George Wood, LL.D.
295
appeared in a trial it was rather as adviser ker controversy already referred to, Wall to the proceedings than active participant. and Southard represented the so-called Hicksites, and Theodore Frelinghuysen with His store of learning was so well under stood that I have known judges, while Wood, youngest of them all, battled for the holding court and seeing him an awaiting Orthodox Friends. Wood had also found spectator, address him from the bench as opportunities for emulation when in col amieus euriae for an opinion on a passing lege, where such men as he who be question. And he was always ready to allow came Bishop Meade of Virginia and he who his reservoir of learning to be freely tapped became Judge Wayne of the Federal su by young lawyers, to which class he was preme court w:ere his classmates. The case ever kind. Two colleges of his adopted of Gifford v. Thorn, 1 Stockton 708, often referred to, gives a potent specimen of State, Union and Hamilton, showed ap Wood's skill at legal fence and also several preciation of his learning by both succes sively crowning him with the laurels of the cases in the 1840 — 45 New York chancery reports, He did not disdain in making up LL.D. degree, but his modesty never al lowed him to suffix the mystic letters to his briefs to display playful wit and at times he could indulge in impassioned declamation, name. Early in 1845, in the city of New York, While George Wood was at the New Mr. Wood was concerned in a eause eelibre Jersey bar he enjoyed the excellent expe before the County court, then composed of rience of being a younger man combat the recorder, the judges of the common ing his eiders. This always teaches selfpleas and the superiors, together with the reliance, courage, and the courtesy that ac companies respect for seniors. During his mayor, and constituting an impeachment novitiate in his native State its bar never court for the trial of Police Justice Haskell, charged with official dereliction. While the had, nor since has had, greater representa tive members. Theodore Frelinghuysen, latter (Wood's client), was convicted by a small majority, it was notable that the in the great religious lawyer, who, when after wards elected Federal senator, was known in, genious and subtle argument of Wood won Washington as the Christian senator and to his client all the votes of the legal mem who left his profession and public life to bers of the Impeaching Tribunal, while the laymen members of the Court, clearly fov become chancellor of the New York Uni political reasons, voted for conviction in versity, was then in active practice. Sam uel L. Southard also, he who, as president order to found a vacancy for some especial of the Senate when President Harrison pet. The same county court upon the same died, became acting vice-president, and who day by a similar kind of vote removed from was a recognized jurist. Among Wood's the office of district attorney one of the senior compeers were also Aaron and Elias best incumbents which that legal post ever Ogden whose excellent traditions still linger knew in New York City, and appointed a in the State courts at Trenton; also Mahlon political favorite named Matthew C. PaterDickerson and Garret D. Wall; also Van son, who gave to the office the only flavor of Arsdale of Newark and Isaac II. Williamson, mediocrity it has ever known. The disgust a consummate equity lawyer; also William of Wood at the laymen character of his court was genuinely bitter, for he was so Pennington, the persistent hunter of so pure in soul, and his mind so little in touch phisms; and Peter D. Vroom. The men with political wiles and so enthusiastically tion of all these names to the New Jersey ethical, that even suspicion of underhanded lawyers of to-day starts to life grand tradi doings with respect to holding the scales of tions of famous practitioners. In the Qua
