Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-04-28
HON. ROBERT STRANGE.

iiving Iawvers The article in question IS wei Vel
ten and highly interesting. Inc encou,a 70 m,
81 ,ronounces must be the more gra!eiui ~ ~
r;shoJ subject from the fact (whlcn 10 "."t
evdsnce of their truth and of the sincerity WIN "
thav are uttered) that 1t was written oy Se,e
- .dverse poIitics, at a time when Judge St'd"ge
oame had been mentioned in connexIon win the ice
Presidency We find in this sketch many ~ ,t,
of peculiar interest, some OF whlcn we wiz -
for the entertainment oil oar readers 'h""y thoi,
are we'll acquainted with the person VINO 10 '
subject: :, ,e,, Ia commenced
reading law in the office of the Hon. 6enJaml" Co.
kins Leigh in the town of Petersburg. !" "
months afterward, Mr.. Leigh removed to tne cry "
Richmond But the recip' FOCAL ties OF Venet"o az.
esteem were too strong to be severed ny s"s -; ,,
and the student followed his PreceP'of h.t science
home eaoer to master the principles OF tndt sIe"I
he was one day so beautifully to enforce aro olIaIy
expound He remained in Mr.. Leigh once d. d.
ak months. During this time, the citZens u i'.o
mond dreaded attack from the ofllIsn' ~ :
companies were formed citizens were armed ana inc
ouiet capital of the Old Dominion seemed suoaenIy
converted into garrisoned town. Ii was not ]" tio
nature of the young law-student to resist tne
ment of such scenes At the first tap OF the drum,
Blackstone and Coke were deserted. Unknown anu
too young to be entitled to sword he grasPeu d
musket and planted himself as common soiuier u"
the ranks of volunteer company where ne
Iy submitted to every drudgery and PrlVaon' Ieeiln"
honored at being deemed old enough to De UnS.eu II"
that position, where, if necessary, he cond strNe o
the stars and stripes, and the capital OF MS hd'Fe
heights OF Richmond again assumed the appearances
Of peace and the young soldier reluctantly betook
himself to his books.
Whilst studying with MIR. May, his military ardor
was again excited expected invasion oil MS
country.
He again abandoned his studies, and aided in raIs-
ing in Petersburg company OF juvenile volunteers
from IA TO II years of age. He was elected captain
of this company and rendered its services to the State
The Governor after delay, respectfully declined
accepting the company but the proud bearing ana
military enthusiasm of the youthful captain was 100
striking to pass unobserved, and the Governor len
dered him Brevet commission OF Lieutenant, In an
artillery company, then in the service OF the State.
The commission cheerfully accepted, and the
student once more became the soldier and performed
three months tour ofduty, encamPed at PeerSburg
and Camp Powell's Creek. During his term OF ser
vice. he devoted his leisure hours the acquisition
of military knowledge, and discharged the duties OF
his station in manner that gained the appreciation
and esteem of his superior officers-whilst he was
great favorite with, and possessed the entire conf
dGnce of the rank and file; and for the greater part OF
the time, concurrence of circumstances placed HIN
in the actual command of the company.
In 1921, the friends Of NJ T. Strange brought him
forward candidate represent Fayetteville in the
House of Commons, in the Legislature of the State.
The representative in 1920 was John A. Cameron,
the of one of his former teachers. Mr.. Cameron
had also represented the town i'll lSlO-'ll-l2; but
the breaking ont of tie war, had volunteered, and
faithfully served his country major of the Cum
berland regiment. During the war, exposure had
on an dltdck OF WHICH very SeHSl-
bly, weakened his powers of eocu:ion and, In great
measure, disqualified him for a successful practice
the bar. But he had won the esteem and confidence
Of our citizens, many of whom he commanded during
the war. Mr.. Cameron still man OF active en-
ergetic habits. possessed of strong intellect and
much dignity of character. He accordingly
again brought forward by his friends in opposition TO
Mr.. Strange in 1921. The contest fierce and
violent. The friends of each candidate kept open
house for a month before the election, whilst each
candidate presided with dignity the hospitatles
OF his own board. This campaign is still referred 10
IN Fayetteville as the climax to which elecIloneerIng
excitement can be carried At the close of the polls,
Strange had majority of Sc of 364 poled.
The compliment was the more fattering, the fede-
raj party had decided majority in town; and Strange
had early IN the campaign avowed himself Repub-
lcan, and was. therefore, indebted personal popu
iarlty and the influence Of friends for his election
The contest was again renewd between him and
Mr.. Cameron, in 1929, bet with less violence,
and Strange continued to be elected by increasing
Jorltles So courteous was the bearing of the candi-
dates towards each other throughout these menora-
ole campaigns that their close they entertained the
highest esteem and regard for each other Mt Came
ron afterwards became Judge of the Territory Flor
Ida but was drowned in the Inflated steamer Puas-
XII in 1888. la the Legislature Mr. Strange sustained
MS reputation as an orator, and bore conspicuous
part In all the discussions of the day. and had the
honor TO serve the judiciary committee of which
the late John Stanly chairman.
In 1896 Mr.. Strange again represented Fayetteville
IN tne House OF Commons in the Legislature of the
0'0N~'
came on for two Judges of the Superior Court one to
fill the place of Judge Nash, who had resigned, but
who is now an ornament 10 the Supreme Court bench,
and the other TO fill the place of Judge Mangum, our
present distinguished senator in Congress, who du-
ring the recess of the Legislature, had been appointed
by the Governor and Council to supply the vacancy
occasioned by the death of Judge Paxton The egis-
lature voted for both judges at the tme-9l
necessary to choice. On the first ballot the vote
stood Strange, 100; Willie p. Mangum, IS James
MartD' 90 Thomas P. DeveIeux, 80 Joseph Pick
thlro ballot Martin was elected by of 102 to
81 over Mangum.
he presided with much ability in the trial of the
notorious Robert Potter in Granville county, in 1892
lOr Inc commission of an offence unheard of in the
annals OF North Carolina criminal law Up to that time.
foter was lawyer and served in the legislature of
.ne State' and IN Congress, during session. On
oeng found guilty of the offence by the iury Judge
Soange sentenced him to two years. imprisonment,
ahu hned MIN In the sum Of one thousand dollars.
appears Were made TO the Judge remit the imprs-
onment, but he was memorable. AS an evidence of
Inc excitement that attended Potter's trial. and the
opinion OF the State upon the sentence of the Judge
is proper TO state that the session of the Iegs
d"ie mace the offence he had been convicted of fell
ony, and punishable with death.
O. WINE Judge Strange was presiding in Beaufort
superior Court,i in 1888, two men, brothers, had the
nuu"e'y 20 shoot down man in the middle of the
ee' III O1oad day, almost in presence of the JUDGE.
He was conversing with Judge CASTOR at the time
"hen the facts were announced to him. Heimmedi-
atey issued Precept for their arrest; but neither
sherf nor any else could be found 10 serve it. 60
much were these men the terror of that community
hey Were armed TO the teeth, and swore thew would
no' De taken alive. Judge Strange resolved that the
:; snoulo be supreme, even if he fell in uphoIdng