Death of a Noted character.
--
James W. Whitney, familiarly known as "
Milord Coke," the
King of the
Missouri Legislative lobby, died in
Pike county, Mc., on the 13th inst., aged 84 years. In former times, the "Lobby," or third house, was regularly organized at every session of the Missouri Legislature. "
Milord Coke" was the perpetual
President at the third House, always claiming that position as a matter of right.
As a parliamentarian he had no superior in the
State, and many a Speaker and
Lieut. Governor has been brought to the blush by "Milord's" stinging reviews of some of the decisions given by them from the chair.
Mr. Whitney was a graduate of Williams' College.
He afterwards studied law in
Cazenovia, N. Y., and emigrated to
Alton white
Illinois was yet a territory.
Before coming West he married in
Massachusetts, where he lived with his wife and son for a short time, when one day, from some cause which he never would explain, he packed up his clothes and left, never seeing or corresponding with his family afterward.