Judge Daniel J. Murphy

 

Judge Daniel J. Murphy, San Francisco, was born in Lowell, Massachusetts; educated there, and read law for a time with Beard & Gunnison, and with General Benjamin F. Butler; also with Mr. Lord, of Salem, afterward Judge of the Supreme Court of that State.  In 1853 he left home for California, embarking on the steamer Georgia from New York city for the Isthmus, but had to be put in at Norfolk, Virginia, and be transferred to the Empire City, which carried him on the Aspinwall.  He went by rail about half way across the isthmus, as that road had not been completed any farther, and he walked the rest of the way to Panama.

 

After arriving in San Francisco he continued his law studies here with Crockett & Page, and was admitted to the Supreme Court in 1855, when Judges Terry, Murray and Heydenfeldt were on the bench, Judge Terry being the presiding Justice.  He at once began the practice of his profession; but, being very young and having no old acquaintances here to push him forward, he found it tedious getting a start; but perseverance at length made known his ability.  Like every one else, however, he had to have a little experience at mining, as the gold fever had not entirely died out, and in 1858 he had the usual experience on Fraser river.  Subsequently in his legal practice he was associated with such men as Harry Byrne, Colonel E. D. Baker, Judge Freelon, Alexander Campbell, J. C. Zabriskie and others, either with them, and that was in a day when Western eloquence was more in vogue than at present.  On the bench and bar of San Francisco he has not alone many pleasant memories, but can also relate much that is thrilling, for tragedy far overshadowed comedy in law during the early and ruffian period of the war Judge Murphy was a Douglas Democrat and friendly to the Broderick wing of the Democracy; but the war made him a Republican, as it did many other Northern Democrats, as he has since been consistent in his party fealty.  In 1870 he was elected District Attorney of his city and county, on the Republican ticket, by a majority sufficient to show the high esteem in which he was held by the people.  He was afterward twice reelected – a rare compliment.  After the close of his last term of office, he was retained in may well-known and certainly sensational cases.  In 1884 he was elected to his present office, that of Judge of the Superior Court.  He is an unassuming man, a gentleman and a scholar; bold as a lion in behalf of what he recognizes as the right; but calm and self-possessed in his manner of defense, and he evinces a high degree of sympathy for the suffering and oppressed. 

He was married in this State, and has a family.