The Supreme Court of New Jersey. plicity, are easily understood, and are always directly to the point. They strike the heart of their subject, like the ball which his keen eye and firm hand send with unerring aim home from his favorite rifle. His grasp of mind and reach of thought, coupled with his profound learning, enable him to com prehend the abstrusest legal principles, and it is not uncommon for him to base an opinion upon a point in a cause not touched or 'no ticed by the astutest counsel. Me does not disdain to use for his leisure moments the lighter literature of the day, and is an om nivorous reader. His favorite amusement he finds in his workshop, where with the keenest tool, with chisel and lathe, he turns out from his skilful hand artistic carvings in wood. His many years sit lightly on his head, which retains nature's covering with few silver threads; his eye is as bright as ever, and his step as elastic and firm as in his younger days. The bar of his native State are justly proud of their ChiefJustice, and never fear to intrust the interests of their clients in his hands. Not a breath of suspicion has ever tarnished his fair name, and he stands to-day among his peers withan enviable record as a judge and citizen. There are but two"* living ex-Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of New Jersey; one of these is Joseph D. Bedle, and the other is Van Cleve Dalrimple. Governor Bedle — for he has held both offices of Governor and Judge — was born at Matawan, Monmouth County, in 1831. His ancestry is of English stock, but he can trace his lineage back through citizens of New Jersey for more than a century and a half. His father was prominent in Monmouth County, having been a Justice of the Peace and a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for several years Young Bedle acquired his education by an aca demic course at Matawan, once known as Middletown Point. Very early in life he became a student-at-law in the office of William L. Dayton, who has already been referred to in these sketches. He does not
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seem to have finished his whole course with this gentleman, but to have attended a law school in New York for some time, and then to have prepared himself for admission in that State, in the office of Thompson & Weeks, at Poughkeepsie. In 1852 he was admitted as an attorney and counsellor in New York. But he was not satisfied with his prospects in the great Commonwealth, for very soon after being licensed there, he returned to New Jersey, finished his course, as a student-at-law, with Henry S. Little, and was licensed by the Supreme Court as an attorney in January, 1853, and as a coun sellor in 1856. He opened his office at first in Matawan, but only remained there for two years, when, seeking a larger field, he removed to Freehold, the capital of the county. Here he soon began to secure a large business, which in time became very lucrative. In 1865 Governor Parker pro posed to him that he should accept the position, then vacant, of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. After some deliber ation and much hesitation, he consented, and was commissioned on the 23d of March, 1865. The circuit assigned to him was a very large and important one, comprising the counties of Hudson, Passaic, and Bergen, in which were the populous cities of Jersey City and Paterson. The circuit has since been found to be too large for one judge, and has been divided. Judge Bedle, upon being commis sioned, changed his residence to Jersey City, so as to be easily reached by the lawyers who might necessarily seek him in the per formance of his official duties. His manner of meeting the responsibilities of his high position was so admirable that at the end of his first term he was renominated and again confirmed without any opposition; in fact, with the approval of all classes in the community- During his first term his name was mentioned in connection with a candi dacy for Governor, but without the slightest action of his own. During his second term in 1874, he was again named in connection with the office of chief magistrate of the
