Webster Street

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Webster Street
Chief Justice, Arizona Territorial Supreme Court
In office
November 15, 1897 – March 21, 1902
Nominated byWilliam McKinley
Preceded byHiram Truesdale
Succeeded byEdward Kent Jr.
Personal details
Born(1846-06-08)June 8, 1846
Los Angeles, California
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Mary Gilmore
​
(m. 1869)​
ProfessionAttorney

Webster Street (June 8, 1846 – September 21, 1908) was an American jurist who served as Chief Justice of the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court from 1897 till 1902.

Early life

Street was born to Samuel and Sarah (Butler) Street on June 8, 1846, near Salem, Ohio. His parents were Quakers of English ancestry.[1] The younger Street attended public schools in Salem before enrolling at Antioch College.[2] Following graduation, he studied law under attorney Thomas Kennet and was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1871.[3] Street married Mary Gilmore of Yellow Springs, Ohio on May 15, 1869.[1] The union produced a son, Lawrence, and a daughter, Julia.[3]

Law

Practicing law in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Street moved to Arizona Territory in November 1877.[3] He operated a law office in Signal for several months until decline in the mining town prompted him to relocate to Tucson.[1] In 1879 he moved to Tombstone. There he served one term as a county judge.[2] Street moved to Phoenix in January 1887.[3] There he formed a law partnership with Briggs Goodrich. Following Goodrich's death in 1888, he formed a new partnership with Benjamin Goodrich which lasted until 1890. Later partners were Frank Cox, with whom he worked with from 1891 till 1894, and Cassius M. Frazier.[1]

Street was a member of the

county attorney in 1890 but losing in the general election.[1]

Street made several applications for a position on the territorial courts. His March 1889 application was blocked by Governor Lewis Wolfley on the grounds that Street had too many friends in the Democratic party.[1] In April 1891, Street requested appointment as Chief Justice the next time the position became open.[4] It was not until November 6, 1897, that Street's request was honored with President William McKinley appointing him to become Chief Justice.[5] Street took his oath of office on November 15.[6]

Writing very organized opinions, Street was one of the first judges in the territory to number the points he made in his decisions.

N. O. Murphy and Eugene S. Ives on February 24, 1901, as speakers during dedication ceremonies for the Arizona State Capitol.[9]

Popular in 1897, Street received widespread support for his appointment.[10] By 1901 there was strong opposition to the judge and efforts were made to have the president remove him from office.[11] The attacks on Street were part of an effort against all Republicans in the territorial government.[9] President Theodore Roosevelt elected not to renominate Street but did allow him to finish his term.[1] His successor was sworn in on March 21, 1902.[12]

After leaving the bench, Street remained in Phoenix and practiced law. For a time he was partnered with Henry N. Alexander.[7] In May 1908, Street was paralyzed by a stroke.[7][13] He went to Los Angeles in hope the climate there would prove beneficial.[14] Street died in L.A. on September 21, 1908.[15] He was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Goff 1975, p. 167.
  2. ^ a b "Death of Judge Street Former Chief Justice". Arizona Republican. Phoenix, Arizona Territory. September 22, 1908. p. 5.
  3. ^ a b c d e Chapman Publishing Co. 1901, p. 48.
  4. ^ Goff 1968, p. 222.
  5. ^ "Chief Justice Street". Arizona Republican. Phoenix, Arizona Territory. November 7, 1897. p. 2.
  6. ^ Goff 1968, p. 219.
  7. ^ a b c Goff 1975, p. 169.
  8. ^ a b c d Goff 1975, p. 168.
  9. ^ a b McClintock 1916, p. 349.
  10. ^ Goff 1975, p. 166.
  11. ^ Goff 1975, pp. 166–7.
  12. ^ "Chief Justice of Arizona". Arizona Republic. March 22, 1902.
  13. ^ "The Illness of Judge Street". Arizona Republican. May 12, 1908. p. 6.
  14. ^ "Judge Street is at Death's Door". Bisbee Daily Review. July 18, 1908. p. 8.
  15. ^ "Death of Chief Justice Webster Street". The Arizona Sentinel. Yuma, Arizona Territory. September 23, 1908. p. 3.
  16. ^ "Burial of Former Justice". Los Angeles Herald. September 24, 1908. p. 5.

External links
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