ATTORNEY -GENERAL'S DEATH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 140, 7 March 1908, Page 10

ATTORNEY -GENERAL'S DEATH.

— » ; SIR J. LAWSON WALTON'S CAREER. BRILLIANT SUCCESS AT THE BAR. Loniion, January 20. Tho death of tho Attorney-General, Sir John Lawson Walton, took place on Saturday morning (January 18) from doublo pneumonia, following on pleurisy, at his town residence, 42, Great Cumberland Place. Sir J. Lawson Walton had been in somewhat delicato health for 'somo timo past, but tlw liows of his death' canio as a shock ,to all, Tho labours of-, tho past session ' left him especially fatigued,- several all night sittings and tho labours •connected . with - tho passing of tho Criminal Appeal Bill haying overtaxed his strength. 'After the prorogation, therefore, ho sought recovery in tho refreshing air of Scotland, and rented Slaino Castlo for tho first portion of .tho recess. This chaugo had a " good effect, and ho afterwards paid a/short' visit to Braemar, after which, about tho middle of October, ho returned to his .town residence- in Great Cumberland Place,' 'spending some time with his family in his country houso near Butler's Cross;' Buckinghamshire. Later ho paid a visit ;to Bournemouth,; remaining there for threo or four weeks from about tho middle of", December. Although not yet strong; ho had improved in health, and on returning to Great Cumberland Placo ho was looking forward hopefully, and even eagerly, to tho -work of .the coming parliamentary session. Unfortunately, while, still far from robust, ho caught, a chill, and'this brought about an attack of 'pleurisy, which causcd tho right honourable gentleman considerable pain. Medical assistance proved ,pf no avail, for the pleurisy developed into doublo pneumonia, and tho 'symptoms, soon'j became extremely serious. ! ; .

: Oxygen was administered and seemed t-o give the sufferer l somo relief, but, ho becarao unconscious, and at, half-past eleven o'clock on January 18 the patient died "peacefully in the presence of ; Lady Lawson Walton and .his family. "i :- :. •,

.References were made to/the death of the Attorney-General "bySir-.i'.W. Foster, M.P., speaking at a 'Liberal dinner at Long:Eaton, and by Mr. A; j;, Slierwell, M.P.', at Huddorsfield. Mr.' Chahibcrlain telegraphed his 'sympathy from Highbury. ;' Preaching'.in tho, Temple Church yesterday/ the Master, 1 Dr. : H. G.. W'6ods; referred \to Sir, "J.; Lawson Walton -.'as "a man who' had aibril-' liaiit success .-at Vtho'Bar .arid in. Parliament/ and--seemed;,likely to have a' stUl moro bril-liant-future'before .hini.";... ■ } \

Sir J;-.'Lawson"Waltonwas ~'tlie.'sqh- of a; .Wcsloyan missionary- in. Ceylon, '( and was born 05 years ago. Sent Honto iu.i'his, boy-, hood, lie was educated at the ' ''Merchant; Taylors' School and at London Univorsity.His first case, : which .'made some sensation at ;the iSewcastlo Assizes, .was. a. defence of tho E.ing'-'6f;th6. Gipsies on a charge of' wilful murder. Greatly to 1 ;, tho disgust of'; Mr.; Justice Manisty, who pronounced it tho •worst case ho had ever: known,'the young barrister, induced the, jury ; to. bring in; a- ver-. diet -of manslaughter. ~ . Tho fine "'tiniDro'! iOf; his-50ft,,.10w r ,voice, -the persuasiveness of his manner,' his power of making, dry, ; bones live, and,'of clothing thom witii. something ,of his, own -personality' l>rocured hiin .rapid advancement 111 his .proressiou. •, - Jlo ,was;an absoiuto master of-: himself. Often calm, .almost ..',to. -trigidity; he could,,if .occasion, required it, burst :out .into bitter..scorn,; and sarcasm and reveal ..his /re), lentlqss determination., , ■:.',. •A^r^t^elve, i 'yjßa^.at',-.'tb,eV4at. :^;itiß6ks silk ih 1890, and two years "later. entered .Parliament .;as , -Liberal . member^ Leeds.' a Liberal,, imperialist, ono .of.- .'tho , founders -. of -tho' •Liberal!; Imperial and. a- : firm , supporter;, of, the Boer, war/;Y . : .; Ay lion lie;, ; was '.appointed, AttorneyrGcnoral. •id; December, ;ia.Qb, .it ,-is calculated that he was"making £15,000, >, year. -In-1882 he married.!a daughter . '.of .- tho lato llobeijt Heddorwick, toundoiyof tho- '-'Glasgow Citi-. : zen." His sister isi.'in'ar.ried-.to Sir Richard Solomon,' his niedo to, Kir " Percy Girouard.'- A ..keen golfer; ho'.was oho'of tho bestrk'utiwn members of the Sandwich Club. i