extended to all the courts of the State and United Slates. He was counsel in many of the most im portant litigations of the past twenty -five years, notably in cases involving the constitutionality of the War Confiscation Acts, heard in the Supreme Court of the United States in 1869 and 1870. In 1874-1875, during the leave of absence of Judge Charles I. Walker, Kent Professor of Law in the University of Michigan, Mr. Wells was ap pointed to the vacancy. On Judge Walker's resig nation in 1876, Mr. Wells was appointed to the professorship, — a position he held until December, 1885, when he resigned because of the interference of its duties with his legal practice. In June, 1887, he was again called by the Regency to the Kent Professorship in the Law School. He was one of the earliest members of the American Bar Association, organized in 1878, and for several years was a member of the General Council; and in 1888 was elected chairman of the General Council. An excellent portrait of Mr. Wells was pub lished in the " Green Bag " for May, 1889.
Judge Robert Carter Pitman, Senior Associate Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, died on March 5. He was born in Newport, New port County, Rhode Island, March 16, 1825. He was the son of Benjamin and Mary Ann Pitman. His father was a native of the same place, and for many years was engaged in the manufacturing business, removing to New Bedford, in this State, in 182 1. His mother was also born in Newport, and was the daughter of Robert Carter, who served with distinction in the War of 181 2, and who was also a native of Newport. His early school days were passed in the common schools of New Bedford. Later he went to the Friends' Academy, fitted for college, and gradu ated from the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, in 1841. He received the degree of A.M. three years later, and that of LL.D. in 1869. During the year of his graduation he began the study of law in the office of Hon. Thomas D. Eliot at New Bedford. In the succeeding year he abandoned his professional preparation for a time, and taught school in Louisiana. He returned to Massachusetts in 1848, was admitted to the bar, md immediately commenced practice. 27
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In 1850 he formed a copartnership with his old preceptor, Mr. Eliot, and continued that relation for live years. The succeeding nine years of his career he conducted his legal business alone, or until 1864, when he and Mr. Borden formed a partnership under the style of Pitman & Borden, that endured until the senior member was raised to the bench of the Superior Court in 1869. In 1858 he was appointed judge of the police court of New Bedford, — an office he sustained until 1864, when he resigned. In 1869 he was appointed a judge of the Superior Court, and this position he held at the time of his death. In the discharge of his official duties Judge Pitman met with a large measure of success. He was a graceful, conservative, efficient presiding officer, courteous to all and faithful to the require ments of his position; he was a judge of marked ability, clear and decisive in his views, kind and considerate when needful, and stern and uncom promising, as occasion demanded.
Judge John Griffith Berkshire, of the Indi ana Supreme Court, died at North Vernon, Indi ana, P'ebruary 19. He was born in Ohio County, Indiana, in 1832, and during early life learned the trade and worked as a blacksmith with his father. Some years later he began the study of law at Versailles, and was admitted to practice. In 1864 he was the Repub lican candidate forjudge of the Circuit Court, and was elected. He was re-elected to the same posi tion in 1870. and again in 1876, which terms of office he filled with credit to himself and those who had chosen him. He was a candidate for the Supreme Court judgeship in 1882, but the opposing party carried the State in the election that year. In 1888 he was again a candidate, and was successful. He was widely known as an upright man and an impartial judge, and his death leaves a vacancy upon the bench which it will be hard to fill. Hon. John R. Brady, Justice of the New York Supreme Court, died on March 16. Born in 1 82 1, Judge Brady received his early education from his father, Thomas S. Brady, a man of classical attainments. He studied law in New York City in the office of Recorder Ryker, and
