of having been the first law officer of that thriving and beautiful city.
In July, 1838, the famous Young Men's Whig State Conren- tion assembled at Utica. Young Gilbert represented Monroe County in this body, took a conspicuous part in its deliberations, and was made a member of the committee appointed to prepare an address to the people. This document was principally writ- ten by the chairman of the committee. When it was presented to the Convention it was rejected, and Mr. Gilbert was requested by a majority of the committee to prepare another; lie did so, to the satisfaction of the committee, and when reported to the Con- vention it was almost unanimously adopted. Time and space will not permit us to descant npon that remarkable paper; suf- fice it to say, it was eagerly read by all parties in the State, warmly commended by the Whig press, with the exception of the New York Commercial Advertiser, edited at that time by Wm. L. Stone. There was enough in this circumstance alone to liave made many lawyers lose themselves in the politician; but young Gilbert was too strongly attached to his profession to become a mere politician; his ambition was to seize its solid honors, in- stead of the evanescent fame of the politician and place-hunter.
He began his professional life at a brilliant period in the history of the Western New York Bar; many of his competitors were among those illustrious lawyers who have made its legal history so famous and entertaining. Like him, many of them were then young, and with them he grew to eminence and dis- tinction as a lawyer.
In the year 1839, a question arose in the city of Rochester of absorbing interest ; this was the disputed right of colored children to attend the common schools of the city.
A teacher in one of the schools had peremptorily excluded from its privileges, a colored child. Mr. Gilbert at once de- cided that this act was unauthorized by law, and he wrote a report to that effect. John C. Spencer was then Secretary of
1256
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
State and ex officio Superintendent of Public Instruction. Mr. Gilbert's report was submitted to this great statesman and law- yer, who at once confirmed Mr. Gilbert's report, and colered children were admitted to the common schools of Rochester.
It is a singular coincidence that, in 1875, thirty-six years later, when Mr. Gilbert was a resident of Brooklyn and a judge of the Supreme Court of the State, a similar question arose in that city. It was started under the City Charter, which gave to the Board of Education power to establish separate schools for colored children, the board having exercised such powers. It was contended that, under the 14th Amendment of the Consti- tution, and under the Civil Rights Act of this State, colored children had an absolute right to attend the public schools with white children in the district of their residence. The case led to litigation, and subsequently came before the Supreme Court for adjudication. Judge Gilbert, in pronouncing the opinion of the court, decided that, in the absence of legislation, colored children had the right to attend the public schools of the city with white children. But those opposed to the attend- ance of colored children in the public schools appealed from Judge Gilbert's decision to the Court of Appeals, where, after exhaustive arguments, his opinion was affirmed.
In January, 1847, Judge Gilbert was united in marriage to Miss Catharinc Horn, of New York City. He continued to prac- tice with increasing success until October, 1847, when he decided to enter upon a larger, more responsible and extended arena of professional activity and labor, and he concluded to become a resident of the city of New York and a practitioner at its Bar, with its vast competition, its opportunity for brilliant success, its dangers of signal failure. Fortunately for Judge Gilbert, the change made by him resulted in success. In 1851 he became a resident of Brooklyn, but continued his practice in the city of New York. Few lawyers, perhaps, ever applied themselves with more unremitting zeal than he, and few have reaped richer re- wards.
After twenty-five years of constant practice, with rich pecun- iary results, he determined upon a period of repose, and sought recuperation in gratifying his love of travel. To this end he visited Europe, and amid the historic scenes of England and of Continental Europe, he largely gratified his tastes in viewing its historic places, in inspecting its exquisite works of art, and standing by the tombs of those who had made jurispru- dence, philosophy, poetry, sculpture and painting glorious. But his respite from intellectual labor was short. In the autumn of 1865 a vacancy occurred on the Bench of the Supreme Court of the Second Judicial District, which was to be supplied at the election in November of that year. There were many eminent legal gentleman of both parties in the district who would have gladly accepted the nomination for the placc.
We now approach an cvent which must be, to Judge Gilbert, the most gratifying incident in his life-his unanimous nomina- tion, as a candidate for the office of Justice of the Supreme Court, by both the Republican and Democratic parties in the Second Judicial District; and, as has well been said, "This noinination was ratified by the electors of the district by a majority so overwhelming as to amount substantially to entire unanimity." This circumstance alone speaks volumes in favor of Jasper W. Gilbert, not only as a lawyer, but as a citizen. The man who could thus hush the voice of partisan strifc, and thus be elected to the high and dignified position of a Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of New York without opposition, although a pronounced partisan of one of the great parties, must possess qualifications of a high order.
At the expiration of his term he was re-elected, and by re- peated re-elections occupied the Bench until he attained that age when, by the Constitution, he was disqualified from longer sit- ting as a judge.
He brought to the Bench an active, comprehensive mind. Many of his opinions in cases of great celebrity, with which the
public is quite familiar, will continue to be read with respect and profit long after the hand that wrote them shall be cold in deatlı. We have only time to glance at a few of these opinions.
Judge Gilbert took his seat on the Benchi on Jannary 4, 1866, and presided at the January Term of the Circuit Court, and Court of Oycr and Terminer, held in Brooklyn, which com- menccd their sittings at that time. It was liis fortune to preside, during this term, over one of the most important and exciting trials that ever took place in Kings County-that of Gonzalez for the murder of Ortero. ( See Important Trials.)
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