Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-06

Report and ResoIusions Of the Bar

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Report and Resolutions Of the Bar
Commfttee.
At meeting Of tho Bar yesterday,
Judge Archibald Wright. chairman Of a
committee appointed At previous meet.
ing 10 dfsft revolutions 10 memory Of
Judge Humphreys. lately deceased,
offered the following report and resolu-
tons:
Judge John Cowan Humphreys was
born IN Lexington. Kentucky, on the LIST
Of June, 1918. He attended the common
school Of the city until be was fifteen, and
then entered college, where be continued
for two years, until his fathers death. He
then commenced the study Of the Law by
himself, having his fathers books and
Office. Subsequently, BY the permission OF
Judge Daniel Mayer. who had married
his step-motber. and was law professor in
rransylvania University, he entered the
institution and took his degree and d.
ploma therein in 1884. His father aud
brother we're both able lawyers and
judges, and he may be said TO have been
bred amidst legal atmosphere. He
came to the bar in 1885, and first COM
Inenced practice in Dover, Tennessee,
where he remained till the winter Of
1889, when be removed TO Somerville
and formed a copartnership with his
cousin, Judge West II. Humphreys. In
a very short time his diligence, learning
and great ability placed him in the front
rank Of his profession, and, when called
to the bench in l849, he was the legal
and confidential adviser Of over half the
people Of Fayette county. He was first
elected judge Of this judicial district
by the Legislature, over an able and
popular competitor, who had filled
the position for number OF years
with distinguished ability. Afterward,
in 1854, when the election of judges
was brought before the people, he
became candidate, and as party poll
tics were running very high at the time,
there was an effort made on party
grounds to elect an able lawyer over
him; but the people refused to displace
SO good and upright q judge, and elected
him by large majority, though his
party was in heavy minority in the
district. He continued Judge Of the
Circuit till the courts we're closed by the
late war. At the close Of the war he
was offered q place on the Supreme
Bench of the State, brt was obliged to
decline it on account of his delicate
health. This offer was a tribute to his
judicial ability and purity of character,
for though at no time Of his life politi-
clan, vet he was we'll known to be q firm
and steadfast friend of the South in her
late struggle, and yielded his eldest son
sacrifice for her on the bloody plains Of
Shiloh. he and the late Thomas Turley
(who shone SO brightly as member-of
our BARI married sisters, and he leaves
behind him his wife and an interesting
family of children. s bna
He was q man of simple tastes and few
wants, and of strictly domestic habits,
always, after the labor of the day was
over, seeking the bosom of his family aud
joining his wife and children in familiar
conversation and pleasant music, of
which he was particularly fond. He was
an earnest and jealous Christian-a
member of the Episcopal Church. AS a
lawyer he was prominent as legal ad.
wiser; his sound learning, and keen, dis.
eliminating and equitable discernment of
right and wrong, enabled him, as it were
by intuition, to grasp the merits of his
clients case and correctly apply the rules
of law thereto.
Though he did not possess what is usu-
ally styled eloquence, yet his clear,
pointed and forcible manner of stating
his case, and above all, the wonderful
weight that his high integrity of charac-
ter had with the people, made him as
formidable an advocate as was ever met
before jury.
1t was, however, as a judge, that he
was chiefly known and admired. He
presided over this circuit at time when
its bar was distinguished for it's ability
and learning, and yet by common con-
sent it was admitted that we had the rare
good fortune to have our best lawyer on
the bench, and no one, no matter how
learned or able, ever appeared before
him without feeling that he was
addressing o master and superior
mind. His character was a blending
of the most opposite traits-feminine gen.
tleness with stern and iron frmness-
childlike simplicity with wonderful men
tai shrewdness and acumen-modest diff
dence with an utter fearlessness in the
discharge of duty. Nature seems to have
gathered her finest and noblest attributes
and tremendously moulded them in his
character, in order to stamp him per-
feet judge.
Consumption's "ghastly form" has de-
prived our State of this good and valued
man in the prime of life, and we, his
friends and admirers, are left to mourn
his loss, and mingle our sympathies with |
his bereaved and sorrowing family. |
Therefore,
Resolped, That the Bench, the Bar and
the people of Tennessee have met with |
an irreparable loss in the death of Judge |
John G.. Humphreys.
2. That the courts of the city be re-
quested to spread this preamble and res
olutions upon their minutes.
3. That we extend to the family of our |
deceased brother oas varmest sympathies
in theiF sorrow and bereavement.
4. That copy 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 Kortrechf, to the Circuit Court;
Judge Thomas n Smith. to the Chancery
Court, R. s. Parhsm, Esq to the Mu'
nicipal Court; ]. A. Anderson, to the
Law Court; Judge P. T. Scruggs, Is the
II Canrt o,d Il M Yaroar IN tha |