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 465 and truth urged before his hearers, who appreciated an honest struggle for the right, and were prepared to do what justice de manded. An examination of the reports of decisions in both common law and equity courts will reveal the fact that very soon after he came to the bar in Monmouth he argued almost every case of importance which came before the higher tribunals of

the State. He held the office of Prosecutor for three full terms, fifteen years, and left it with a character established for great honesty of purpose, and as possessing one of the very best legal minds in the State. In 1855 he was ap pointed an Associate Justice by Gov. Rod man M. Price, who was opposed to him in politics, but, ris ing superior to the trammels of party, in this instance selected the very best material he could find to fill the place. At the end of his first term Gov ernor Olden reap pointed him, so that EDWARD W. he held the office for fourteen years. His decisions were regarded as very able, and held in the highest esteem. His power of analyzing human testimony, of reconcil ing inconsistencies in evidence, of mar shalling facts and showing their relation to each other, were never surpassed by any judge. The celebrated Meeker will case gave full evidence of his power of mind in all these directions. This cause occupied the time and attention of the Courts of New Jersey for many years. It involved a large amount of property, and was fought

with the greatest pertinacity. The ablest counsel in the State were employed on one side or the other. The cause came up before the Supreme Court on a motion for new trial, and its report occupies over one hundred printed pages. Judge Vredenburgh was intrusted by the court with the exami nation of the evidence in the cause, and the work was well done. From the conclusions at which he arrived there was no escape; his deductions were forcible, his logic was irresistible, and the reader rises from a perusal of his opinion amazed at its power, astounded at the ap parent intimate knowl edge the Judge seemed to have of the mo tives, the wishes, and the fraud and chica nery, the untruthful ness, or the honesty of the witnesses. He had a fund of quiet humor, some times rising to the height of absolute and pure wit. He rarely exhibited this in any of his utterances on the bench; but he WHELPLF.Y could not resist some times the impulse to break through the dignity of a judge and indulge in his natural propensity. A slight touch of this appeared in his decision in a bastardy cause. The putative father, who was the appellant, objected that the Quarter Sessions had seen fit to change the order of the Justices, and had not either over ruled or affirmed. In commenting on this the Judge remarked : " I find the Justices of Monmouth, in general sessions in 1795, relieving the township by fining the mother and putative father for the use of