Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-06
THE LATE JUDGE JOHN G.
HUMPHREYS.
Adjourned Meeting of the Menu
phls Bar-ResOIutiOns of
Respect.

The adjourned meeting of the Bar, in
memory of Judge Humphreys, met In
the Circuit Courtroom at nine O'Clock
am. on Monday, the 9th of October, and
| the Chairman Of the meeting, Judge II.
| @. Smith, being absent, the meeting was
organized by calling Judge George w.
Reeves TO the chair.
The Committee on Resolutions then
| reported, through their chairman, Judge
A. Wright, the following preamble and
resolutions:
The committee on resolutions beg leave
to report as folio rs:
Judge John Cowan Humphreys was born In
/ Lexington. KY, on the LIST of June, 1873. lie
attended the common school OF the city until
he was fifteen, and then entered college, where
he c0nJnued for TWO years, until his iaiher 3
death. he then commenced the study OF the
law by himself, having his 1ataer's books and
Office. subsequently,, by the perm1s s1on oil
Judge Daniel Mayer, who had married sis step
mother, and was law professor in TransyIvaniR
| UnlverslLy, he entered that institution and
took his degree and diploma therein In 1884
His father ana brother were both able lawyers
and iuJess. and lac may be SAID TO nave been
bred AMIDST q legal atmosphere. He came TO
the bar in 1885, and hrsS commsacea practice
iu Dover, Tenn, where he remained Til the
winter. OF 1888, When he removed TO Somer-
VILE and formed q copartnership with bis
cousin, Judge West II. umphIeys. In very
ability placed him in the front rank OF his pro-
Ie ssioo, and when called 70 the bench In 1873,
he was the legal and confidential adviser OF
over half the people OF Ray cite county. He
was hIst elected Judge Of tins Judicial Circuit
Oy the Legislature, over az anle and popular
e9mpetiJoT. who had niled the position Ior a
number Of years with distinguished ability.
Aferward, in 1854, when the election OF Judges
was brought before ths people, ne became a
candid ate, anu as party ponllcs were running
very high at the time, there was an effort mace
on party grounds 10 eisct an able lawyer oveI
MIN; but the people rofCfed 10 disPIaos so good
and upright a Judge, and elected him by q
large majOriLy-thOugh lbs party was In a heavy
minority in The district ne continued Judge
OF this Circuit till tbs courts We're closed by the
late war. At The close OF TIE war he was offered
a place on the supreme Bench Uf the State, but
was Obliged TO decline IL on account Of nus dell
cate health. This offer was a tribute TO mis- judi
elaI ABILITY and purity OF character, fof though
az no time OF his lie a politician, yet lie Was
well known 10 be a linn and steadfast friend OF
the south in her late struggle, and yielded his
eldest son 8 sacrifice f0r her On ths bloody
plains OF shiloh. De ami the laie Ihos. rur-
lev who shone so brightly rs a nsmber OF cur
Bar married sisters, and ne IeaYes behind him
his wife and an Interesting family OF children.
de was i Inan OF simple tastes ana lew
wants, and Of strictly domestic habits, always,
after the lab, u Of the day was over, seeking the
bosom OF his famtiy and joining ms wife and
eli dren il familiar conversation and pleasant
mus c, OF which he was particularly fond. de
was an earnest and jealous chr stlan-a men,
Der of the Episcopal chuTeh As & lawyer he
learning, and keen, discriminating and eQuita-
ole discernmenL of right and wrong enabled
him. as IL were, EY llLlkLAOn 10 grasp Tic HlCTiL3
o. ms clients case and cJTrectlS apply the rules
thou ii he did not possess what is usually
styled eloQuence, yet his clear, pointed and
fJrcible manner of stating his case, and above
all the wonderful weight that his hi n integrity
Of character mad with the people, maae him Us
formidable an advocate as was ever met before
a jury.
chiefly known ana ADMIRED. lie presided over
this circuit a a tme when its bar was d-stin-
guIshed for its ability and learning, and yet by
common consent 1t YVES admitted that We had
the rare good fortune 10 have our best laWyer
on the bench, and no one, no matter how
learned or able, ever appeared before him with
out feeling thai he was addressing a master and
superior MUD. His character was a blending
OF the most opposite tralLs-femtntne gentle
ness with stern and iron nrmneSs-ehlldllke
simplicity with wonderful mental shrewdness
and acutaen modest diitidenos with an utter
fearleSsuezs in The ~0iEcharge Of duty. Nature
seems 70 have gathered her hnest AID pobiest
attributes and BarmOn1Cusly moulded them In
his character In order 70 stamp him a perfect
-Consunption's " gha5tIy form " has deprived
our state OF this good and valued man IN the
prime OF lie, and we, his friends ana admirers,
are left 20 mourn his LOIS, and mingle bur sym-
pathies with bis bereaeVd and sorroW1ng faml-
RESOLVED. That the Bench, the Bar and the
people OF Tennessee, have met with an ire
parable loss in TIE ceath OF Judge John L.
2. That me courts 81 the city be requested to
spread this preamble and resolutions upon
their minutes.
g. That We extend to the family of our de-
ceased brother our HarElest sympatnies in their
sorrow and bereavement.
4 That a opy OF these proceedings be sent to
his family,
They were then, upon motion, adopted
by the meeting.
Upon motion, the following persons
we're appointed to present the preamble
and resolutions to the different courts of
the city:
Charles Kortrecht, to the Circuit Court;
Judge Thomas r. Smith, to the Cham
Gerry Court r. S. PArham, Esq, to the
Municipal Court ]. A. Anderson, TO the
Law Court; Judge p. T. Scruggs, to the
Criminal Court, and E. M. Yerger, to the
United States Court.
1t was, upon motion, resolved that the
city papers be requested to publish these
proceedings. The meeting then adjourned
GEORGE W. REEVES, Chairman.
J. A. ANDERSON, Secretary.