History of Detroit, a chronicle of its progress, its industries, its institutions, and the people of the fair City of the straits, / by Paul Leake ... [Vol. 3]

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HISTORY OF DETROIT

was an indefatigable worker and his surprising energy was the marvel
of his associates on the bench. In the court room, his manner was short
and brusque without being harsh, and because of this, uselessly prolonged litigation was unknown when he heard a case. His delight in
hard work and dislike for slipshod methods drove him to a characteristic outburst of energy to clear his docket before he placed himself
under the care of surgeons to undergo an operation. His death occurred
March 26, 1911, at Rochester, Minnesota, where he had gone for treatment. Not until he had gathered and settled all the loose ends of business would he consent to go.
In speaking of the Judge, his colleagues on the bench were profuse
in their praise of his splendid qualities. "Coming as it does, the news
of his death is a terrible shock, so much so, that I scarcely know what
to say," remarked Judge John W. Donovan. "We all thought a great
deal of him-we who were brought in contact with him in our official
life."
"Judge Rohnert was an exceptionally good judge," said Judge
George S. Hosmer. "A man of earnest convictions who strove to do that
and only that which he thought right. I was associated with him
to a large extent, and learned to know and admire him."
"Judge Rohnert's death is a distinct loss to the bench," said Judge
Henry A. Mandell. "He had a keen appreciation of the dignity of the
bench and strove to do his duty in an honest and straightforward way."
In addition to the personal tributes paid him by his friends and
associates, the' Detroit Free Press had the following to say in an editorial, and, as it voiced the public sentiment, it is here reproduced:
"Few recent deaths have brought so keen a sense of loss as that of
Morse Rohnert. The dramatic coincidence of his removal, just at the
moment when he was on the point of being reelected to the place he
had filled so well-for there can be no doubt that he would have been
one of the six judges to be chosen-added to the feeling of shock occasioned by the unexpected news from Rochester, Minnesota; but, in
any event, the realization that Judge Rohnert was dead would have
evoked the most sincere sorrow in the city where he was a part of its
every-day life. He was distinguished by many admiring traits of character, but perhaps his untiring industry, and his unswerving impartiality in his judicial duties most commended him to those with whom he
came in contact. Conscientiousness was a predominant trait in his
personality. IIe left nothing undone which would enable him to determine justly the matters that came before him, and spared himself no
labor to discharge his duties to the full satisfaction of his oath.
"His associates in the law have the fitting methods of testifying to
their high regard for his memory, and their recognition of the loss to the
entire community in his death. Their words were not mere formulas
in this case. The vacancy on the bench will be filled, but, whoever his
successor may be, or however able, some qualities that were peculiarly
Judge Rohnert's own cannot be supplied by another. He takes away
with him an identification that was counted high in our judicial counsels, and in both the official and private circles in which he moved he
will be sadly missed. Untimely as was his death, his friends have the
eomnpensating thought that his life was crowned with greater public
recognition than. comes to most men. He had not only occupied places
of the highest honor by the choice of his fellow citizens, but he had been
chosen president of the Circuit Judge Association of the state, a testimony to the regard in which he was held by his associates that must
have meant much to him. It mingles some degree of satisfaction with