The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-22
ooath of a,venerable Jurist.

y
county, died on "Wednesday last, IN ms
eishty-eiahth year, at the residence OF MS
son, In Mecktenburg county. Judge LEIGH
was the brother OF the late .BENs. WATKINS
LEIGH, Of this city, was born in Chester
field, and passed portion of his early
years in the mercantile business In Peters
burg. He turned bis attention to law, ana
by his devotion to study became at an cary
day one of the best-read lawyers IN VIZ
ginia. He removed to Halifax, wncfe III
practiced his profession in the courts
OF that and adjoining counties.
Upon the adoption of the Consul
tuition of 1880 he was elected py 'ne
Legislature the Judge of the Circuit, WINS
reelected by the people under the Cons''-
tution of 1850, and resigned in leoI wien
Judge II. IL. MARSHALL was elected lis
successor. Judge LEIGH retired III tnaV
time from his profession, and IaVed upon
his estate in Halifax until some time alter
the war, when, physically cmeehled py
age, he went to live with his son in Meek
lenburg.
Judge LEIGH was one of the ablcst Judges
that ever sat OIL the bench in Virginia. lie
WIS alike distinguished !or professional ae'
quirements, the clearncss and yisor OF DIS
mind, and his accurate legal Judgment.
His distinguished brother, who stood III
the front rank amongst the great men OF
his day. WAS wont to say that the Judge
knew more about law than he did.
~ I,,If I Iyr
was his intercourse with JONI RANDOLPH
of Roanoke, who probably coniidcd more
in him than i'm any other Iuan with whom
ne associated. JOHN RANDOLPH made 4
will in which he manumittcd all his slaves,
md in which ne lett II large legacy to Judge
LEIGH. lie made another, or, possibly,
TWO other wills, which were proved to
nave been made while he was insane. but
the will in which he freed his slaves he
afterwards cancelled--his name was cut out
of it and the word cancelled , WAS written
upon it in his own handwriting. Judge
. EIGH was present when it was thus cam
.cilcd, and knew Mr.. RANDOLPH to be IN
sane at the time. However, being 2 bcne-
flciarv in that will. he could not he allowed
to testify to the fact. Thus matters stood.
Without his testimony to establish this will,
:ht re WAS no will that c0uldL lie pronounced
valid. Under Il Conscientious desire 10 Sc
cure the ends Of Justice by carrying into
feet tie purpose Of Mr.. RANDOLPH,
5hc Judge rciinqui>hed all his right
under the cancelled" will, and was there
4 aft
the freedom of the slaves->ome go, we
| hi"k-and the Judge, as the executor
| canned by Mr.. RANDOLPH, colonZed them
n The state Of Ohio. a considerable sum
was appropriated under the Will to this
ph,cct. MiddIc-agcd men will remember
he trouble the Judge encountered LII To-
eating these negroes. The people of Ohio
were bitterly opposed to their settlement
in their ncighborhood.
The death of judge LEIGH sewers another
link between the present aye and the
bright period to which he belonged. Dis
tingaislcd for the honor and noblencSs OF
f his character, and for the strength and
clearneS, Of his mind, the name OF the up
right Judge crowned the honors of his long
aud w.ll.spent life.
His remains were buried yesterday at
Halifax Courthouse.
II is singular coincidence that on the
same day, ut the same place, were inferred
the rcuIaius of THOMAS }. GREEN, n con-
temporary, Though not quite so old as
Judge LEIGH. Mr.. GREEN was probably 10