William Edward Werner (April 19, 1855 – March 1, 1916) was an American lawyer and judge from New York.
William E. Werner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Associate Judge, New York Court of Appeals | |
| In office January 1, 1900 – March 1, 1916 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 19, 1855 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 1, 1916 (aged 60) Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Hope Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican Democratic |
| Spouse |
Lillie Boller (m. 1889) |
| Education | Bryant and Stratton's Business College |
| Occupation |
|
Early life
editWerner was born on April 19, 1855, in Buffalo, New York, to Magdalena (or Margaret) and Peter Werner. His parents were German immigrants. He was educated in public schools in Buffalo prior to 1870.[1][2] His parents died early, so he left school and worked as an errand boy, foundry worker and then farmhand. As a farmhand, he was able to return to school in the winter months. He returned to Buffalo and worked at a factory and attended Bryant and Stratton's Business College at night to study bookkeeping and commercial law. He then worked at a wholesale grocery firm as a bookkeeper.[2]
In 1877, he moved to Rochester, and studied law in the offices of William H. Bowman at the Power Building, and later Dennis C. Feely. In 1879, he worked as a clerk in the Rochester Municipal Court. He was admitted to the bar in October 1880.[1][2]
Career
editWerner practiced law in Rochester and established a partnership with Henry J. Hetzel. Their partnership lasted for four years. He was elected on the Republican ticket as special county judge of Monroe County in 1884, defeating A. P. Butts.[1][2] He was re-elected unopposed as a Republican in 1887.[2] In 1889 he was elected county judge as a Democrat to fill the vacancy of John S. Morgan. He served in that role until 1894.[1][2] He was elected as a justice of the New York Supreme Court (7th District), following the death of Judge Macomber, serving from January 1, 1895, to 1904.[1][citation needed]
On January 1, 1900, he was appointed by Governor Theodore Roosevelt as an associate judge to the New York Court of Appeals. In 1904, he was elected to the position with a term expiring on December 31, 1918.[1][3][4][5][6] In 1911, the Ives v. Southern Buffalo Railway Co. case was brought to his court, challenging the Wainright Compensation Act of 1910 and comprehensive workmen's compensation. His argument led to a change in the state constitution and law being passed in 1913.[2] In 1913, he ran on the Republican ticket for Chief Judge, but was defeated by Democrat Willard Bartlett. Werner remained on the bench as an associate judge and died in office.[2] In 1913, he was a member of the High Court of Impeachment against Governor William Sulzer.[7]
Personal life
editWerner married Lillie Boller of Buffalo on March 7, 1889.[1] He lived on Oxford Street in Rochester.[1]
Werner suffered from pernicious anaemia, and on February 9, 1916, had his spleen removed. He died a few weeks later on March 1 at Rochester General Hospital after pleurisy developed.[7] He was buried at the Mount Hope Cemetery.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Hills, Frederick S. (1910). New York State Men: Biographic Studies and Character Portraits. The Argue Company. p. 36. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via Archive.org.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The William E. Werner Collection". University of Rochester – River Campus Libraries. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- ^ "Governor Names Judges" (PDF). The New York Times. January 2, 1900. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- ^ ""There shall be a Court of Appeals..."". courts.state.ny.us. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012.
- ^ ""There shall be a Court of Appeals..."". courts.state.ny.us. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012.
- ^ ""There shall be a Court of Appeals..."". courts.state.ny.us. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012.
- ^ a b "Judge Werner Dies After An Operation" (PDF). The New York Times. March 2, 1916.
- ^ "Funeral of Judge Werner" (PDF). The New York Times. March 4, 1916.
External links
edit
Media related to William E. Werner at Wikimedia Commons- The William E. Werner Collection, University of Rochester Library
