his faculties became apparent. The warmest and tenderest anxiety was felt that relief from duty and rest might work restoration. All that medical skill, kindness of friends and filial duty could do was done, but more and more the silver cord loosened and the golden bowl broke. He passed away gently from paralysis of the brain.

Judge West, in 1859, married the accomplished daughter of the Hon. Thomas II. Duval, so long the respected federal judge of the western district of Texas. Her death preceded his several years. His married life was happy. He left three sons of much promise. Texas enrols no brighter name among her lawyers.

VERMONT.

BLISS NELSON DAVIS.

BLISS NELSON DAVIS, the oldest member of the Caledonia County bar, died at his home in Danville, Vermont, February 11, 1885, at the advanced age of 83 years, from a severe cold contracted a fortnight before, which resulted in pneumonia.

Mr. Davis moved to Danville about the year 1850 and in that year entered upon the duties of state's attorney. In the years 1858-59, he was county senator, and had been a director of the Caledonia county bank for twenty-five years before his death and president of the same for several years.

In the year 1850, Mr. Davis, then state's attorney, had a remarkable adventure, of a sort which is fortunately of rare occurence in the court room. The notorious "Bristol Bill," together with another criminal named Meadows, had been tried for counterfeiting, and after a very vigorous and hotly contested case, the prosecution being conducted by Mr. Davis, the jury brought in a verdict of guilty against both the respondents. A recess of a few days was taken to enable the judge to hold a session of court in another county, and upon the re-assembling of the court, "Bristol Bill" and his confederate were brought

into court for sentence.

Both had fetters on their ankles but their hands were free. Mr. Davis was standing 'near the prisoners and stooped to answer some inquiry of Meadows. While he was in that position, "Bristol Bill" sprang forward and plunged a sharp pointed case-knife into Mr. Davis' neck, leaving it in the wound. The knife was promptly removed, and the wounded man taken to his hotel.

There was of course a great deal of confusion in the courtroom, and the supposition was that Mr. Davis was fatally stabbed. The prisoner was secured and the court adjourned soon afterwards. The judge of the court, who was sitting at the time of the assault, went at once to Mr. Davis' room, expecting to find him dead or dying; but as soon as he saw the judge enter, he said, cheerfully, "I'm not dead yet, judge, and you and I will live to punish a great many rascals yet." Mr. Davis was struck with the knife on the side of his neck, and it passed nearly through his neck, back of the spine. The injury proved not very serious; but had the knife taken a little different course and passed forward of the spine the result would no doubt have been fatal. It seems that the prisoner had retained the knife given him with his dinner, and after grinding the end to a sharp point on the stones of his cell, concealed it in a pocket handkerchief, which he held in his hand during the trial. Some six years after this "Bristol Bill" was tried and convicted for this assault.

Mr. Davis recovered rapidly, and was up to the time of his last illness a vigorous and useful member of the bar. Although a man without classical education, or the polish which adorns some counsellors, he was a strong and vigorous advocate and justly forcible before a jury. He had excellent sense and judgment about the law, which he used with marked tact and effect very many times, and was a very dangerous antagonist in a debate. His kindly nature and Christian qualities endeared him to all, and a wide circle of acquaintances will regret his death, which removes a prominent figure from political, legal and social circles.

MEMORANDUM

OF

SUBJECTS REFERRED TO COMMITTEES.

Resolution of David Dudley Field, of New York :

"That this Association approves of the bill which was introduced into the United States Senate by Senator Cockrell, of Missouri, providing for the appointment of a commission to prepare a federal code of procedure, recommended strongly by Mr. Justice Miller, of the United States Supreme Court, or any other bill having a similar object."

Referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence and Law Reform. (See pages 75 and 81.)

Resolution of Charles Borcherling, of New Jersey :

"That this Association recommends to Congress the passage of an act creating a penal colony of the United States, and to which each of the states and territories of the United States shall have the right and power to convey all such criminals as may have been convicted twice, and whose sentences shall not be less in the second conviction than five years' penal service."

Referred to the Committee on Judicial Administration and Remedial Procedure. (See page 76.)

Resolution of Benjamin A. Willis, of New York:

"That five thousand copies of the reports (both of the majority and minority) of the Committee on Delay and Uncertainty in Judicial Administration, with the appendix, be printed and distributed by the secretary."

Referred to the Committee on Publications. (See page 77.)

Resolution of William E. Earle, of the District of Columbia, relating to the relief of Congress from the necessity for private legislation.

Referred to a Special Committee of five. (See page 77.)

Resolution of C. C. Bonney, of Illinois, relating to uniformity of practice in the courts of the United States, with draft of proposed bill.

Referred to the Committee on Judicial Administration and Remedial Procedure. (See pages 79, 503.)

Also draft of proposed bill to regulate inter-state debts, credits and collections, under the power to regulate commerce among the several states.

Referred to the Committee on Commercial Law. (See pages 79, 505.)

Also draft of proposed bill for courts of arbitration of the United States.

Referred to Committee on Jurisprudence and Law Reform. (See pages 79, 509.)

Resolution of Samuel Wagner, of Pennsylvania, relating to the enactment by Congress of a national bankrupt law. Referred to the Committee on Commercial Law. (See page 79.)

Resolution of Edwin P. Green, of Ohio, relating to the publication and sale of state reports.

Referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence and Law Reform. (See page 81.)

NOTICE AS TO REPORTS.

By order of the Executive Committee the following prices have been fixed for the reports; they are about sufficient to pay the cost of printing and postage:

Vol. 1 (1878), paper, postpaid, 50 cents.

Vols. 2 to 9 (1879 to 1886), paper, postpaid, 75 cents. Vols. 8 and 9 (1885 and 1886), cloth, postpaid, $1.00. Each member of the Association will receive, as soon as published, one copy of the proceedings for each year of his membership. A bound copy will be sent, unless the secretary is otherwise directed. Members desiring extra copies, and new members desiring back reports, will be charged the above prices. Vol. 4 is out of print.

Public libraries and educational institutions will be furnished with complete sets of the reports, without expense.

EDWARD OTIS HINKLEY,

Secretary,

43, North Charles Street,

Baltimore, Md.