Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/97

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES and Sullivan < ’Ounties were placed in the Forty-fourth district, and Lolumbia and .Montour nude the Twenty-sixth, which is the condition in 19 14. On the expiration o f Judge Elwell's second term the bar of the district unanimously requested him to accept a third term, to which he consented, was later nomi­ nated on the tickets o f both leading jurtics, and at the following election w as unanimously given the office. A fterw ards, at different times, he was urged to become a candidate for the Supreme bench, but declined. H e abo refused to have his name used in the canvass fo r the office o f governor, although warmly urged. In 1S 7 1 Judge Elw ell was chosen to um­ pire the dimcuTiies between the miners and the operators in the coal regions, which he did to the satisfaction o f both sides. I^ te r the M ollic M aguires case, a description of which is given at the end o f this chapter, was tried before him. H is decision in this case was affirmed by the Suprente court. It is believed that Judge Elw ell tried more cases than any other judge upon the bench of the State, as many important cases were certified to Columbia county from other dis­ tricts and tried before him. It is worthy of mention that o f at) the cases tried in the courts o f O yer and Term iner, Q uarter Sessions and the Orphans' court, not a single one from this county w as reversed during the more than twenty-six years he w as upon the bench, and very few in the Common Picas court. It m ay not be out o f place here to record the fact that a tribute w as publicly paid to Ju d ge Elw ell during his lifetim e that does not often fall to the lot even o f distinguished citisens. It is almost the universal custom to wait until after the cold clods have rattled upon the casket before public appreciation of a m an’s life and character is expressed. When such action is taken during a man's life­ tim e it is a matter o f great gratifica­ tion to him who receives the recognition, and it is also highly creditable to those who are responsible for its expression. A s the inci­ dent here referred to has appeared in print on ly in the new s(«pers. the files o f which arc accessible to but few people, and as the mat­ te r is a part of the history of the court of Colum bia county, it is deemed proper fo r it to be here recorded in full, so that it may be prcscn-ed in permanent form. On Monday morning. Sept. 2.1. 1889. when court opened, the room w as filled with an audience including many ladies, who had been d raw n there by the report that proceedings o f

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an unusual character would transpire at that time. T he president judge, Hon. E. R. ikeler, and Ilo iis. C. B. M cH enry and C. G. M u ^ tw were upon the bench. Court C rier D. K. C off­ man opened the session by the usual proclama­ tion, and then B. F. Zarr, Esq., solicitor to the county commissioners, W. G. Girton, Jesse Rittenhouse and E z ra Stephens, ad ­ dressed the Bench in the following w ords: " I f Y o u r Honors please, before the court proceeds with its regular business. I wish to bring to your attention a matter in which we all feel a lively interest. "T h ere presided in these courts fo r a period o f more man twenty-five years a ju rist dis­ tinguished fo r his 1< ^ 1 knowledge, high moral character, courteous treatment of the bar, uni­ form kindness and impartiality to all— the Honorable William Elw ell. T h e best years o f his life were spent here, and he is to-day a venerable citizen of the county, one whom (he people delight to honor. "Appreciation of the qualities (hat endear a man to his countrymen is testified not more by the rearing o f imposing monuments than by giving fitting expression to the sentiment in their hearts, lu c r e may be in all the walks o f life great men, but great only when by their acts they have signally b en efit^ man­ kind. T he preacher becomes great only when, by his power and persuasiveness, he causes men to reverence and to obey the laws o f God. T he soldier becomes great xvhen, by his con­ quests over the enemies o f liberty, he gives to the people liberty and a hom e; the statesman, when by his wise economy he secures to them prosperity; the philanthropist, when he has alleviated human su ffering; the judge, when he has faithfully administered the laws. True greatness is alw ays recognized and honored by the (>eoplc, and the man who makes it his life work to labor fo r the good of the race is cntitliNl to such recognition and honor. . . "T h e citizens o f Columbia county hold in the highest estimation the ability and integrity o f Judge Elw ell. H is reputation as an able and conscientious administrator of the law is not confined to the limits of the county, but extends throughout the length and breadth of the Commonwealth o f Pennsylvania, and even beyond her borders. H is opinions and rulings are cited with confidence by the pleader in the courts, and are received by the highest tribunals as authority o f weight. “ T he county commissioners, joining with other citizens in their just estimate of the distinguished services rendered to the Com ­ monwealth by Judge Elw ell. have deemed it