Judge Poe Is Dead

Well Known Pioneer Passes Away - Prominent During Period of His Active Career as Lawyer - Funeral This Afternoon.

At 7 o'clock last evening another Idaho pioneer was called to his just reward when Jas. W. Poe died after a brief illness due to heart trouble accentuated? by symptoms of pneumonia.

Judge Poe had been making his home at the Hotel de France and was apparently in his normal good health on Thursday. Yesterday morning when the illness developed he was taken to the White House where better attention could be given him, although at that time it was believed his condition was not at all serious. During the late afternoon, however, he rapidly failed and it was then realized he could not recover.

Judge Poe was born in Kansas City, Missouri, about 70 years ago, and as a child accompanied relatives to Oregon, where he secured his education, specializing in the law, and soon thereafter entering upon the practice of that profession. In the early 60s he came to Lewiston and for a period was in the Florence and Warren mines. After locating permanently at Lewiston, he developed a large law practice, being a leader in his profession. He was an especially eloquent pleader before a jury and was engaged on the defense in practically all the leading cases then tried in this district. He was active as well in political affairs as a democrat and was a candidate of his party for district judge. He was a member of the constitutional convention that wrote the constitution of Idaho and was prominent in the debates occurring in that distinguished body. During this active carrer (sic) he occupied many positions of public trust dealing with municipal, county and state affairs.

About 15 years ago he retired from active practice. He had no relatives in this section.

Recently he had been serving in the capacity of justice of the peace and serving as well as police magistrate in the absence of Police Magistrate Erb.