signed
by WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT
WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT (1857-1930). Taft was the Twenty-Seventh President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1921 until 1930. WILLIAM HENRY HUNT (1857-1949). Hunt was a prominent lawyer and judge. Throughout his career as a Federal judge, Hunt served at various times in the United States District Court in Montana, the United States Court of Customs Appeals, the United States Commerce Court, and the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (San Francisco). He later left judiciary work for private law practice. TLS. 1pg. December 29, 1922. A typed letter signed “Wm H Taft”. The letter is on Supreme Court stationary and is addressed to William Hunt as U.S. Circuit Judge in San Francisco. The letter discusses Taft’s recovery from recent bladder surgery and Hunt’s work in the Ninth Circuit. “My dear Bill: I have yours of Christmas eve, and thank you for your kind note. I have just left the Doctor. He has gone over me and thinks that I am in excellent shape. This is nearly two weeks after the operation, and he says I may begin my regular walks and my routine life again. The meeting of the Judges has proved to those of us who have taken part in it that something may be worked out of it worth while. Judge Gilbert reports the great work that you have been doing in the Ninth Circuit. It is too bad that you don’t have better assistants in your Court. Judge Ross and Judge Morrow ought to resign. Affectionately yours, Wm H Taft”. Judge Gilbert was William Ball Gilbert, who served on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1892 until his death in 1931. Judge Ross was Erskine Mayo Ross, who served in the Ninth Circuit from 1895 until his death in 1925. Judge Morrow was William W. Morrow, who served in the Ninth Circuit from 1897 until his retirement in 1922, only a few days after this letter was written. The letter is in fine condition with a dark signature. (Inventory #: 4262)