San Francisco Call, Volume 75, Number 19, 19 December 1893 — OGDEN HOFFMAN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OGDEN HOFFMAN.

Unveiling the Judge's Portrait. GENERAL BARNES' EULOGY. An Eloquent Tribute to the Deceased Jurist. THE ORDER OF THE COURT. The Picture to Hang; Upon the Walls Forever— Judge Morrow's Remarks. Seliiora. if ever, has there bnen gathered together in the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of California a more distinguished company of men than assembled there yesterday morning. The occasion was the unveiling of David Ideal's magnificent portrait of tha late Jutige Ogden Hoffman. The ceremonies were brief, but appropriate. Early in the day the portrait had been hung upon the right wall of the courtroom, facing the bench where for forty years the man whose features were portrayed upon the caavas bad sat as Judge. A drape of heavy cloth covered it, and the shades of ttie windows were so arranged that when unveiled the bright noonday sunshine would fall upon the pictured face and form that had for months and

Yeats been so familiar to the frequenters of the court. Inside the bar were the guests. Among them were: C. F. Crocker, William Alvord, Charles Page, A. D. Grimwond, Judge Slack, George A. Knight, United States Commissioner Ileacwk. Frank Hnburg, L. 8. b. Sawyer, Charles "Welle r, William Barber. O^den Holfriiau Jr.. James T. Boyd. S. C. Houghion, George B. Merrill, I. S. Kalloch, H. C. JMbble. A. P. Tan Duzer, Southard Hoffman and two score more- of attorneys and friends. Inside the rail were Mrs. Judge Morn>w. Mrs. William Alvord. Mrs. Southard HoiTinan. Miss Alice Hoffman and several other ladies. At the bar was Vnited States Attorney Garter and his assistants W. G. Witter and Samuel Knight, United States Marshal Long aud W. H. L. Barne?, the or. tor of the occasion. Charles Mayne, the loving friend and long time companion of Judge Hoffman, wtio presented tiie portrait, and David Neal, the artist who painted the picture, were seated to the neht of the bench which Judges Morrow and McKenna occupied. The necessary business of the morning session of the court having been dispatched, E. J. Prin^le addressed tbecourt aud formally called its attention to the picture, which was then unveiled, und in to doing paid a graceful tribute to the donor, Mr. Mayne. General Barnes then arose, and, in moving that the portrait should be accepted, pronounced a eulogy on the departed jurist which many who are familiar with the efforts of the orator consider one of the best efforts of his life. "Your Honors," he said, "I desire to move that the painting just unveiled shall be placed on the walls of this courtroom, there to remain as long as this Government •hall exist — as long as memory exists — as the portrait of one ot the most remarkable 'characters that the judicial history of this country has ever presented." Continuing, the speaker paid a glowing tribute to the ertist, Baying that the portrait was "a great painting by a great artist of a great man." Tne speaker knew Judge Herfman well. His earliest case of importance in California, when he was bnt a young lawyer and when the great Hall McAllister was his adversary, was tried before him, end he had never forgotten the assistance rendered him then by Judge Hoffman, Trho was ever ready to render to the untried barrister all possible help. Judge Hoffman was remarkable not alone for his great knowledge, but as well fiTT his

culture, bis judgment, bis discrimination. He was nt home on any subject, wherever discussed, and he seized upon any proposition with almost divine inspiration and passed upon it with wonderful correctness and celerity. No litigant ever had a junt cause that he did not find in Judge Hoffman his best friend. For forty years a* a Judge no human being bad ever assailed his honesty or his purity. The peroration of tne speaker was a wonderful burst of eloquence, and as he told of Julge Huffmau's closing days there was many a strong man whose eyes were moist with tears.

United States Attorney Garter followed briefly on behalf of the Government, and thun Judge Morrow, in answer to the moi lion made, said: 'The record of the disI tinguished judicial service* rendered by Judge Hoffman during the forty years he presided in this court lias become a part of the history of the country. The high character of such services justify all that ! has b*en said in their praise by thegentlpnien who liave just spoken. Judge Hoffman was, indeed, in many respects a remarkable man. He possessed rare judicial qualities for while hi* perceptions were quick and clear, the operations of his mind were so true and logical that he arrived zy a sound and discriminating judgment without apparent labor. "Truth, it has been said, is a fortified \ stronghold ta be reached hy patient and I laborious siege. Judge Huffman's method of reaching judicial truth was rather that lof the direct and brilliant assault, if he | thereby escaped the labor of long and | tedious detail it was because the result j was equally certain and satisfactory. "His opinions were always couched in • apt and felicitous language, and his instructions to juries models of clear and accurate statement. Lis wit penetrated and exposed all shallow pretense, and was ! undoubtedly an effective quality of hi 9 I judicial character. He was honest and . above reproach, and lias left a name that j will be respected as long as judicial wisj d«in and integrity have a place in our history. "In all the qualities I have mentioned ; Judge Hoffman built his own monument j in the reports and records of this court, ! but it required the genius of the artist to j preserve for us and for those who sball come after us the form and expression of feature that make us know and understand something of the living man. "This tribute to the memory of Judge Hoffman is exceeding appropriate, aud we j esteem ourselves fortunate that a generous

and loving friend has adopted this method of testifying his regard for one whose name will always he honored in this court. Human effort is always stimulated by the achievement of h conspicuous character, and canvas, marble and bronze touched by the genius of an artist have unquestionably made tne world better by preserving the individuality of those who have performed with credit wnatever honorable part they D»ve assumed in the affairs of the world. Tnis portrait will therefore be accepted and retained in accordance with the wish cf the donor, and the following order entered on the minutes of the court." The order, stripped of technicalities, way that the portrait of the deceased Judge should hang upon the walls of the courtroom forever.

Judge Ogden Hoffman.