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Show HE WAS A NOTED JURIST. The t'nluipy Life and Painful Death of Judge Isano I'. Chrjfltlanry, Death same as a welcome relief the other day to a lonely old mau, bowed down by years and sorrows and tortured with incurable in-curable disease. His name was Isaac Peek-ham Peek-ham Chriatiancy, nnd not ao very many years have elapsed since he was a lc'Kal und political power iu the statu of Michigan, Michi-gan, and prominent aa well in the councils of the natlou. Born seventy-eight years ago at Johnstown (now Bleecker), N. Y., he fought his way upward step by step aud secured an education through unaided personal exert ions. After qualifying ns an attorney he removed to Michigan and resided re-sided at Monroe from 1KI7 to 1.S57, com-tmilnLT com-tmilnLT the rtmfMKlnnH nf MlitnrAiiit lnwvir. He was state senator sen-ator iu 1850, Free Soil candidate for governor in 18Ti3 und delegate to the first national Republican convention con-vention at Philadelphia Phila-delphia iu 1856. He became a justice jus-tice of the Michi-gaiiRiipreme Michi-gaiiRiipreme court and continued on the bench until lH75.whenhe went JUDGE citmsTlANCr. to Washington aa a United States senator. It was at tho national capital that Mr. Christiancy then a widower met with the misfortune of bis lifa There he formed the acquaintance of Lillie Lugen-beal, Lugen-beal, a pretty employe of the treasury department. de-partment. Ho was persuaded to marry the young woman, and soon after resigned his seat in congress to accept the place ol United States minister to Pent. While in South America Mrs. Cbristlancy's conduct was such that on the return home of the couple the Judge secured a divorce. The erring wife died four years ago, a mental and physical wreck. The scandal so wrought upon Mr. Chris-tiancy'B Chris-tiancy'B sensitive mind that he abaudoncd political life for ever and began a heruiit'a existence in a lonely house at Lausing that ended only with his death. He spent his last days in writing an elaborate criticism of the Bible from the standpoint of an agnostic. Some weeks ago ho consulted a physician regarding a painful swelling at the base of tha jaw. It woa diagnosed aa malignant cancer, and the patient received warning that his days were numbered. "I am ready," said the judge; "I was not con-suited con-suited aa to how 1 should be brought into the world, aud apparently I am not to be consulted as to how I shall go out." The old man suffered agonies up to the moment of death's merciful release, but bis mind remained clear, and he kept at work almost unto the end. His permanent reputation will rest largely upon his legal decisions and their accompanying opinions, for he is conceded to have been one of the soundest judges of his time. |