Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 09.pdf/91

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The Green Bag.

for trial June 6th, from which date until July I ith, the trial continued. The court of im peachment acquitted him by an overwhelm ing vote on all the numerous specifications, and the result was a triumphant vindication. Among those who voted for his acquittal were many whose reputation for probity, legal learning and judicial fairness added weight to his acquittal. The evidence given its worst construction showed only some indiscretions, which he freely admitted, in allowing some casual interviews with suit ors, which in no wise influenced his adjudi cation. Judge Hubbell had the sympathies of a large portion of the people of the State, es pecially the people of Milwaukee, during the trial, and his acquittal gave his friends opportunity to manifest their joy at the re sult. A special train loaded with a committee went out part way to meet him; and on his return to Milwaukee a large throng met him and marched in a triumphant procession through the streets, the like of which that city had never seen. A public reception, then a monster procession to accompany him to his home, made the day one of con gratulation and holiday parade. Upon the establishment of the Separate Supreme Court in 1853, Judge Hubbell re signed. He realized that his reputation though vindicated was somewhat clouded by the aspersions thrown upon it by the impeachment. He retired to practice, and withdrew from publicity until 1863, when he represented a part of the city of Mil waukee in the legislature and served in that body in the stirring times of the war with conspicuous ability, and quite won the ad miration of the upholders of the Union. He desired more effectual vindication, and when a vacancy occurred in the office of circuit judge in 1869, by the resignation of his successor, he obtained a petition very numerously signed for his appointment to the bench. Governor Fairchild's refusal to appoint him was one of the keenest disap

pointments of his life. His high but digni fied anger, when the suave but stout-hearted, one-armed governor told the Judge that he did not feel justified in re-instating him upon the bench, was one of the most dra matic episodes the writer — then executive secretary to Governor Fairchild — ever wit nessed. But his services as an upholder of the Union were so well recognized that President Grant appointed him United States district attorney for the eastern dis trict of Wisconsin. He ably filled this office for five years. Of fine presence, most agreeable manners, and a bearing that betokened leadership, a man potent to influence others, it is not unlikely that the unfortunate episode of his impeachment arrested a career which other wise might have been most successful. He died in Milwaukee when sixty-eight years of age. A few days before, he fell on an icy pavement and broke his leg. The shock brought on other troubles and he sank suddenly. Always a handsome man, he was singularly well preserved, and re tained his buoyancy of spirits, and tried causes in his last days with the alertness and energy of a young man. No courtlier gen tleman ever graced society in Wisconsin. CHARLES HATHAWAY LARRABEE was born at Rome, Oneida County, New York, No vember 9, 1820. He descended from a Huguenot clergyman who fled from the persecutions in France about the time of the St. Bartholomew massacre, and, with part of his flock, sought refuge in America. His father was Major Charles Larrabee of the United States Army, who served as captain under General Harrison at the battle of Tippecanoe, and, at the battle of Brownstown, in 1812, lost an arm while managing the artillery. His ancestor on the maternal side was John Haynes, colonial governor, first of Massachusetts, and then of Connecti cut. His maternal grandfather, Judge Joshua Hathaway, was one of six brothers who,