Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-10-03

On the IUin oil November, isy3y
Mr.. White was appointed Judge Of the
general court Of Virginia, which Office
he held until his death.
Until 1925, this amable and excel.
lent judge was not only interchangeable
in discharging the high trusts of his
station at Richmond, in June and No
vember, of each year, but in each sue.
cessive spring and fall whatever might
be the state Of the roads and weather.
you would see him vending his way,
in his gig, through five counties, oil
which the tenth judicial district was
composed, at the appointed time, for
the very small salary of $1,000 per
annum. Like great Alfred, he carri-
ed justice to every mans door. AS a
nisi prius Judge, ne had no superior in
the United States. Prompt, energetic,
firm, and resolute, he alwayscommand-
cd the profound respect OF all who en-
tered the court. So jealous was he OF
the encroachment OF military power,
that during the war of 1912, when
Winchester was filled with recruits, he
would not permit the officers to appear
before him with their swords by their
sides. His reported opinions in the case
of Myers, who was tried for murder,
and Pres.on's case, on q question OF
estoppel, are universally acknowledge
cd to be powerful specimens of sound
learning and extensive research.
When Judge White was in the social
circle, the sternness of his character
was thrown aside, aud the soft, insinu.
ating manners of the polished cavalier
made him the delight and admiration OF
all. Astounding with interesting ancc-
dotes, he would bear away your whole
feelings, when relating the stirring
events of the battlefield, or the more
mild incidents of his long professional
career. Scipio Africanus himself did
not possess a more entire admiration OF
the female sex, and insensibly this high
and holy principle would seem to insin-
uate itself INTO his judgment, where in
flexible Justice did not forbid 1t. Brave
and intrepid as he surely was, the pray
or of vir,uous woman never reached
his ear in vain. remember a case
miserable and deprnved man was con.
victed by jury Of Loudoun, some Of
fence, and the court pronounced sem
tence Of Imprisonment; but during the
term the punishment might be commu-
ted. Various persona bcsought him,
in vain, in behalf of the laws VICTIM
At length the wife of the offender,
poor, humble, broken-hearted, appear
cd before him. He was unable to re-
sist, and amidst the tears which flow
ed down his check, he bade her depart
in peace.
Ho kept on steadily in his high ca
reer Of usefulness to the community,
until the spring OF 1925, when in COM
ing to court in Loudoun, he halted for
the night at tavern on the bank of
the Shenandoah. He retired to his
room at an early hour, and was found
bv the landlord, at bed time, sitting by
the fireside, stricken with paralysis
He remained in this situation several
weeks, and was borne, in litter, to
Winchester. Here saw him in the
latter part of '27, and never shall | for
get the interview. Nature had put on
her winter garment, the leaves of the
forest were swept off by every gale,
reminding us of the several generations
successfully passing away; The wind
sighed mourn(ully amidst the venerable
oaks surrounding his mansion: night
had cast her gloomy mantle over the
earth-I approached the patriarch for
the first time since his aflliction. Alas
how changed His dark and brilliant
eve no longer flashed with the light
ming of genius those lips, which once
were vocal in the discharge OF his OF.
fetal duties, and in establishing the
rights of his fellow citizens, were now
almost poweress the intellect pros.
trated, his noble form in ruins: all was
desolate and sorrowful. "What shad-
ows we see, and what shadows we Pur-
sue," said Burke, on melancholy oc-
casion. and the sensation rushed into
my mind, as | beheld the emaciated
frame of him who sat before me. Of
ten, but in vain, did | strive to repress
the rising sigh, and check the flowing
tear wrung the hand Of the patriot,
and babe him adieu forever. He died
a christian; and rests near the tomb OF
Morgan, in Winchester. Gallant sol.
der, fare thee well