The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-04

hopored 30 long as the name or South Carolina
lives and his character will always be cherish
ed as an example to the young. ms success II, IN
others But to those who have known him
LONGER and more intimately than myself, 1
leave more fitting tribute to his memory.
Major S. P. Hamilton then rose, and said:
May IL please uo,u Honor-It becomes my
duty, upon the announcement Just made by
the District Attorney to offer 20 the court
preamble and resolutions, expressive OF our
great sorrow at the death OF our distinguished
brother, George ". Williams, OF York: 90 so,
because I believe l am the only member OF the
Bar, from his own circuit, present in the court.
I would that the task had been given to those
who can sneak with more knowledge and ap-
nreciation of the virtues. ability and services
ofour deceased brother. I would like that his
eulogium should como from those nearer his
own times; from the lawyers M OF ms s aay, aa anu
iudoes before whom he 80 long practiced his
profession. might come more fitting tribute
10 his memory In truth, l asked my friend,
judge Munro, to come with me before your
Honor, and to say something of his life, his
merit and his worth; but ne sald, WIN the
tear glistening in his eye, that he had known
him long, and loved him too well to trust HIM
self to give expression to his feelings.
George ". Williams, may it please your
Honor. was a native CT Lancaster District
| from that locality which gave to our country
Androw Jackson. He was entered as student
ut the university OF this state early IN Ire, pug,
I believe, did not graduate. He Immediately
| came to the bar after leaving college, and ut
once took rank as one OF the first men OF the
profession. e.. - 90
knowledge he had few equals, and no superors.
| His profession was his first love, and time even
never abated the ardor with which ne wooed
| 4, iOht ho rp
be said Of but few of our brotherhood, that ne
worked with intense zeal and great labor as
| we'll without any pecuniary reward as with.
He is great loss to his profession, and TO the
community where he resided it is lrreparable.
had only known Mr.. Williams three years,
but had been connected with hlm professlonaiiv,
and had learned to a1mire his great abilities
as LAWYER, and to love him as man for the
,ruthfulness, simplicity and kindness OF his
I see. however, that some Of Mr.. Williams
more intimate friends, and indeed his class
mates, are now present, and will commit to
them the task OF speaking more appropriately
of their departed friend. Before closing,
would like to make statement concerning an
event connected with his life, for which, per-
haps. he may have received portion OF iu-wlll.
AS your Honor knows, last summer he was
elected by the Legislature now sitting as one
of the Circuit Judges OF The State, which, upon
doiberauon, he declined. Ihe parties WHO
were most jealous for his election were coRh-
dent of his acceptance OF the Office, and were
hnrt ut his decnation, after the representa-
tions made by his friends had from his own
lips, not long eince, his reasons for his actlon.
| He said s'that there we're certain enactments III
the constitution under which no was TO Do
elected which would be prominently before
the courts in every shape and form, and that,
in accepting the judgeship, it might be taken
for granted that be would sustain these enact
M ments by his judicial decisions when they did
not have the sanction Of his judgment as law
yer." His declinatlon, therefore, was not the
caprice of the moment, but caused by the
spirit Of truth and by the promptinss OF SEN
sitivo honor.
amble and resolutions:
We have received this morning the mourn
full intelligence of the death OF George W.
Williams, ESQ.,, one OF the Oldest and most
prominent members OF tho Bar of South Caro-
lima. In the midst Of his usefulness, in the
full tide OF large practice whilst in actual
attendance on this court, the message OF death
came to him suddenly, Hith scarce warming,
aud the large place he filed in the profession,
and in the State, has beon made vacant. 1t is
becoming at all times that the Court and the
Bar should give expression to their sorrow
when death enters into the profession. Espe'
cially is this the clse when one OF our breth-
rem has been stricken down by our very SIDE,
with the harness of life's battle upon him.
George W. Williams, Esq, WIS native OF
Lancaster, in this State, and received his edu-
cation in our State institution. Called early to
the Bar, he soon acquired an extensive prac-
tice and by his profound learning. high
character, and eminent professional aollty,
won for himself place III the front rank OF
our profession. A citizen of extensive useful
ness he was repeatedly called by the popular
| flta nrutr irt
State Legislature, and not long before his
death was elected to place on the bench.
His professional engagements having pre-
vented him from accepting this high honor,
he was devotin5 himself to his large and inn,
portant practice, when his heart was chilled
bv the hand OF death.
Resolued, That it is with deep sorrow this
court and his brethren OF the bar receive the
announcement of the death of George W. Will
liams, OF York.
lost one OF her truest sons, and the Bar OF
South Carolina one OF its brightest ornaments.
ResolUed, That in respect to his memory this
court do now adjourn, and that coy OF these
resolutions be sent to the family OF the de-
ceased.
Mr.. D. B. Tickling rose and said:
May II please your Honor7-Appalled as am
by the sudden announcement of the death OF my
friend it is scarcely possible that can collect
NV IDEAS to express rs should the deep feei-
ing which fills my heart.
tut this moment, as l entered The court
house. / heard the terrible intelligence that
George w. Williams was dead called on him
Yesterday afternoon; he was not IN his room;
he was out IN the discharge Of his business,
apparently we'll as little likely to die as any man
in this room. To-day lie is laid low by the
hand OF death. ,,
I have known George ". Williams long; long
and intimately, that is, as Intimately as two men
residing at great distance from each other, he
bninr IN York and I in Beaufort. was IN
COLLEGE with him. I was in his class, and |
knew him there intimately and we'll. He held
the first rank in his class. No nan stood
hiober with the faculty and with the stu
dsnts. and George Washington Williams has
not broken the promise of his youth. Unfor-
tunafe circumstances caused HIM to leave col
ieoe with myself. In the year 1877, the dis
tnrhonce which arose IN that year, as your
Honor NAV remember, almost broke up the
COLLEGES. leaving but one hundred and twenty
stnIents ont OF one hundred and fifty or enc
hundred and eighty. George W. Williams was,
nnhannlly. one of those who did not remain to
compIete his education in the Alml Mater ol
the State. Hc was then in the junior class,
nnd was. if not OF age at that time, very nearly
OF He devoted himself Immediately to the
lIstndy of the law, and came to the bar, l think,
in the spripg or fall OF 1928, very shortly after
leaving college, and from that time he assum-
ed in his district and State, the position OF q
lawyor. and when l say lawyer l do not mean
one WHO simply practices law, but one who has
thoronrbIy studied his profession, and who
''nJarstonda Il perfectlY He discharged