GEORGE SHIRAS, JR., PENNSYLVANIA. (1832 -.) Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court since October 10, 1892, by appointment of President Harrison, to succeed Mr. Justice Bradley. He was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1832. Is descended from Puritan stock, received an excellent common school education, prepared for college at the Ohio University, and graduated at Yale in the famous class of 1853, with Theodore Bacon of the New York bar, Hon. Andrew D. White, ex-Senator R. E. Gibson, of Louisiana, Wayne MacVeagh, ex-Governor Robinson, of Connecticut, E. C. Stedman, the poet, and George W. Smaalley, the English correspondent. Mr. Shiras was admitted in 1856 and settled in Dubuque, Iowa, but returned in a year, and formed a partnership with Hopewell Hepburn, which lasted until the latter's death, in 1860. Yale conferred upon Mr. Shiras the degree of LL.D., in 1883. He has decided sixty-five cases in the Supreme Court, among which are seven vigorous dissents (146 154 U. S), notably the Illinois Central Railroad case, 146 U. S. 387, in which Justices Gray and Brown concur. The first case he decided (Morley v. L. S. &c. Ry., 146 U. S. 163) was heard four days after he took his seat, and was dissented from by Justices Harlan, Field and Brewer; in his third (Hallinger v. Davis, 146 U. S. 314), Justice Harlan disagrees with the reasoning; in his fourth (Lewis v. U. S. 370), Justices Brewer and Brown dissent. But he has a mind of his own. He speedily became a leader of the Allegheny bar. From 1867 to 1892 he tried the most important cases arising in Western Pennsylvania. As a lawyer he was able, learned, quick, strong, courteous, and self-possessed. None surpassed him in profound legal learning or in the ready application of familiar legal principles to the complicated relations that characterize our large commercial interests. Nothing could induce him to hold political office. He has also been a life-long student of literature and science. He is nearly six feet tall. Is agreeable, courteous, dignified and amiable. The Collar Button Joke. "On a recent occasion an advocate was arguing a patent case before the United States Supreme Court. He claimed an infringment of rights in the manufacture of a new style of collar button. Incidentlly he spoke at length and with enthusiasm of the varied merits of the invention. Justice Shiras, who is the humorist of the Supreme Bench, interrupted his glib discourse by saying: 'I wish to ask if among the numerous admirable qualities of this collar button, one of particular and indispensable importance is embraced. In a word, if it falls and rolls under the bureau, can it be found again?" The query was put with the utmost apparent gravity, and it staggered the lawyer completely, so that, after adding a few hesitating remarks, he closed his argument. Justices Harlan and Brown were convulsed, as both had lost a collar button that morning."-Washington Star. |