Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-22
From the Memphis Register.

tinguished gentleman whose name heads
this article, departed this life, at his resi-
dence 10 this city. The shock to the feel
ingS Of bis friends was as severe as their
grief for his loss, for no man who ever lived
in Memphis had more personal friends than
Gen. Sale. When quite young man he
came to this city from Kentucky, his native
State, and has made his home here since
1S49. Early in life be became a practicing
attorney Of the Memphis bar, and bis tastes
led hira towards that branch of the profess
sion known as the criminal practice. Soon
after he came to the bar, he was elected
Prosecuting Attorney for the Memphis dis
trict, and for many years filed that Office
with ability and fidelity. As an advocate,
be Was deemed by his brother attorneys as
standing among th05s at the head of the
profession.
While he was Prosecuting Attorney he
had to contend with the ablest criminal
lawyers Of the State, and ably did he main
tain the confidence which his constituents
had repOsed in him. He was a whitening,
burning, vigorous prosecutor, and made
himself terror to evil and since he
resigned the Office of Prosecuting Attorney,
he has been employed on one side or the
other Of almost every criminal case of i'm
portanee which has been tried inc courts.
Gen. Sale had the faculty of reading the
faces Of men, which enabled him TO select
q jury judiciously, and to give wi tness
his proper classification at almost glance.
de was ready, eloquent, forcible or witty,
as occasion might require; was never taken
by surprise, and always had tie undivided
attention OF the court and jury. The
huency of his language was great, but it
was exceeded BY the originality of his
thoughts, and the fearlessness of their ex-
preston. No one ever felt malice for Gen.
Sale. His nature was warm hearted and
z NAL, and if be had faults, they were of
the head and not of the heart. Within the
recollection of our oldest citizens, there has
been % other such man as John f. Sale IN
our midst.
he Will long be remembered as an able
advocate, q kind friend, and noble-heart-
ed, high-toned gentleman.
At meeting of the bar to pay respect to
the deceased, resolutions were introduced
BY Judge I. w. Brown, and seconded by
Hon. JnO. L. Flippin, the presiding Judge
Of the Memphis Criminal O. urt, in the fol-
lowing remarks
Mr. Chairman: If it is ever improper not
to speak, feel were | to remain silent on
this occasion it might seem siDgularly map
propriate. Here, in this court, over which
| have had the honor to preside for the last
Two years, was the theatre of his great pro-
fsssiODal triumphs. Here guilt found in
tim most relentless prosecutor, and con-
science lis Warmest and ablest advocate.
Here be exhibited that rars combina- ion of
forensic abilities Dy which he acquired such
mastery over juries, as it almost seemed
that to gain verdict was only to ask it.
Here we have seen him in every conceiv-
able mood, and in almost every conceivable
Case known to the criminal law. at one
time arguing some dry legal proposition
with a vigorous logic, terrifying each
successive step in the pathway of his
discussion By principle and precedent,
and at another, handling with in
comparable power aud adroitness some
question of fact, at one moment softening
and winning with the fine witchery of his
hum0r and fancy, and at another, mouth
ing the fercest sarcasm and absolutely con-
Stunning his opponents cause and witnesses
with his terrible vituperations. He welded
tie blade of Iidiculs into an instrument of
torture, and piJilessiy bound 10 the rack
he unfortunate victims of bis animadver-
slOGs. His convictions were strong and
earnest, and his zeal almost invariably led
bim TO ultimate success, breaking down
every iuterposing obstacle save the barrier
of bis honor, al the threshold of which he
always stopped. | verify believe he gave
bis great talents as freely to the poor as to
the rich. His fidelity TO his client could
never be Questioned. | remember on one
occasion having appointed him to defend
ore too poor to employ counsel, who but a
few minutes before, as witness against some
of his clients, had fallen under his wither-
ing anathamas- This p2rty's protests were
earnest and almost pitiful TO the court
against his appointment as counsel, SO
greatly did he fear him; but this only met
with his prompt rebuke, saying that it WAS
ii Difference 10 the court and not TO him
he entered upon his defense,
which he did in few minutes, and in a
BRET period he had extIicsted his newly
made client, amid BIS rejOici gs, from the
tolls CT the law. His word and pledges to
the court were invi0lable, aud always re-
deemed. OF the honesty of bis statements
in the conduct of a cause, the court never
entertained q suspicion. In the courtroom
bis verbal agreements were solemn n5liga-
tons. He Was open in his friendship and
bold 10 his antagOnisIDs; original in ais con-
ceptions and frequently grotesquely unique
Ia his phraseOlOgy. The flashes Of his wiz
were Only equaled by the sparkies of his en-
livening humOr. His nature WAS siugulary
free from the alloy OF envy, and his heart
knew not the existence Of malice. He was
-s4aaTfe-
For him he always had a smile and word
of encourage He was s man ofgrea5
brains, perhaps wanting in analysis and Or
derby arrangement, but always grasping the
vital points Of cause and driving them
home to the comprehension Of his hearers
with a convincing energy and a compact
logic. His was 2 genial nature, and of this
advantage was frequently taken TO the waste
OF this time and substance. His hand was
rs open rs his heart, and the suffering never
plead ia val! when bis hand could supply
their needs Il IS due to truth to say be
had h'5 faults (aud who has DOi?) as well
as bis virtues; let us eschew the one and
emulate The other. But take him, eli in
all, in the darkness of his grave has gone
down our city's greatest light in criminal
jurisprudence. But il is not my province
nor my purpose to indulge in the language
Of panegyric. Doubtless others older anu
ADLER viii address themselves to the melan-
choly tssB, 10 embalm In truthful eulogy
the imperishsble qualities Of head and
heart. We viii miss him here, the imme-
date scene Of his great struggle and sue
cess. It is indeed meet that this court
room be hung in the drapery ofmourning,
for his stately presence hath gone forever
from its walls. No echoing footsteps tell
OF his departure, but aching hearts feel the
void none other e'er can fill. Let us inurn
in memory his excellences and striking
characteristics, and each of US scatter on bis
freshly.sodden grave the inlmortelles of
brothers affection. Admired by acquain-
tances, beloved by friends, idolized by his
family, ne has but gone before to the silent
city Of the dead, whittier we all are tend
ing.
Important Cotton Decision.
The Ras-ou ET0bp Nov I has this re-