The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1871-11-15

defendant, and for wl,icl, he has
brought his action of slan,lcr.ni I
heard a distinguished lawyer say
that 1t q corrupt judge were to
take sides in the trial Of case rs
Judge O'Neall did, he would be
shot before he finished his circrit.
But every cne had such confidence
in O'Neall's purity, that no offence
was taken at his charges, although
wrong. This, however. was very
seldom. / remember once open.
ing my case to tho Jury with a
statement Of what / expected to
prove, when Judge ON call
promptly said, "if that is your
case, it is not worth while to intro
dnce any testimony, for l shall
charge the jury to find against
You" His confidence in tile bar
was very great. In returning
from my home i'm the mountains, [
called at his residence on South
Tiger, with a bundle of Equity
papers lie gave mo a,newspapcr
to read some article and began to
look over my papers and saw one
endorsed, Decree" Without
reading the bill or answer, or re
port OF the Commissioner, or de.
cree itself, he deliberately signed
his name to it, and folded up the
papers and handed them to me-
His love of work drew from Judge
Butler the following witticisrn :
Going out his room one day in Co.
lumbia whilst the Court of Ap.
peals was sitting, Judge Butler
locked his door. Ono of the
judges said" Why do you lock your
door 2" Butler replied, "O'Neall's
room is ncxt to mine and | am
afraid he will go in in my absence
and write all the opinions l have
to deliver for mel
Judge O'Neall has frequently
told me that when a b y, he was
placed in his fathers store where
spirits werc retailed. 1t became his
duty to play tapster for sometime,
and the disgusting scenes lie then
witnessed, made a deep impression
on his youthful mind. His father
became intemperate and lost his
fortune and his mind. lie was after.
wards restored to his senses and
to temperance; aud lived to a
great old age, respected and vencra.
ted by all who knew him. In rid
ing The Eastern Circuit after his
election to the bench, he stopped
at a hotel very much fatigued and
called for glass of spirits. The
landlord told him that gentlemen
so seldom drank nova days, he did
not keep spirits. This expression
that gentlemen seldom drank"
brought the blush to his face. and he
determined never to expose himself
again to such rebnke so innocent
ly given.
AT his death, the Judge suppos.
cd himself to possess fortune and
made several kind bequests to his
friends and persons in humble cir.
cnmstances. But his kindness,
confidence and friendship induced
him to gosecurity for many persons,
which ultimately swallowed up his
estate.
Chief Justice O'Neall was born
in Newberry District, South Car.
olina, on the 10th April, 1893. His
parents were Qnakers, and of Irish
extraction. His great grand father
belonged to the ancient house of
O'Meall of Shone's Castle, Ant. i'm.
ireland. He was put at school.
when only five years old, and
learned rapidly. The first book
he read was the " Pilgrims Prog.
ross," which gave him a taste for
reading, and he read with O. eat
avidity everything he could Law
his hands on. He acquired the
habit of extemporaneous speaking
by practicing tospcak every night
after he had got his lesson for the
next day before his uncle and
grandfather. In February, 1911,
he entered the junior class of the
South Carolina College, and grad.
uated with the second honor of
that Institution. After graduating
he taught in the Ncwberry Acad.
emy for six months. Then, he
commenced the study of law in the
office OF John Caldwell, Esq but
soon volunteered his services in
the war with Great Britain, and
was appointed Judge Advocate in
the brigade of General Startling
Tucker. In 1914 he was admitted
to the practice of law and eonity
a, d opened his office in the village
of Newberry. He SOON had n
large share Of the business in conrt.
About this time he was elected
Captain of a volunteer company or
artillery. In 1915 he was elected
a member Of the ilouse Of Repre-.